Presents photographs of the winners of the Classy Classroom Contest, innovative classroom arrangements and ideas for organizing space. (CM)

What features of the physical environment in video game arcades lead kids to be so engaged? How can analysis of arcade space inform language arts teachers' decisions about designing classroom environments? This article presents an analysis of physical space in video game arcades and participants' positions therein to suggest how language arts…

Offers suggestions for creating a physical environment in the kindergarten classroom that is functional, attractive, appropriate, flexible and conducive to learning. (ED)

A look at research from the Institute of Advanced Architectural Studies, York, United Kingdom, on the design of spaces for learning. (HB)

This paper presents the results of a two-part study that investigated classroom seating design preferences among elementary classroom teachers. In part one, the researchers mapped and classified seating arrangements that were in actual use across 294 regular classrooms (grades K-5) in 21 public elementary schools. Subsequently, the researchers…

A discussion of the impact seating has on what learning occurs in the classroom. (Author/HB)

Explores different K-6 classroom designs that address the changing learning-space needs of students. The hexagonal modular design is described as one answer to a classroom that is flexible as well as accommodating to educational technology, now and into the future. (GR)

Many elementary school teachers with a passion for teaching social studies are finding that the administratively defined time for direct instruction in social studies is becoming increasingly restricted. Fortunately for the teacher who is convinced that social and civic education should be at the center of the elementary school curriculum, where…

The design of the teaching area for a secondary school mathematics suite'' is discussed; floor plans illustrating three different arrangements of classrooms, reference areas, and laboratory areas are included. (DT)

Offers a diagram of how the renovated publication area at City High School, Iowa City, Iowa, is set up. (SR)

The New York City Department of Education has recently set forth new mandates for the redesign of classrooms. Teachers must be taught how to redesign their classrooms correctly so that all students will be provided with the necessary space to accommodate their environmental learning-style preferences. By altering the classroom, teachers give some…

In this article, the author emphasizes the importance of "working" walls in children's programs. Children's programs need "working" walls (and ceilings and floors) which can be put to use for communication, display, storage, and activity space. The furnishings also work, or don't work, for the program in another sense: in aggregate, they serve as…

This article describes how a classroom can be arranged to encourage and channel a child's curiosity instead of discouraging it. (PB)

Research shows that for effective learning to occur, children must be actively involved. They need space to work with a wide variety of materials, share ideas, and present their findings. Architects are working to produce designs featuring large common areas or large complexes devoted to specific interests. Working in an open environment…

Eight elementary school teachers describe how they organized their classrooms to make unique, effective learning environments. There are ideas for creating a reading garden, shared spaces, more work space, more storage space, desktop folders, confined block areas, magnetic display holders, and effective room layouts. (SM)