Physical Environment
What is Physical Environment in an Early
Childhood classroom?
The term physical environment refers to the overall
design and layout of a given classroom and its learning
centers. Teachers should design the environment by
organizing its spaces, furnishings, and materials to
maximize the learning opportunities and the engagement
of every child.
1. Block Area
Almost all children enjoy playing in the block area
and can find something to do with blocks, whether
or not they have ever played with them before.
Young children with little prior experience enjoy
taking blocks off the shelves, heaping them into
piles, lining them up, stacking them, loading them
into cartons, dumping them out, carrying them, and
fitting them carefully back on the shelves.
2. Dramatic Play Area
Your dramatic play center in preschool provides
many opportunities for kids to learn about
families, communities and how the world works.
Kids can learn about where food comes from in a
pretend play apple orchard or at the farmer’s
market.
You can teach students about different jobs by
creating play scenarios in your pretend play area.
These scenarios may be based on places such as
the fire station, doctor’s office, or car repair shop.
3. Math Area
Math centers are learning
stations in classrooms that
help students to practice math
skills and learn how math
works on a physical and
practical level rather than just
learning from a book or being
told.
4. Art Area
The art area should be available
to children as a free choice.
Goals/Skills: Creativity and
imagination, while allowing for
self-expression. Concepts such
as colors, shapes, lines,
properties, textures, cause and
effect, problem-solving, sizes,
symmetry, design, balance,
patterns, etc.
5. Library Area/Book Corner
In your preschool or pre-K classroom,
the library should be a kid-friendly
place where young children can go to
look at, or “read” books. The
classroom library area should be a
clear, defined space in your classroom
with places for students to sit and read.
6. Discovery Area
The Preschool Discovery Area is a
bright, welcoming area sized
perfectly for young children and
stocked with fun learning toys and
structures. Find plenty of activities
that encourage children to explore
and interact with the world around
them.
7. Sand and Water Area
Under the most natural conditions,
the sand and water area is a shallow
outdoor pond surrounded by sand
where children can dig trenches,
make mud pies, float sticks, wade,
and splash. An outdoor sandbox and
a hose or hand-pump serve the
same purpose.
8. Music and Movement Area
Music and movement activities
combine music with physical
movement. This includes singing,
dancing, playing instruments, and
moving to the beat. Most early
childhood education programs
include music and movement
activities such as singing nursery
rhymes, dancing to children's songs,
or playing instruments together.
9. Cooking Area
The cooking area lets children
practice real-life skills and is a
great way to introduce a variety
of cultures to the classroom. By
preparing simple recipes with an
adult, children learn important
math, literacy, and self-care
skills.
10. Computer Area
The computer area in preschool should
always be recognised as a learning
centre and as an educator or adult, part
of your role should be to determine the
physical characteristics of these learning
spaces. This will help to take the focus
away from the technology and it would
make it part of the other learning
centres.
Thank You!
