Misconceptions About Learning Environments

• That the learning environment should be designed with an emphasis on aesthetics, focusing on things like neutral colours and pretty storage containers (e.g., wicker baskets) and using commercial materials to decorate the walls, rather than on creating an environment that supports learning and makes children's thinking and learning visible
• That the children's input amounts to little more than choosing the materials for a selected activity, such as dramatic play
• That furniture should be arranged to facilitate whole-group activities, such as snack, lunch, or crafts, rather than to support learning as it occurs throughout the day
• That "learning environment" refers merely to the size of the space and the furniture in the room, and refers only to the indoor classroom
• That learning in the outdoors requires travel beyond the school grounds, or extensive knowledge of the natural world