Setting Up Displays In An Early Learning Environment

Setting up room displays can be quite exciting. The following article provides information on Non Negotiable Displays, Highly Recommended Displays, Optional Displays, Displays To Meets NQS In Australia, Displays To Meet National Regulations, Quality Ratings Display, Ideas For Creating A Children's Art Display, Examples Of Cultural Displays, Examples Of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Displays, Themed Displays, Creating A Parent Displays and more.

Non-Negotiables

Philosophy Statements:
- Centre's philosophy
- Personal teaching philosophy
Daily Routines and Schedules:
- Class schedule
- Meal and nap times
Menu:
- Weekly or monthly meal plan
Emergency Procedures:
- Evacuation map
- Emergency contact numbers

Highly Recommended:

Birthday Chart:
- A fun display to celebrate children’s birthdays
Classroom Rules:
- Simple, clear rules for behavior
Educational Posters:
- Alphabet, numbers, shapes, and colors
Student Work Display:
- A dedicated space to showcase children’s artwork and projects
Themed Boards:
- Seasonal boards reflecting current themes or units being studied (e.g., Lunar New Year, weather, animals)
Interactive Displays:
- Such as a weather chart or daily attendance board
Parent Information Board:
- Upcoming events, announcements, and volunteer opportunities

Optional but Valuable:

Cultural Displays:
- Showcasing diverse cultures and traditions
Reading Corner:
- A cozy area with books and reading material
Growth Charts:
- Tracking height or other developmental milestones
Class Pet Area:
- If you have classroom pets, a designated space for their care and information about them

These displays not only keep the room organized but also make it a welcoming and engaging environment for children.

Displays To Meets NQS In Australia

To meet the National Quality Standard (NQS), room displays should reflect the seven quality areas outlined by the Australian Children's Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA). Here are some key displays you should consider:

Quality Area 1 – Educational Program and Practice

Learning Goals: Clearly display the learning goals for children.
Program Schedules: Daily and weekly plans that outline activities and educational experiences.
Children’s Work: Showcase children's artwork, projects, and achievements to highlight their learning journey.

Quality Area 2 – Children's Health and Safety

Hygiene Practices: Posters showing proper handwashing techniques and good hygiene.
Emergency Procedures: Charts and diagrams for fire drills and other emergencies.
Health Information: Display information on nutrition, allergies, and first aid.

Quality Area 3 – Physical Environment

Room Layout: Ensure the environment is safe, inclusive, and promotes children's learning.
Resource Areas: Clearly labeled sections for different activities, such as reading corners, art stations, and play areas.

Quality Area 4 – Staffing Arrangements

Staff Information: Display photos and bios of staff members to help parents and children get to know them.
Professional Development: Highlight qualifications and ongoing training of the educators.

Quality Area 5 – Relationships with Children

Family Involvement: Display family photos and contributions to create a sense of belonging.
Positive Interactions: Showcase positive interactions, such as collaborative projects and group activities.

Quality Area 6 – Collaborative Partnerships with Families and Communities

Community Events: Posters and notices about upcoming community events and opportunities for family involvement.
Feedback Boards: Spaces for parents to leave comments or suggestions.

Quality Area 7 – Governance and Leadership

Philosophy Statements: Clearly display the center’s philosophy and mission statement.
Policies and Procedures: Ensure that relevant policies and procedures are accessible to staff and parents.

By incorporating these displays, you'll not only meet the NQS requirements but also create an engaging and informative environment for children, parents, and staff.

Displays To Meet EYLF

To meet the Early Years Learning Framework, room displays should reflect the principles, practices, and learning outcomes outlined in the framework. Here are some key displays you should consider:

Principles and Practices

EYLF Principles Poster:
- Display the core principles of EYLF, such as secure and respectful relationships, high expectations, and partnerships.
Practices Poster:
- Highlight key practices like holistic approaches, responsiveness, intentional teaching, and cultural competence.

Learning Outcomes

EYLF Learning Outcomes Board:
- Display each of the five learning outcomes:
  - Children have a strong sense of identity.
  - Children are connected with and contribute to their world.
  - Children have a strong sense of well-being.
  - Children are confident and involved learners.
  - Children are effective communicators.
- Include visual evidence of how children are meeting these outcomes.

Educational Displays

Daily Routine and Schedules:
- Clearly show the daily routine, including meal times, nap times, and activity blocks.
Menu:
- Display the weekly or monthly meal plan.
Children’s Work:
- Showcase children's artwork, projects, and developmental milestones.
Interactive Boards:
- Include elements like weather charts, attendance boards, and name recognition activities.

Safety and Hygiene

Emergency Procedures:
- Display charts and diagrams for fire drills and other emergencies.
Hygiene Practices:
- Posters showing proper handwashing techniques and good hygiene practices.
Health Information:
- Include information on nutrition, allergies, and first aid.

Family and Community Engagement

Family Involvement Board:
- Display family photos and contributions to create a sense of belonging.
Community Connections:
- Showcase community events, partnerships, and opportunities for family involvement.

Displays To Meet National Regulations

To meet the Early Childhood National Regulations, room displays need to align with the principles and requirements set out by ACECQA. Here are some key displays you should consider:

Quality Areas

Educational Program and Practice:
- Learning Goals: Clearly display the learning goals for children.
- Program Schedules: Daily and weekly plans that outline activities and educational experiences.
- Children’s Work Display: Showcase children's artwork and projects to highlight their learning journey.
Children's Health and Safety:
- Hygiene Practices: Posters showing proper handwashing techniques and good hygiene practices.
- Emergency Procedures: Charts and diagrams for fire drills and other emergencies.
- Health Information: Display information on nutrition, allergies, and first aid.
Physical Environment:
- Room Layout: Ensure the environment is safe, inclusive, and promotes children's learning.
- Resource Areas: Clearly labeled sections for different activities, such as reading corners, art stations, and play areas.
Staffing Arrangements:
- Staff Information: Display photos and bios of staff members to help parents and children get to know them.
- Professional Development: Highlight qualifications and ongoing training of the educators.
Relationships with Children:
- Family Involvement: Display family photos and contributions to create a sense of belonging.
- Positive Interactions: Showcase collaborative projects and group activities.
Collaborative Partnerships with Families and Communities:
- Community Events: Posters and notices about upcoming community events and opportunities for family involvement.
- Feedback Boards: Spaces for parents to leave comments or suggestions.
Governance and Leadership:
- Philosophy Statements: Clearly display the center’s philosophy and mission statement.
- Policies and Procedures: Ensure that relevant policies and procedures are accessible to staff and parents.

Quality Ratings Display

Creating a Quality Ratings display for your classroom or center can be a great way to showcase your commitment to high standards of care and education. Here's how you can create an effective and visually appealing display:

Quality Ratings Display Guide

Components to Include:

Rating Certificate:
- Display the official quality rating certificate prominently.
Quality Areas Overview:
- Create a section that outlines the seven quality areas of the National Quality Standard (NQS):
  1. Educational program and practice
  2. Children's health and safety
  3. Physical environment
  4. Staffing arrangements
  5. Relationships with children
  6. Collaborative partnerships with families and communities
  7. Governance and leadership
Key Achievements:
- Highlight key achievements or areas where your center excels.
Testimonials:
- Include positive feedback or testimonials from parents and children.
Continuous Improvement Plan:
- Display an overview of your continuous improvement plan, showing your commitment to ongoing improvement.

Visual Elements:

Infographics: Use infographics to make complex information easily understandable.
Photos: Include photos of children engaging in activities that demonstrate quality practices.
Interactive Elements: Consider adding interactive elements such as QR codes that link to more detailed information or videos.

Ideas For Creating A Children's Art Display

Displaying children's art can create a vibrant, engaging, and inclusive environment in your classroom. Here are some fun and creative ideas for setting up a children's art display:

Themed Art Displays

Seasonal Art Boards: Rotate displays based on the seasons, featuring winter snowflakes, spring flowers, summer beach scenes, and autumn leaves.
Storybook Inspirations: Create displays based on children's favorite books or stories, highlighting their artistic interpretations of characters and scenes.
Cultural Celebrations: Showcase art related to different cultural festivals and holidays, such as Diwali, Lunar New Year, and Christmas.

Interactive Displays

Art Gallery Wall: Set up a mini-gallery where children’s artwork is framed and labeled, mimicking a professional art gallery.
3D Art Corner: Dedicate a space to display three-dimensional art projects, such as clay sculptures, paper mache crafts, and dioramas.
Interactive Art Wall: Use a large bulletin board where children can attach and rearrange their artwork with Velcro or magnetic strips.

Collaborative Displays

Group Mural Projects: Encourage children to work together to create large murals that can be displayed on the walls or hung from the ceiling.
Patchwork Quilt Display: Have each child contribute a "patch" to a collective quilt made of paper or fabric, displaying different styles and techniques.
Theme-Based Collages: Create collages based on themes like nature, community, or family, with each child adding their own unique piece.

Dynamic and Rotating Displays

Art Display Rack: Use a rotating rack or shelf to easily change and update the artwork on display.
Project of the Week: Highlight a different project each week, giving each child a chance to be in the spotlight.
Seasonal Scrapbook: Create a classroom scrapbook of children’s artwork, adding new pages for each new season or unit of study.

Celebratory and Personal Displays

Birthday Art Gallery: Feature special artwork created by children celebrating their birthdays that month.
All About Me: Have children create self-portraits or personal collages to be displayed in a dedicated "All About Me" section.
Achievements Board: Showcase art related to significant achievements or milestones, such as completing a big project or learning a new skill.

Examples Of Cultural Displays

Setting up cultural displays in your classroom is a wonderful way to celebrate diversity and teach children about different traditions and customs! Here are some ideas for creating cultural displays:

Festival Displays

Lunar New Year: Include red decorations, lanterns, and dragon puppets. Display information about the significance of the festival and traditional customs.
Diwali: Use vibrant colors, diyas (lamps), and rangoli patterns. Showcase photos and stories about how Diwali is celebrated.
Christmas Around the World: Highlight different ways Christmas is celebrated globally, with visual aids like ornaments, stockings, and nativity scenes.

Cultural Artifacts

Clothing and Textiles: Display traditional clothing from various cultures, such as sarees, kimonos, and dashikis. Include a description of each garment and its cultural significance.
Musical Instruments: Showcase traditional instruments like drums, flutes, and sitars. Provide information on how they are used in cultural ceremonies and music.
Pottery and Crafts: Display handmade pottery, baskets, and other crafts from different cultures, along with descriptions of their uses and origins.

Interactive Activities

Cultural Cooking Corner: Set up a display with recipes and ingredients from various cultures. Include photos of the finished dishes and information about their origins.
Language Boards: Create a display with common phrases and words in different languages spoken by the children in your classroom.
Storytime Corner: Feature books and stories from various cultures. Have a storytime session where you read these stories to the children.

Community Connections

Family Photos and Stories: Invite families to share photos and stories about their cultural heritage. Create a display featuring these contributions.
Guest Speakers: Invite community members or parents to share their cultural traditions, stories, and artifacts with the children.
Cultural Exchange Projects: Partner with another classroom or school from a different cultural background and exchange letters, artwork, or cultural items.

Examples Of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Displays

Creating vibrant and educational Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander displays in your room is a wonderful way to celebrate and honour the rich traditions and cultures of Australia's First Nations people. Here are some examples of meaningful displays you can set up:Art and Cultural Displays:

Dot Paintings: Showcase dot paintings by local artists or children, explaining the significance and stories behind the artwork.
Aboriginal Symbols Chart: Display a chart of common Aboriginal symbols with their meanings.
Traditional Instruments: Display instruments like didgeridoos and clapsticks, with information on how they are used in ceremonies and music.
Weaving and Basketry: Feature samples of traditional weaving and basketry, along with descriptions of their cultural importance.

Educational Information

Language Map: Display a map showing the different Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander language groups across Australia.
Significant Figures: Highlight profiles of significant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander figures in history, such as Eddie Mabo and Vincent Lingiari.
Timeline of History: Create a timeline of important events in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history.

Interactive Displays

Seasonal Calendar: Create a seasonal calendar based on local Aboriginal knowledge, showing the traditional seasons and related activities.
Hands-on Activities: Set up an area where children can engage in traditional games or make their own dot paintings and crafts.
Storytelling Corner: Have a dedicated space for reading Dreamtime stories and traditional tales.

Community Engagement

Photographic Displays: Feature photographs of local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members and events.
Guest Speakers and Workshops: Invite Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander elders to share their stories and conduct workshops.
Cultural Items: Display culturally significant items such as boomerangs, spears, and shields with explanations of their uses and meanings.

Celebrations and Festivals

NAIDOC Week Display: Decorate the classroom with posters, flags, and information about NAIDOC Week, celebrating the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Local Indigenous Events: Display information about upcoming local Indigenous events and encourage participation from students and their families.

Themed Displays

Creating themed displays can make your classroom environment even more engaging and interactive for children. Here are some ideas for different themed displays you can set up:Seasonal Themes

Winter Wonderland: Feature snowflakes, winter animals, and snowmen. Include a section about winter holidays around the world.
Spring Blossom: Decorate with flowers, butterflies, and budding trees. Highlight topics like plant growth and the life cycle of butterflies.
Summer Fun: Use beach-themed decorations, seashells, and sand castles. Incorporate information on sea life and summer activities.
Autumn Harvest: Display leaves, pumpkins, and harvest crops. Include information on autumn festivals and the changing seasons.

Educational Themes

Space Exploration: Create a display with planets, rockets, and astronauts. Include facts about the solar system and recent space missions.
Under the Sea: Feature marine life, coral reefs, and ocean ecosystems. Highlight the importance of marine conservation.
Dinosaur Land: Use dinosaurs, fossils, and prehistoric plants. Provide information on different types of dinosaurs and their habitats.
Healthy Living: Display fruits, vegetables, and exercise activities. Include tips on nutrition and the benefits of staying active.

Cultural and Historical Themes

Around the World: Decorate with maps, flags, and cultural artifacts from various countries. Include facts about different cultures and traditions.
Ancient Civilizations: Create a display about the Egyptians, Greeks, or Mayans. Highlight their contributions to science, architecture, and art.
Celebrations and Festivals: Feature different cultural celebrations like Diwali, Lunar New Year, and Christmas around the world.

Storybook Themes

Fairy Tales: Use characters and scenes from popular fairy tales like Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, and The Three Bears.
Adventure Stories: Create displays based on adventure books like "Treasure Island," "Around the World in 80 Days," and "Peter Pan."
Fantasy Worlds: Decorate with themes from fantasy books like "Harry Potter," "The Chronicles of Narnia," and "Where the Wild Things Are."

Nature and Science Themes

The Animal Kingdom: Feature animals from different habitats like the jungle, desert, and Arctic. Include interesting animal facts and photos.
Weather and Climate: Display different weather conditions and climate zones. Include information about weather patterns and climate change.
The Human Body: Create a display with body systems like the circulatory, respiratory, and digestive systems. Provide fun facts about how the body works.

Creating A Parent Display

Setting up a parent display can foster a stronger connection between parents and your centre. Here are some ideas to create an engaging and informative parent display:

Welcome Board

Welcome Message: A warm welcome note for parents and visitors.
Staff Introductions: Photos and brief bios of teachers and staff members.

Daily Updates

Daily Schedule: Clearly outline the day's activities and routines.
Daily Highlights: A summary of the day's events, including special activities or important announcements.

Communication Corner

Parent Notices: Announcements about upcoming events, holidays, or important dates.
Feedback and Suggestions Box: A space for parents to leave feedback or suggestions.

Children's Learning and Development

Learning Goals: Display the learning goals for children and how they align with the curriculum.
Children’s Artwork: Showcase children’s artwork and projects to celebrate their achievements.

Health and Safety Information

Hygiene Practices: Posters showing proper handwashing techniques and other hygiene practices.
Emergency Procedures: Clear charts and diagrams for fire drills and other emergencies.

Community and Events

Upcoming Events Calendar: Highlight events, workshops, and activities for parents to participate in.
Family Contribution Wall: Display family photos and cultural contributions to foster a sense of belonging.

Resources and Support

Parent Resources: Information on parenting workshops, community resources, and support services.
Cultural Displays: Feature information about different cultures represented in your center.

These displays can create an inclusive and informative environment for parents, helping them feel more connected and engaged with their child's learning experience.