COURSE:

EarlyChildhood
EducationII7112

DevelopmentallyAppropriatePracticeforEarly
ChildhoodPrograms

UNITB

ESSENTIAL
STANDARD:

4.00

B6

Createelementsofearlychildhood
20% environmentsbasedondevelopmentally
appropriatepractice.

OBJECTIVE:

4.03

B4

6%

Organizedevelopmentallyappropriatelearning
centersforearlychildhoodenvironments.

ESSENTIALQUESTIONS
:
Whatisadevelopmentallyappropriatelearningcenter?
Whataresomegeneralguidelinestofollowinorganizinganearlychildhoodcenter?
Whatguidelinesshouldbefollowedwhenorganizingspecificlearningcenters?
UNPACKEDCONTENT
NOTE:Pleasedonotgivecopiesoftheunpackedcontenttostudentsatthebeginningofthisstudy.Doingso
wouldgreatlylimittheirlearning.Seereferencestounpackedcontentintheinstructionalsequence.

Definitionof
developmentallyappropriatelearningcenter
oractivityarea

A
learningcenter
isclearlydefinedspaceforaspecifictypeofactivityandlearning.
A
developmentallyappropriate
centerisorganizedtomeetneedsofintendedagegroup.
Purposesoflearningcenters:
Directchildrentoactivitiesandfocustheirattentiononthem
Allowchildrentoworkattheirownpaceinordertolearnbydoing
Provideopportunitiestoworkaloneandinsmallgroups
Distributechildrenthroughouttheclassroom
Minimizenoiseandconflictsinanyareaoftheclassroom
Organizingadevelopmentallyappropriatelearningcenter

Createboundaries
Planlearningcentersinwelldefinedspaces
Provideatleastthreeboundaries
Usewallstomakeautomaticboundaries
Useshelvingunits,piano,andcoloredtapeonthefloorforboundaries

Createaneffectivetrafficpattern
Considerthedirectionchildrentakeastheymovefromonelearningcentertoanother
Arrangetrafficpatternstolimitcongestionaschildrenenterorleavecenters

Arrangeforfunction
Thinkofeachareaaswetordry,activeorquiet.
Placewetanddryactivitiesfarawayfromeachother
Placeactiveactivitiesfarawayfromquietactivities

Arrangeforprivacy
Arrangelearningcentersforprivacywhenneeded
Useloftsandplatformstoallowforprivacywhenchildrenfeellikebeingalone
Providepuzzlesandbooksinquietareas

OBJECTIVE:

4.03

B4

6%

Organizedevelopmentallyappropriatelearning
centersforearlychildhoodenvironments.

UNPACKEDCONTENT

Guidelinesforspecificlearningcenters
Art

center
promotesphysical,social,emotional,andcognitivegrowthfostersmotorand
handeyecoordination
Locatenearawatersource

Arrangethespaceforeithergroupsorindividuals
Providetables,chairs,easels,dryingracksandshelvingunitsinthisarea
Blockbuildingcenter
promotespracticeofsorting,grouping,comparing,arranging,
makingdecisions,cooperating,androleplaying
Useacarpetedarea
Allowenoughspaceforbuilding
Uselowcabinetsthatdefinetheareaforstorageofmaterials
Placelarge,heavyblocksonbottomshelvesandlightweightblocksonhigher
shelves
Computercenter
promoteschildrenscuriosityaboutthecomputerandencourages
interaction
Locateinaquiet,drypartoftheclassroom
Locatewhereelectricaloutletsandaphonejackareeasytoaccess
Providematerialssuchassoftware,printerpaper,mouseandwristpads
Providechildsizedcomputerworkstationsorchildsizedtablesandchairs
Provideacomputer(s)andaprinter
Placecomputerssomonitorsarevisiblethroughouttheclassroom
Dramaticplaycenter
alsoknownasthehomelivingorhousekeepingarea
Provideachildsizeplaystove,refrigerator,table,chairs,sink,anddollbed
Providepropboxescontainingobjectsrelatedtocurriculumthemes
Mayincludedressupclothes
Considervaryingthesetupasastore,restaurant,postoffice,etc.forolderchildren
Musiccenter
promotesselfexpression,listening,language,andcoordinationskillsrequires
specificlimitsthatpromotesafety,respect,andresponsibility
Locateinanareathatallowsformovementanddancing
Providesuchessentialmaterialsasrhythminstrumentstapes,records,CDsand
playerspuppetsforsongactivitiesandsilkscarvesfordancing
Ifspacepermits,provideapiano
Provideshelvingunitsasstoragespaceforessentialmaterials
Reading/librarycenter
promoteslanguageandprereadingskillssometimesreferredtoas
thebookcorner/center
Locateinthequietestpartoftheclassroom
Providepicturebooks,childrensmagazines,childauthoredbooks,charts,games,
alphabetletters,pencils,felttipmarkers,paperandchalk
Ifpossible,addanarearug
Providetables,chairs,andshelvingunits