Deck 6: Organizing Space and Materials

Question 1

Mrs. Schmidt noticed that Jacob had cut his leg on some outdoor play equipment that had a rough edge. What is her responsibility in this matter?

A) She should send him to the office.
B) She should put on gloves and apply first aid.
C) She should use gloves, apply first aid, and comfort the child.
D) She should use gloves, apply first aid, comfort the child, and report the need for equipment repair.

Answer 1

She should use gloves, apply first aid, comfort the child, and report the need for equipment repair.

Question 2

The best strategy in reducing the level of sound in the classroom where children are engaging appropriately in center learning is to do what?

A) Set rules so children must remain quiet.
B) Add carpet, cushions, corkboard or other soft materials.
C) Limit movement of the children to a few at a time.
D) Use more whole group instruction.

Answer 2

Add carpet, cushions, corkboard or other soft materials.

Question 3

Why use centers in early childhood settings?

A) The instructional difficulties related to individual and experiential differences are minimized.
B) Teacher planning and preparation time is minimized, especially in the beginning.
C) It assures that all children participate in the same things.
D) Once set up, there is little for the teacher to do the rest of the year.

Answer 3

The instructional difficulties related to individual and experiential differences are minimized.

Question 4

Ms. Apfelguard decided to do learning centers in the kindergarten. The leaf collection was gathered in September, placed on the science table where it remained for three weeks with no one looking at it or discussing it. What principle did Ms. Apfelguard NOT understand?

A) Children understand how to use learning centers properly.
B) The arrays of learning centers presented to children in a day and over time are diversified, representing a cross section of domains.
C) Centers are organized and implemented based upon the teacher's knowledge of development and interest.
D) Teachers use learning centers as a period to interact spontaneously with children and take advantage of opportunities to enhance, extend, and process information.

Question 5

Mrs. Gregory is receiving a new child into her kindergarten program. Mary is a dwarf and is the size of a two year old. Which of the following is the best approach for her to follow?

A) Provide a block to stand on that Mary can take from place to place as she moves about the classroom.
B) Eliminate walking field trips in the neighborhood.
C) Provide stools as appropriate so Mary can reach shelves; ensure that she has independent access to toilets, lavatories, and drinking fountains; adapt a chair for comfortable seating. d. Inform Mary's parents that the district does not have the money to alter the physical environment just for one child.

Question 6

How do you structure a self-sustaining activity?

A) Just place new materials and equipment in a space large enough for it.
B) Introduce the activity to a small group who can then show other children how to do it.
C) Set limits so that children behave properly when using materials new to them.
D) Go ahead with the activity that had been planned as a guided learning activity and help the children out if they have difficulty.

Question 7

When assessing the overall layout of a classroom, what two factors should be so clear that children's movement behavior will be directly influenced?

A) Boundaries and pathways
B) Location of large group area and the teacher's area
C) Size of the furnishings and the numbers and locations of books
D) The amount of child accessible storage and the presence of children's art materials

Question 8

Mrs. Garner wanted children to understand how people were housed in the community. All of the children in the classroom lived in suburban houses on large lots. Which materials and strategies would be most effective in helping them understand that others had different experiences?

A) Photographs and pen and ink drawings of community housing alternatives.
B) A field trip to an apartment house and a mobile home, and having a large tent put up on the playground.
C) A storybook about houses around the world, featuring those in Africa.
D) A furnished dollhouse, furnished doll apartment house, and a small or toy tent in the classroom.

Question 9

What would be the next best strategy, given the alternatives above?

A) Photographs and pen and ink drawings of community housing alternatives.
B) A field trip to an apartment house and a mobile home, and having a large tent put up on the playground.
C) A storybook about houses around the world, featuring those in Africa.
D) A furnished dollhouse, furnished doll apartment house, and a small or toy tent in the classroom.

Question 10

Mr. Davidson cordoned off a section of the school grounds as a nature study area featuring plants that grow naturally in the region. What is the BEST educational response to the question: "Why have the children not planted a formal flower garden instead?"

A) This portion of the playground wasn't getting much use anyway.
B) This area gives children a first-hand opportunity to study plants, insects, and other small animals typical of the region.
C) Children like to be outdoors.
D) Natural habitats are less expensive to maintain then formal flower beds.

Question 11

How does the appearance of a classroom impact learning and teaching?

A) Parents are impressed with how a place looks.
B) Children tend to imitate behaviors they observe and they are more likely to maintain a clean and orderly room, if the adults do it.
C) If materials are in the approximately the same area, children will be attracted to that area without other prompts.
D) If all of the materials that the children will use in a year are visible and available all of the time, the curriculum will be enhanced.

Question 12

Which of the following statements is NOT a criterion for the establishment of an effective center?

A) The center contributes to the long-range goals of the program.
B) The center is cute and appealing.
C) The activities in the center are the best use of the children's time.
D) The materials and methods used are well matched to the children's interests and developmental levels.

Question 13

What types of objects should be included in ALL indoor centers?

A) Tables and chairs
B) Writing materials and books
C) Open shelving and clean up supplies
D) Pictographs or taped directions for the use of the center

Question 14

What is the role of the teacher in developing a new activity center?

A) Watch the choices children make and talk to them about their choices.
B) Observe how children use materials and adjust activities for children with special needs.
C) Encourage children to engage in social interaction, ask questions and investigate.
D) Plan based on knowledge of children and goals, and then arrange materials and provide orientation or instruction on how to use the center.

Question 15

Ms. Rosario was concerned about monitoring the progress of individual children in the second grade classroom. What would be the best advice to give her?

A) Use centers only for exploration and practice.
B) Give a test periodically to see what the children are achieving according to the standards set.
C) Use a participation chart periodically.
D) Develop a "have to" center and ask children to check with her once they have completed the tasks therein.

Question 16

Which of the following strategies is least appropriate when a center appears to be unsuccessful (excessively noisy, disorganized, children unable to do the activity)?

A) Add something to the environment that will help organize the children's behavior.
B) Remove extraneous, irrelevant, or distracting materials.
C) Remove the difficult children from the center.
D) Modify the activity in progress to be more congruent with children's level of skill.

Question 17

Every year in November the teachers of the Mayville Childcare center focused on Thanksgiving related activities. The community is small, rural, and of European decent. Which of the following classrooms are the best ones to emulate?

A) The blue bird room had pictures of teepees and Native Americans in the traditional dress typical of the expansion period of the United States.
B) The red bird room displayed pictures of children in black and white "Pilgrim" dress with displays of gourds, and pumpkins.
C) The green bird room displayed photos of modern people celebrating with a holiday dinner and of modern people harvesting, making applesauce and pumpkin pudding.
D) The materials used in all of these rooms are equally appropriate.

Question 18

If a group of young children are of all the same race, how would this influence the selection of materials?

A) Only materials that are consistent with that race should be provided.
B) Books and materials that honorably represent all races should be provided.
C) The focus should be on materials and books from the countries and cultures from which the children descended.
D) The background of the children is not relevant and should not influence the selection of materials.

Question 19

Which strategy is LEAST appropriate in making a center self-sustaining?

A) Prepare the environment before children arrive and observe them in action, intervening for safety or socially inappropriate behavior.
B) Introduce the activity at group time, demonstrate use of the materials prior to children trying them in the center.
C) Use pictographs posted in the center to guide children's actions.
D) Use the center activity to give children a chance to practice something they have already been taught.

Question 20

Why should children be encouraged to care for their learning environment?

Question 21

List three or more general guidelines about the storage and display of materials.

Question 22

What materials should be a part of all centers?

Question 23

Demonstrate your understanding of using puzzles at the concrete, increasingly abstract, and abstract levels.

Question 24

What is the difference between a traditional playground and a nature classroom?

Question 25

How can you support national and local diversity through the selection of materials?

Question 26

Ms. North is an experienced teacher who has developed many successful centers over the years. She has set up the classroom with a new florist shop next to the housekeeping area. About 15 minutes into free play she observes that the florist shop is a mess with more than half the children milling around inside the store. What should she do? Provide a rationale for your response.