How Can I Design My Own Floor Plan for a Classroom?
Designing a functional floor plan for your classroom can improve classroom flow, usability and community. Well-constructed floor plans can be used as tools to encourage students to view their classrooms as welcoming and comfortable places where their thoughts and the thoughts of others are valued. By dividing your classroom into purposeful areas, students can have a better understanding of what is expected of them. With the amount of furniture in most classrooms, however, arranging the room can be more time-consuming than necessary without planning ahead.
Instructions
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Measure the perimeter of your classroom using the tape measure. Record the measurements on a piece of paper.
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Use graph paper to make a grid that is proportional to your room. Each box in the grid represents on square foot of space in your room. You will use this small-scale classroom to arrange your furniture, so add details such as windows and doors in pencil.
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Measure all of the furniture you plan on using in your classroom using the tape measure. Keep a list of each item and its measurement.
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Using more graph paper, cut out pieces of furniture that are proportionally accurate, with each box in the grid representing 1 square foot of space. You may choose to shade them so that they stand out from the room grid.
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Arrange the furniture in the grid to your liking before emulating it in full scale. To ensure accuracy, measure or estimate the distance between objects.
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Tips & Warnings
When deciding where to put furniture, be sure to create separate spaces for each activity when possible. For example, have a reading corner and a library rather than spreading bookshelves all over the room. This helps students remember the expectations for each area of the room. Once the desks are laid out on your grid, you may want to decide on a seating arrangement for the class. This is made easy by already having the desks cut out for arranging. For long-term use, laminate the paper furniture for next year. If you are in a hurry and have a clear vision for how you want to arrange your classroom, draw the furniture on your grid in pencil.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit school room image by Alfonso d"Agostino from Fotolia.com
