Go around the building on a scavenger hunt to find something that might represent:› Something that sparks a childhood memory› Something you don’t understand› Something that might insult your intelligence› Something you’d like to take home with you› Something you’d like to take to a desert island› Something that has many uses

Influences how children act and learn› Prompts children to use materials› Easily accessible, inviting

Children will be happy if the room is a welcoming place› Comfortable, pleasing to the eye, safe

Children will act orderly if the room is orderly› Can be the cause of disruptive behavior

Furniture is clean, safe, and well maintained.

Wall decorations are largely made up of children’s art displayed attractively at their eye level.

Colorful decorations, plants, pillows are used

Personal cubby for each child

Furniture is child sized

•Pictures, books, & learning materials with different ethnic & economic backgrounds & people with disabilities

There is a well defined schedule Materials & toys are available Materials labeled and easy to find

Materials are stored on low shelves so children can use materials on their own

Materials are logically organized

Shelves are labeled with pictures to show where things belong

Small, quiet areas for one or two children

Large pillow or stuffed chair

Headphones for individual listening

Protected and defined small areas for small group activities

Smocks for art and water play to avoid fear of getting soiled

Outdoor area is fenced in Toys are rotated so there frequently is

something new to interest children

Materials must be “Child Size” Picture & Bulletin Boards should be at

child’s eye level Organized & uncluttered Keep learning centers separate from

each other Everything must have a place Create a sense of arrival and welcome

Do not have large spaces for running Fill outer edges, center is the pathway

› A square center is dead space› Irregular or rectangle easier to use

Children in one center cannot reach children in another unit

No need to walk through units to get to another

Clean, neat and cheerful› Neatness

enhances learning

Color can provide a cheerful atmosphere

LIGHT BLUE WHITE LIGHT GREEN YELLOW ORANGE RED PURPLE

Clean, pure, frank, cool, youthful

Peaceful, refreshing, restful

Happy, cheerful

Welcoming, forceful, energetic

Welcoming, energetic, forceful, stimulating

Mournful

Comfortable, soothing, secure, tender

Question: What colors do you think would be best for A day care or preschool?

Teachers must be able to see and supervise all areas of the room

All materials must be safe and in working order

Outside doors need to be visible and locked to the outside and to the children

Storage of hazardous materials must be locked

From Planning Environments for Young Children by Kritchevsky & Prescott

Enough empty space Broad, easily visible paths Children in one unit

cannot reach children in another unit

No need to walk through play units to get to another

No dead space No blind space

Lack of shade Northern exposures Poor drainage Broken equipment Too few things and play space

Provide opportunity to lengthen attention span and expand on play

Make settings for children to meet each other and socialize

More opportunities for choice

Lots of grass and trees

Bright colors

Narrow winding paths

Slides, jungle gyms

Swings

No complexity

More appealing to adults, not necessarily a focus of activity

No flexibility, inventiveness

Traditional, fun, and they last

Seclusion form others, but can watch

Decreases if visible to neighbors Decreases if facility is used for

neighborhood meetings Decreases if PR is good with the public

1. Cubbies for children and sign in desk2. Kitchen with tables for art or snack3. Dramatic play area4. Quiet corner with books5. Circle time area with rug6. Science center7. Small Manipulative area with table8. Block, truck area9. Sensory table

You may add to, change, or delete furniture provided. Cut all pieces apart.