Description and Response Questions located below Floor Plan
General Description:
The floor plan pictured above will be oriented with “North” at the top for the purposes of clarity and brevity. This floor plan is based on a 25’ X 20’ modular building accessed by an exterior sidewalk.
Student desks are arranged in “tables” of four and spaced approximately six inches apart. This space is to allow a bit of leg room and autonomy for each student, while keeping desks close enough that students can readily work in small groups. This desk design is the result of experimenting with five different desk arrangements in this room last school year. This design was, by far, the most favored by students in terms of comfort, esthetics, and the ability to get up and move to experiment stations.
The oval symbols used in the floor plan above denote cooling off areas.
The circle symbols used above refer to standing lamps.
Safety Considerations:
• The front and back doors can be locked from the inside to prevent intruder access. Window exteriors are protected with iron grating. Further, the large windows on the north wall can be quickly covered by rolling the large cabinet (on wheels) into position.
• A fire extinguisher is located inside the front door, and all students will be shown its location and use. Students will also be briefed on how to call the front office in an emergency.
• Student tables are set in such a way that allows quick movement and egress from an area toward either door in case of an emergency.
• A folding table is set in the front of the room for students to store their backpacks during the class.
• All students will explain and demonstrate emergency use of the eyewash station located at the sink.
Pedagogical Considerations:
• Shelving is used primarily to store room textbooks and reference materials.
• All students have a full view of the blackboard, whiteboard, and Promethean Board.
• Students will be assigned desks with flexibility to move based on classroom management needs.
• Use of fluorescent lighting is limited. Lamp light and sunlight coming from the large picture window suffice most days.
• Anchor charts (minimum of English and Spanish—Mandarin was also included last year) such as classroom expectations and school announcements are located on the bulletin board beside the chalk board.
• Learning objectives, Important Dates, Class Announcements, and Current Assignments are posted along one edge of the whiteboard on the south wall of the room, allowing students to quickly scan what the day entails as they enter the classroom and take their seats.
• A “Scientist of the Month” display will be located on the bulletin board beside the whiteboard on the south wall. This rotating display will feature important scientists from a diversity of backgrounds, races, and genders.
Science Experiment Considerations:
• This portable building is equipped with a sink and horseshoe-shaped experiment table. The table is located near the sink/eyewash station for safety and efficiency.
• Student table arrangements allow for ample room to conduct experiments, and also allow small groups to approach the experimentation area for hands-on exercises.
Sensory Considerations:
• As noted, use of fluorescent lighting is limited as a calming measure and for those students who are particularly impacted by fluorescence.
• Soft “Lo-Fi” music is played during small group activities, again as a calming agent.
• Art placed about the room is primarily student-created with an emphasis on scientific themes. Commercially made posters pertaining to science, overcoming challenges, and health topics are placed between student works.
• Aromatics including candles and automatic air fresheners are located about the room.
• A year-long experiment involving potato plants will also offer a soothing and oxygen-generating boost to the atmosphere.
Storage Considerations:
• Student supplies are located in the shelving beside the teacher’s desk.
• Scientific experiment supplies are stored in the large cabinet along the north wall.
• Teacher supplies are kept in the teacher’s desk and in the shelving beside the teacher’s desk.
• Student tests, papers, projects are stored in the file cabinet beside the teacher’s desk.
• Textbooks are stored on the shelves located on the north and east walls.
