Environment Observation

School KINDERCARE
Number of Teachers in the class 2
Number of Children in the class 18
Age of children 4 years old

1. List all the interest areas you see in this classroom (ie. Library, art, science etc.) 5 pts.
1. Dramatic Area
2. Block Area
3. Science Area
4. Art Area
5. Writing/Listening Area
6. Math Area

2. Do the center areas have the following: Is there enough materials, are the materials in
good condition, are they age appropriate. 5 pts
 The materials in the areas were in very good condition, they looked like they were being used by
the children, as well taken care of very well by the children. Each area had enough materials the
dramatic area had play clothes, play food, play dishes, baby dolls, even had a prop box for the
area when their theme called for something. The block area had different types off blocks, cars,
planes, helicopters, boats, trains, buses, multiracial people, and different kinds of animals
Wooden, rubber, or plastic animals familiar to children Construction and farm vehicles.
Photographs of children’s homes, neighborhoods, farms. Photographs and drawings of
children’s block structures. In the science area had some really fun materials. Test tubes,
beakers, lab coats, safety goggles, gloves, trays, gears, small machines to take apart and books
of Nature and Animals. Plants, acorns, shells, seeds, mirrors, fossils magnifying glasses, magnets,
tree bark, scale, jars, and clear Containers. In the art area the materials were paint brushes a
variety of sizes, paint rollers a variety of patterns, eye droppers for painting, and feathers for
painting. Collage items, lacing, yarns, variety of Scissors, markers Crayons, an easel and many
colors of paint. In the writing area there was a writing table with pencils, marker, crayons,
colored pencils, chalk, envelopes blank cards, old mailing stamps, stencils, magnetic, dry erase
and chalk boards. In the math area there was inking cubes, counters, linking chains, pattern
blocks, dominoes, geoboards, bingo chips, number manipulatives, scale, measuring
spoons/cups, dice, math playing cards, ten frames, ice cube trays, and fun manipulatives and
buttons. Foam puzzles, wood puzzles, and floor puzzles. Exploring patterns is just that students
copying, extending, and creating patterns.
3. Is there DEAD SPACE?
The dead space I saw, was in the block are. The teachers may not be able to see the children
when they are on the floor playing. There are shelfs that block the sight lines into the block
area.

4. Does the classroom flow?

I believed the classroom had great flow, well organized. The classroom was set up well the
separate noisy areas were away from the quiet ones. Bins had labels with pictures of each
object and shelfs had labels to show where the bin is stored with the same picture. The
classroom had individual learning centers which allows children to safely explore and play.

5. Rating: Using a scale from 1-5, how would you rate this environment?
With 5 being a perfect environment I would rate this environment a 4. I thought the
environment very nice, however having some dead space I give it a 4.

6. Strengths: List 3 strengths you saw in this environment (10 pts)

1. It looked very welcoming, children artwork and their pictures with the artwork on the
boards.
2. All the materials that were available for the children.
3. The learning areas were labeled and well placed in the classroom.

7. Improvement: List 3 improvements you could see benefiting the children’s learning.

8. List 3 DAP principles that will support your ideas for strengths or improvements
1. Children learn in a variety of ways
2. Play is an important vehicle for developing self-regulation and promoting language,
cognition, and social competence.
3. Development and learning result from an interaction of maturation and experience