5: Setting the Stage for Play- Environments
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Learning Objectives
After reading this chapter, students will be able to:
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Identify the role of the Environment as a “Teacher”
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Connect Early Childhood Theories to the Environment
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Understand Learning Areas and Zones for DAP
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Identify and list appropriate materials for each learning area
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Analyze a variety of floor plans for indoors and outdoors
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Explore Temporal Environment by looking at schedules, routines and rituals, and transitions
The environment is often labeled as a “teacher” in Early Childhood Education. The meaning behind this label is that if an environment is intentionally created with developmentally appropriate practice in mind, it will serve to assist with learning as well as classroom management. A quality early childhood educational environment, whether it is indoor, outdoor or temporal, should encourage engagement, stimulate learning and promote growth in all areas of development.
The effective preschool teacher recognizes, understands, and respects the values of children’s families and communities and attempts to make the preschool environment as congruent with those values as possible.
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