Deck 8: Setting up the Physical Environment

Question 1

NAEYC Program Standard 5 requires that early childhood programs protect children from illness and injury, while Program Standard 9 requires that programs provide appropriate and well-maintained environments.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Four-year-old Shanika goes to a large, school-like preschool program. Research suggests that Shanika will spend about 15 percent of her day waiting to engage in different activities.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

While most children at the Pikler Institute spend a great deal of time outside, newborns are kept exclusively indoors to protect them from the harsh climate.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Interest centers and gross motor learning spaces can be set up inside or outside, but physical care centers should always be set up inside.

Question 5

In setting up developmentally appropriate environments for babies or children with mobility issues, it is important to think about the placement of overhead lights and even skylights in relation to where the child spends time on the floor.

Question 6

According to the author of your text, the majority of people report that their favorite childhood environment was an outdoor space away from other people.

Question 7

Nature can be considered a complex dimension of an early childhood environment.

Question 8

Regarding play spaces in an early childhood environment, a good rule of thumb is to have two to three open play spaces to choose from when a child changes activities.

Question 9

While Nate Fisher is designing a child care center, he should aim for having the circulation patterns run through activity areas and interest areas.

Question 10

Compared to a large open classroom and play yard, an early childhood environment with many small areas is more likely to encourage cooperation among children.

Question 11

Chris Peterson's day care center is arranged so the children can help themselves. Peterson's arrangement reflects the value of interdependence.

Question 12

The Reggio Emilia schools are well known for designing authentic projects for children.

Question 13

Licensing standards vary by state and will impact the planning of the physical environment, including the organization of the physical-care centers and the amount of play space per child.

Question 14

What is the first step in planning an early childhood education environment?

A) finding out the state regulations and licensing standards
B) planning how the environment will match children's interests, developmental levels, and needs
C) obtaining adequate liability insurance
D) deciding how the environment will reflect program goals and values

Question 15

Which educational theorists emphasized the importance of the environment to young children's development and learning?

A) Sigmund Freud and Erik Erikson
B) John Locke and John Dewey
C) Maria Montessori, Loris Malaguzzi and Emmi Pikler
D) Albert Bandura and B. F. Skinner

Question 16

Three-year-old Jeoff goes to preschool at a large, school-like program. His friend, Misha, attends a smaller program in one of the neighborhood homes. Research suggests that Jeoff will

A) be more likely than Misha to have one-on-one contact with an adult.
B) spend more time waiting around than Misha will.
C) make more of his own decisions about how to spend his time than Misha will.
D) be more likely than Misha to have an adult close by to provide scaffolding.

Question 17

Regarding the setting for early childhood education programs, what is the opinion of your textbook's author?

A) The trend is toward home environments, but a school-like environment is more suited to young children's development.
B) The trend is toward home environments, and this type of environment is best suited to young children's development.
C) The trend is toward following a school model, and this environment is best suited to young children's development.
D) The trend is toward following a school model, but a homelike environment is more suited to young children's development.

Question 18

Early childhood education occurs in

A) interest centers only.
B) gross motor learning spaces.
C) interest centers and gross motor learning spaces.
D) interest centers, physical care centers, and gross motor learning spaces.

Question 19

Of the following areas in Ms. Melanie's four-year-old preschool classroom, which is considered an interest center?

A) the area used for cleaning up after painting and other messy art activities
B) the space where the class aquarium is located
C) the outdoor climbing equipment
D) the space where children eat their snacks

Question 20

In designing his child care center, Miguel Guerra is sure to include places where children can use their bodies in many different ways. These places are called

A) circulation patterns.
B) interest areas.
C) gross motor spaces.
D) physical care areas.

Question 21

Regarding the dimensions of an early childhood learning environment, which of the following statements is FALSE?

A) Play yards should be as natural as possible to promote free play and expression.
B) Although there should generally be a balance between hardness and softness, very young children will require more softness in their environment.
C) Children under two need more closed materials and toys that have correct, straight-forward solutions.
D) Infants need quiet places where they can sleep and have their physical needs met.

Question 22

Frank Ford is planning the environment for his day care center. Frank is sure to have places where the children can move about freely inside, as well as places where they can have down time to relax or play quietly. With which dimension of the learning environment are Frank's plans concerned?

A) soft/hard dimension
B) mobility dimensions
C) intrusion/seclusion dimension
D) simple/complex dimension

Question 23

Regarding space in an early childhood environment, which of the following statements is TRUE?

A) The minimum recommended space requirement is 25 square feet per child.
B) When it comes to space, the more the better.
C) Different age groups need their own discrete spaces separate from other age groups.
D) When the right adult-child ratios are met, the size of the group in the space doesn't matter.

Question 24

Cassidy Carver's family child care center has an activities table with four chairs, an easel that can accommodate a child on each side, a play kitchen area with room for four children, and a building blocks area that can hold three children. How many play spaces are in Carver's environment?

A) three
B) thirteen
C) four
D) cannot determine from information provided

Question 25

Preschool teachers Amy Smart and Emilia Barrio have a three-year-old student who has a hearing impairment. In setting up the classroom, the teachers should strive to

A) make sure that there are ramps for the child.
B) safely sound-proof the room in such a way that the child can distinguish talking from other noise.
C) set up an interdependently-focused environment.
D) provide toys that make noise.

Question 26

Which of the following child care centers has interdependence-promoting environmental characteristics?

A) Angels Loft places wipe-up cloths at places where the children can conveniently reach them and clean up their places following activities or snacks.
B) Angels-R-Us has steps at the diapering area that allow children to climb up themselves.
C) Cute Kidz uses serving dishes and spoons that are child-sized; children are expected to serve themselves their own food.
D) Double-the-Fun has its coat hooks at adult level, and supplies are stored on high shelves and in closed cupboards.

Question 27

Florida Friends School has several areas scattered throughout the school with special visual displays. The displays have no particular purpose, except for students, teachers, and staff to have something visually interesting and pleasing to look at. Florida Friends School is using the environment to reflect which value?

A) aesthetics
B) cooperation
C) authenticity
D) exploration

Question 28

Which of the following child care environments is most likely to make use of surround care?

A) a before- and after-school child care program for school-age children
B) a full-day child care center
C) a half-day Head Start preschool
D) a kindergarten or primary grade classroom

Question 29

Which of the following is NOT an element of the environment at the Pikler Institute?

A) the use of rug pads in the infant room to cushion their falls when attempting to walk
B) duplicate furniture and equipment for eating and napping indoors and outdoors
C) duplicate furniture and equipment for napping indoors and outdoors
D) toys designed for exploration and learning more than for entertainment

Question 30

In the story of Miss Dee Dee's early childhood education program presented in the text, which environmental aspect was emphasized?

A) the safety of the environment
B) the environment reflecting the program's goals and values
C) the developmental appropriateness of the environment
D) the sanitation and cleanliness of the environment

Question 31

Authenticity is reflected in an early childhood environment in all but which of the following ways?

A) through the use of real tools and equipment instead of facsimiles
B) when exploration is encouraged through environmental design
C) through the use of an antibias focus
D) when the setting reflects the people in the program

Question 32

Explain the five dimensions of a learning environment identified by Elizabeth Jones.

Question 33

Aside from the five environmental dimensions presented by Elizabeth Jones, describe four other environmental considerations in the design of an early childhood environment. Then, draw a floor plan for a child care environment (you can choose infant, toddler, preschool, or school age) that takes these aspects into consideration.

Question 34

Describe how an early childhood environment can reflect each of the following goals: individuality, independence, interdependence, cooperation, authenticity, exploration, and aesthetics.