Read:
- Nurturing Creativity, Chapter 3
- Basics of Developmentally Appropriate Practice, pp. 26-40.
Review the powerpoint Designing a Developmentally Appropriate Classroom.
Rewatch the video from Yvonne Smith’s Pre-K classroom at CPE-I. This time, focus your attention on the physical design of the classroom space. How are learning centers organized in the room? What materials do you notice in different centers (e.g., blocks, science)? How is the furniture organized? How are materials stored? What do you notice about how the children move through the space?
Look at these photographs and notice the materials, the space, the furniture, the flooring:
Using these resources and the class discussion this week, you will design your classroom map for the Learning Environments Project.
Be sure to carefully review the guidelines, so that you will understand what is expected for each part of this project. You will need to use ALL of the resources to create your own developmentally appropriate learning environment.
The Learning Environments Project is due October 17 on Blackboard.
How are learning centers organized in the room?
Learning centers in the room are organized in ways that are completely accessible to the children so that they can be independent.
What materials do you notice in different centers (e.g., blocks, science)?
there is a huge space for blocks, bristle and wooden blocks in math, water and wet/dry sand table, places for arts and construction, painting, a cooking table where the children actually make their own snacks. Another example is they have a doll house that they call a bear house that has their class pets running around on.
How is the furniture organized?
The furniture completely surrounds specific areas to hold all the materials a child will need for that center, and completely in a child sized area. Everything surrounds the children and is not made in a way to obstruct anything from the children.
How are materials stored?
They are stored in shelves right next to them and most materials are on the table or surrounding areas
What do you notice about how the children move through the space?
The children move from one space to another seamlessly because again it is suited for the child and not the adult. I really appriciate this about her classroom and have always looked up to her as we continued our lessons.