CDA 102 - The Child’s Total Learning Environment

1. Identify the various aspects of a child-centered learning environment for children birth through age 8 (NAEYC 1c, 4c).
2. Discuss the elements of a developmentally appropriate indoor and outdoor environment (NAEYC 1b, 1c, 4c, 5c).
3. Choose and set up an educational environment that responds to the need of children to investigate and explore with objects, materials, and equipment in order to construct a base of information about their world (NAEYC 1c, 4d, 5c).
4. Incorporate community resources as an integral part of the total learning environment (NAEYC 2c).

1. Establishing a Learning Environment
   1. Components of a total learning environment
   2. Child-centered learning environment
   3. Teacher’s role in the learning environment
   4. Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP)
2. Indoor Environment
   1. Furniture and equipment
   2. Floor space
   3. Dual-purpose areas
   4. Traffic flow and pathways
3. Learning Centers
   1. Definition of boundaries
   2. Types of activity areas
   3. Space requirements
   4. Arrangement
   5. Population
4. Developmentally Appropriate Materials and Equipment
   1. Choosing and purchasing materials and equipment
      1. Variety
      2. Flexibility
   2. Arranging equipment and displaying materials
5. Teacher’s Role in the Learning Environment
   1. Design
   2. Lesson plans
   3. Collection of materials
   4. Introduction to children
   5. Setting guidelines and establishing routines
   6. Children’s choices
6. Outdoor Space
   1. Importance
   2. Planning
   3. Equipment and materials
7. Changing the Environment
   1. Adding and removing centers
   2. Space requirements
   3. Interest in centers
   4. Rearrangement
      1. Adding materials
      2. Moving materials
      3. Supplement materials
8. Community as a Learning Environment
   1. Field trips
   2. Resources
      1. People
      2. Materials