CHAPTER 5
Chapter 5True/False Questions
Circle T if the statement is true; circle F if the statement is false.
T F 1. Crowded indoor space can be a cause of disruptive behavior in the classroom.
T F 2. Six to eight year olds are at more risk for environmental safety hazards than are three to
five year olds.
T F 3. Ms. Fountain used good judgment when she attached two household extension cords to
plug in an electric fry pan on a table in the corner.
T F 4. Mr. Barkey used good judgment when he put the fertilizer and water mixture on top of
the refrigerator when interrupted by an early arriving child.
T F 5. Outdoor metal slides may pose a risk to children when they are too hot or too cold.
T F 6. Children tend to be more socially interactive and quieter in less than full-intensity light.
T F 7. Most of the storage should be arranged primarily for the teacher’s comfort and
convenience.
T F 8. Structural features of the outdoor play space have little influence on the behavior of the
children.
T F 9. The same large group space may be used for music, stories, blocks, and a climber
within the schedule of a full day.
T F 10. The physical environment provides cues for appropriate behavior for the children as
well as stimulating learning.
T F 11. The accommodations made for the special needs of one child might pose a safety threat
to another child with quite different needs.
Chapter 5 Multiple Choice Questions
Circle the best answer.
12. 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.
13. How should the level of sound be reduced in the classroom where children engage
appropriately in center learning?
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.
14. 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
15. 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.
16. 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. Ask Mary to move a large block from place to place when she moves in the classroom.
b. Eliminate all 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.
17. 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.
18. 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
19. 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.
20. 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.
21. How does a teacher achieve the independent and predictable movement of children
throughout the day?
a. Planning a schedule that is balanced between passive and active events.
b. Building routine activities into the program at the same time daily or at least in a regular
pattern.
c. Engaging in outdoor play early in the morning to let children burn off excess energy.
d. Telling children when and where to move and what to do whenever there is a change of
focus or something new to do.
22. How does the appearance of a classroom impact on 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.
23. 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 activity is a cute and appealing one to do.
c. The activity is 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.
24. 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.
25. What is the role of the teacher in developing a new center?
a. Planning objectives and materials.
b. Inviting children to contribute some materials.
c. Introducing the center with demonstrations as appropriate.
d. All of these
26. 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 if the children have achieved 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.
27. 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.
28. 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.
29. 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.
30. How does the teacher provide for security and well being through the daily program?
a. Plan large blocks of time so that children can move at their own pace most of the time.
b. Establish predictable, consistent schedules so that children can reasonably predict what
will happen next.
c. Provide opportunities for solitary, small group and large group work and a variety in the
program within the schedule.
d. All of the above
31. What strategy is most desirable in instituting a change in the schedule?
a. Plan carefully, tell children in advance about the change, remind them as needed, and
allow time for them to adjust.
b. Simply get the attention of the children whenever a transition is needed and tell them what
to do.
c. Change the schedule, write it out for all the adults, and try it out for a few days. If that
does not work, go back to the original schedule.
d. Alter the schedule monthly at the same time you move the furnishings in the room to
increase interest and variety.
Chapter 5 Short Answer Questions
Give a short, concise answer to each statement.
32. Why should children be encouraged to care for their learning environment?
33. List three or more general guidelines about the storage and display of materials.
34. What materials should be a part of all centers?
35. What are the advantages and disadvantages of heterogeneous groups?
36. What is the purpose of adjusting the physical environment during use?
Chapter 5 Essay Questions
Give complete responses to each statement.
37. What is the difference between a traditional playground and a nature classroom?
38. Select one indoor center and one outdoor center and explain how it should be set up for ___
(specific year range) ___ year-old children.
39. Write out a daily schedule for three to four year old children who arrive between 6:45 in the
morning and leave by 6:00 in the evening.
Chapter 5:
Short Answer: Give a short, concise answer to each statement.
Essay: Give complete responses to each statement.