ECE 251 Young Children Environments

Lecture Hours: 3
Credits: 3

Focuses on planning, implementing, and evaluating environments for typically and atypically developing children from birth- to 8 years of age. Includes using observation and facilitating play in the environment, room arrangements, outdoor areas, equipment selection and sources, children’s furniture, and incorporating recycled materials in the classroom.

Prerequisite: Second year standing in the Early Childhood Education program; and placement into WR 090; or consent of instructor.
Student Learning Outcomes:

Connect current research and evidence-based practices to early childhood program.
Understand how to structure the classroom environment both indoor and outdoor, to support ongoing learning and development to meet the needs of the overall classroom and individual child.
Plan physical space and choose materials that are structured and adapted to promote engagement, play interaction and learning by promoting child-directed play through the use of adequate materials and defined spaces.
Use observation to connect room arrangement and the overall developmental outcomes for all children in the classroom.
Articulate a philosophy statement of developmentally appropriate indoor and outdoor environments for all children.
Incorporate repurposed and recycled materials into the curriculum to support sustainability.
Create environments that are welcoming to all families and expose children to multiple cultures and languages, and allow children and families to share their cultures and languages with others to the extent they desire.

Content Outline

Indoor and Outdoor Environments
- How environments support play
- How environment supports the development of all children
- Nature and the environment
Observation, Analysis, and Organization of Space
- Design
- Routines
- Child space
- Adult space
Materials and Furniture
- Developmentally appropriate for developmental need of all children
- Selection of equipment and supplies
- Homemade equipment materials
- Sustainability
Infant, Toddler and Preschool Environments