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Return to the Helpful Hints Homepage
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Helpful Hints: Creating Interest Areas
Setting up interest areas with in the classroom is important for
the making of a classroom that promotes the growth and development for a child.
Here are areas that are typically in an early childhood classroom:
• Blocks (unit blocks, people and transportation)
• Dramatic Play (kitchen set, dress-up clothes & dolls)
• Fine Motor or Manipulative (tables, puzzles, pegs & beads)
• Art (easels, paint, crayons & paper)
• Sand & Water (sand and water table, funnels, measuring cups & sponges)
• Library (book display, books & soft cushions)
• Music and Movement (dance/prop storage, musical instruments/players)
• Storage for Personal Belongings (lockers, storage bins, etc.)
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Helpful Hints: Combining Art And Other Activity Areas
Music and Movement
Play different types of music and have children draw or paint how it makes them feel.
Sand and Water Play
Blowing bubbles through straws, plastic six pack containers and berry baskets
allows children to experiment with varying shapes and sizes.
Sand gives children an opportunity to construct, and make patterns in sand.
Outdoor Play
Move an indoor activity outside - paint a fence or brick wall with water, draw a mural, use chalk on the sidewalk
or finger paint on an oilcloth spread on the ground.
Reading
Put books about art in the reading and art areas. This will help children see the relationship between words and images.
Blocks
Building with blocks is a form of architecture. Place pictures of different building styles in the block area.
After the "construction" of the building, allow them to draw a picture of their creation.
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The aforementioned are professional opinions. All of these are the sole property of WDM, Inc.
Any use of the contents, above statements, or ideas requires the written permission of WDM, Inc. Violators will be prosecuted.
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Helpful Hint of the Month...
Shelving and Storage Organization & Placement
Encourage children to return items to shelves by
labeling the outside of storage containers with drawings,
pictures or the actual item e.g. a crayon or block.
Separate activity areas to avoid interruption of activities.
Separate "loud" from "quiet" areas with a filter area.
Move shelving out from the walls that will
create a traffic pattern within the room.
Place pictures or photos on the backs of shelves
at the changing area station and on the
outside of acrylic cribs at the child's eye level.
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* Example storage label drawing
Also See:
WD14583
Tip-Me-Not™
20-Tray Storage Unit
(w/Asst'd Color Trays)
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Teacher Resources: Helpful Hints Archive
Our past Helpful Hints articles, organized & archived
for your convenience in setting-up your own classroom.
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Enhance interest areas by providing enough shelving & storage bins
for the amount of materials provided in the classroom.
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