Classrooms

Tips of the trade: 8 ways to make classrooms really inspiring.

1 WILD THINGS
Invest in some goldfish that pupils take turns to look after. This will give the children something to be proud of in their classroom environment, as well as helping them develop a sense of responsibility. Also, bring in some big, easy-to-care-for houseplants such as yuccas or peace lilies. It's amazing what a difference a touch of greenery can make to your classroom, and plants can help improve the air quality too.

2 SHOW TIME
Bring some colour and personality into the classroom by hanging your pupils' work on the walls. When you start a new topic, let the children know that their work will be put on show and involve them in creating the displays. This will help your pupils develop a sense of pride in their achievement.

3 IT'S IN THE ATMOSPHERE
Correct lighting and room temperature is key to keeping children's attention. Try sitting in different parts of the classroom at different times of the day to check draughts, the temperature and the way light reflects on the board. Open the windows as often as possible so the room doesn't get stuffy. You could try using a few drops of essential oil in a bowl of warm water to lighten the air and enhance moods; lavender is calming, cardamom combats fatigue and basil helps energise the mind. To find out more, visit www.aworldofaromatherapy.com

4 TODAY'S THE DAY
Create an area that changes daily so there's always something new to capture the children's attention — perhaps a display highlighting birthdays or world events. A list of dates can be found at www.support4learning.org.uk/shap/calend1.htm, and Woodlands Junior School in Kent has an online calendar at www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/holidays.html

5 SOCIABLE SEATING
To encourage children to build new relationships in class, change the seating order on a regular basis. Arrange the layout according to activity — for an interactive lesson, arrange pupils in a group setting to help them bounce ideas off each other.

6 RAINBOW CHILDREN
Plenty of studies have shown that colour has an important influence on stimulating various parts of the brain. Use different colours to create zones for different activities — for example, a relaxing green area for children to read in and a bright orange area for creative work. To find out more about the properties of colours, visit www.colour-affects.co.uk

7 SLAVE TO THE RHYTHM
Background music can stop pupils getting distracted and help focus their minds. Experiment with different music styles to see what works best — studies show that baroque music, such as that composed by Bach and Handel, is in tune with brain rhythms and helps to accelerate learning. For some work any type of background music is suitable, so let pupils bring in their own choice to create a more friendly environment.

8 SET THEM FREE
Don't limit learning to the classroom. Take the children outside and, if possible, involve them in creating an outdoor learning area. You could take inspiration from pupils at All Saints Church of England Junior School in Fleet, Hampshire, who have created a Japanese garden, complete with dragon.

Further information

For more creative tips, visit

www.teachernet.gov.uk/classroomclimate

www.activityvillage.co.uk/educational.htm

This content was published in July 2004 and may not reflect current policy