Environmental plan for a space in Little Saints ELC 2016

Who are the children what are their interests and what things bring the
children joy and encourage them to wonder and delight?
The children experience their learning through play and exploration. Most often
the children are drawn to multiple activities. There are certain groups of children
who enjoy imaginative play generally in the cardboard block area, lego and mainly
the girls in the home corner. There are a few children who lead some children to
new activities, for example laptops and making them out of paper. There are
certain groups of children who find interest in new activities and other children
who enjoy sticking with the ones they play continually (a certain group of boys in
particular). I have observed that the children enjoy using sensory materials and
drawing and creating things. I have also observed that the children generally
move through various activities throughout the session, meaning they enjoy
having multiple options.
What will the children be doing in the space? How do you see them using
the space?
The learning space that I have created has a specific focus on literacy and
numeracy. This area is in a particular part of the room and the children are aware
that the area is a literacy and numeracy space. I will set the environment up so
there are multiple different activities for the children to engage with, that all
extended their early literacy and numeracy understanding, in fun and inviting
ways.
Within the literacy area I envision the children interacting with various books,
letter blocks and card games that involve writing, typing, spelling their names and
spelling words using the blocks and their colouring in pencils. The children have
an interest in writing their names, looking at words and writing them down, typing
on the keyboard etc. From this I have thought of a number of activities that are
directed at these interests. For example, coloured galantine in a glad bag that
allows the children to write letters or words using their fingers, lego blocks that
have letters on them which allow them to play with the lego and explore
spelling/writing different words. I have also created a phonics activity which
relates to the letter of the day. The children can use this activity to find pictures
that begin with the letter of the day. During tune in we will explore the letter of
the day and I will talk to the children about where they can find this activity.
Alternatively, in the numeracy area I have used bigger options that will hopefully
stand out and attract the children. I have envisioned the numeracy area to have
different number board games and sorting games with big materials that come
from the nature. I have thought of games that are limited to the number 5 so the
children dont get turned off the activities. I envision having displays on the wall
that the children can refer to and possibly even practice their counting. I have not
limited this area to numbers.
What is the focus of the space? Highlight some learning/exploration that
is possible
The main focus of this area is early literacy, phonetic awareness and numeracy
development. The children will be focusing on letter pronunciation, recognition as
well as developing early handwriting skills. In numeracy the activities will be
based on the focus of children being able to recognise and write numerals, match
numerals to a visual representation and early number sense and rote counting up
to 20.
Describe how you have given consideration to the interactional space?
Can you describe the sounds like that will unfold in this space?

Professional Practice 2: CQU School of Education and the Arts

This space is available for children to use in groups but mainly individually. I
envision the space to sound fairly quiet or small group discussions. Generally,
when I have observed the children using the literacy and numeracy space they
are engrossed in their individual activity and enjoy talking about what they have
created, when they are ready.

What does the space look like? What resources might be included? Will
some be added to the space over time?
Literacy
Dora the explorer books. (alphabet book with trace pad and letter book
with moveable parts).
Letter lego
Mini word wall and writing clipboards with multicolour pencils so they can
practice writing the letters
Laminated road signs with bowl of pegs with the letters written on them.
The children have to peg the letter pegs onto the words.
Keyboards or old laptop as the children are interested in computers and
keyboards at the moment.
Coloured gelatine in glad bags, the children can practice drawing the letter
through the bag.
Drawing or creating their family tree
Letter of the day with four spare Velcro pieces on the page. A bucket of
little pictures that the children use to match to the letter of the day EG: dDog
Word tags that have words which relate to different spaces in the room eg:
Space, family and strips of paper and pencils the children can use.
Numeracy
The snail game but now with a coloured dice and a normal dice. So the
children have to roll the dice and move the worm that many spaces.
Matching puzzle- numeral and visual representation form 1-10.
How many socks long are you: a basket of socks where the children have
to measure themselves using the socks. Picture in a frame to represent
what the socks are for.
Meter ruler for them to look at and read
Big toy Clock

Objects to count and clipboards with pencils to record results on.

Laminated sheets with patterns on them with one object different. Provide
on a clipboard with white board marker and the children get to circle the
ones that are different.

Professional Practice 2: CQU School of Education and the Arts

What considerations have I given to aesthetics?

Professional Practice 2: CQU School of Education and the Arts