Andrea Elizalde

ECE 251

Physical Observation
1. School: Lincoln Elementary Telephone: (702) 799-7133

2. Teacher: Ms. Shamsheer Cheema Age/grade level: 2nd Grade

3. 34 Students are enrolled in the class.

4. List all of the centers and the number of children each center can accommodate.

Reading center, Math Center, Science Center, Art center, and Preparation/ tutoring

center. Each center can accommodate four to five people at a time.

5. On a separate page, draw a floor plan of the classroom with each center identified (15 pts)

6. Before engaging in your observation, develop a comprehensive checklist you will use evaluate

the classroom’s physical environment. (Do not include the outdoor environment.)

a. Items in your checklist must come from the on-line reading, video and

section on Space & Furnishings (p. 15 - 27) found in ECERS (Early

Childhood Environment Rating Scale).

b. Be sure to use only those items which address the physical environment.

c. Organize the items in your checklist into the following categories

1) Arrangement of Physical Space

2) Learning Materials, Equipment and Furniture

3) Storage of Materials and Equipment

 Andrea Elizalde
ECE 251

4) Other Elements of Physical Environment This section is to include items that don’t fit into the

above categories, eg. Adequate ventilation; natural lighting present.

NOTE: You will only use and submit the organized checklist which is to be completed as

follows.

7. Using the organized checklist you developed, observe the physical environment of the

classroom. If an item on your checklist is present, evaluate the quality of its presence in the

classroom. If an item on your checklist is absent, mark it as “not present”. (30 pts)

! ! Partial example of checklist and evaluation of the items.

Arrangement of Physical Space

1. Centers are clearly defined: Most centers were clearly defined either by

carpeted areas or by shelving. The only center not well defined was the

art center. This center was only present if the teacher placed materials for

the children to use on a work table which also doubled as a snack table.

2. Dead Space: Not present

8. Describe and evaluate how the teacher represented the issue of diversity in the physical

environment. (5 pts)

9.

a. Write a detailed observation of the classroom in action. Focus on how the room

arrangement influences the children’s social interactions, and the children’s use of the room and

its materials.
 Andrea Elizalde
ECE 251

If you observe a preschool classroom, you must observe during child

directed play. If you observe K-2nd grade, you must observe at a time

when the children have the greatest “free use” of the classroom. (10 pts)

b. Write an evaluation of the room arrangement based on what you observed re: the

children’s use of the classroom/materials and their social interactions. Include specific examples

from your observation to support your conclusions. (10 pts)

2. Write an overall evaluation of the Learning Environment. (21 pts)

a. Rating: Using a scale of 1-5, with 5 being the best, if you were the

director or principal of this school how would you rate this learning

environment?

b. Strengths & Weaknesses: Specifically explain your rating by identifying

the strengths and weaknesses you observed.

c. Improvements: Identify specific improvements, you, as the administrator,

would expect to see.