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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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Traffic Patterns are not Just for Planes
Children's movement within the classroom controls the location of certain sections.
For example, the literacy area should not be placed near the entrance door or exit area.
By doing so the play will be interrupted and the children will be less likely to go into the area.
Regrettably, many teachers are not able to see this patterns within the classroom.
However, by creating a traffic flow chart,
a visual representation of the children's movement during the day,
a teacher will be able to clearly see the way the environment works
and how the children flow from one activity to another.
Creating a Traffic Pattern Chart
Identify various children and using a rough floor plan of the classroom,
document their movement throughout the day for a few days.
Make a different color line to represent the child that you are watching.
What is the first place that he or she visits? What are his or her favorite areas?
What areas does he or she not visit? A traffic flow chart will give the teacher the perspective of the
changes that they need to make in order to improve the environment, and in some case the behavior.
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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 & Storage Organization & Placement
To encourage the children to return items to the shelf,
independently label the outside of the storage containers
with drawings, pictures or the actual item.
To avoid interruption of activities, always remember to
separate the loud activity areas (dramatic play and blocks)
from the quiet areas (reading)
with a "filter" (not always loud or quiet)
such as the fine motor or art areas.
When arranging your early childhood classroom
move the shelving out from the walls
to create a traffic pattern within the room.
Placing pictures & photos on the backs of shelves,
at the diaper changing area station
and on the outside of an acrylic cribs will ensure that the
displays for the children are on the children'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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Check us out in this article on the web...
The Ultimate Early Ed Blueprint
Creating an ideal early childhood education space in your school district is a no-brainer,
once you understand how to see and think like a tot.
By Julie Sturgeon, DistrictAdministration.com, May 2004
http://www.districtadministration.com/page.cfm?p=734
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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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