Sketch out a room pattern on a piece of poster board. Deciding how available classroom space will be used is the first step in organizing interactive centers and educational tables. You need not be an accomplished artist to draw or trace symbols for classroom furniture. Make sure to add a label or create a diagram key to correspond with detailed labels on a separate sheet of paper. Place the necessary furniture first, such as students' and teacher's desks and storage cabinets. Once you place the primary furniture on your room map, let your creative juices flow, and arrange interactive areas for technology tools, group activities and individualized hands-on lessons.
Inventory the technology-based educational tools at your disposal and those you can borrow throughout the school year. Create a computer area on multiple desks or a shared table in the classroom. You can use educational software, online classroom lessons and educational websites for computer center activities. While the learning station furniture will remain the same throughout the school year, you can vary the assigned activities to match current classroom topics and initiatives. Headphones should be made available to students so the sounds from the computer do not disturb nearby classmates. Students can travel around the world virtually on an interactive online field trip.
Arrange the front of the classroom with an electronic white board or interactive lesson cards and hand-held manipulatives that students can use with chalkboard-centered lessons. Electronic white board lessons can be led by the teacher or the students, depending upon their age level. Small plastic bins containing either commercial or teacher-made games to play alone or in small groups can be stored on the chalkboard tray or a small stand.
Design an educational center with extension activities and folders for every student. The folder can store student records of attempted tasks and completed worksheets. Educational games and plastic baggies filled with paper learning games designed to reinforce basic skills or current textbook material should be a staple at the interactive educational center. Art supplies can also be introduced at the same center or a separate one in the classroom. Art extension activities could include dioramas or posters illustrating a writing assignment or math equation.