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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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How To Have 5 Activity Areas in a 20 x 20 Room
How can five activity areas plus room dedicated to science, math, music and movement
all be incorporated in an area the size of a large walk-in closet?
The following are ways to establish various areas in a learning environment.
Combining the Activity Areas
Place areas that share like materials or help develop similar skills together
e.g. fine motor and art area, science and math, or science and sand and water.
Combining areas creates more room for play in activity areas and still provide the needed materials.
Use Multi-use Furniture
The Cubby Table (WD85001) is a tabletop and storage area in one.
This one piece of furniture in a small area provides a work surface and storage combined.
Also, our double-sided Island Storage maximizes space without sacrificing storage.
Movable Furniture
Due to space constraints, furniture such as the Sand and Water Table with Lid/Shelf (WD11810)
can be placed in a central location and moved from one classroom to another as needed.
This will allow each classroom the fun and experience of sand and water play
without permanently committing space for the unit.
Clear it Out
Clear the classroom of clutter. Inventory the material used in the classroom.
Materials that have not been used in the past 6 months should be discarded.
Anything that is broken or damaged and cannot be immediately repaired should be thrown away.
Create a Lending Library
Establish an area outside of classrooms for materials that can be rotated to classrooms.
Keeping only one set of blocks in the classroom rather than three minimizes shelf space needed
as well as allowing other classrooms to use the materials. By practicing rotation,
children will not become bored playing with the same things over a long period of time.
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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...
The 3-Way Adjustable Easels
The 3-Way Adjustable Easels has
(4) adjustable levels that will
give the teacher the ability to
adjust the work surfaces to accommodate
for the various sizes of the children,
while giving the needed storage space for
paint pots, brushes, chalk, and markers.
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Shown above:
WD18600
Tip-Me-Not™
3-Way Adjustable Easels (w/Chalkboard)
See also:
WD18700 (w/Hardboard)
WD18623 (w/Acrylic)
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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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