MCCCD Official Course Competencies:

ECH271  1996 Spring – 2010 Summer II

Arranging the Environment

1.

Identify and describe how behavior may be affected by the various environments where children spend time. (I,II)

2.

Explain Maria Montessori's perspective regarding how the arrangement of environments can assist development.(II)

3.

Practice analysis of both indoor and outdoor spaces to demonstrate awareness of scale, safety, content, time, traffic and size characteristics of the environment. (III-V)

4.

Design an indoor environment to meet the daily developmental needs of young children.(IV)

5.

Identify and explain elements in both indoor and outdoor environments that may have an impact on safety of young children. (III-V)

MCCCD Official Course Outline:

ECH271  1996 Spring – 2010 Summer II

Arranging the Environment

I. Environments and Behavior

A. Public and Private Spaces

B. Societal Messages in Spaces

1. Culture and Social Class

2. Ownership and Sharing of Spaces

C. Adult vs. Child Needs

II. Characteristics of Environments Where Children Spend Time

A. Home and Family Spaces

B. Child Care Spaces

C. School Spaces

D. The Montessori Perspective

E. Occasional Places

III. Analysis and Arrangement of Environments

A. Scale and Safety Issues

B. Content Analysis

1. Variety

2. Complexity

3. Amount to do per Child

C. Time and Traffic Issues

1. Sharing Spaces with Others

2. Pathways

D. Square-footage per Child

E. Familiarity and Change Effects

IV. Indoor Environments

A. Home and Living Spaces

B. Routine Care and Comfort Spaces

C. Teaching and Learning Spaces

D. Play and Gathering Spaces

V. Outdoor Environments

A. Playgrounds and Backyards

1. Equipment and Materials

2. Elements of Nature and Climate

B. Urban Spaces

C. Wild and Natural Spaces