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Kindergarten Classroom Setup Made Easy (Part 2)

Classroom Setup Using Zones

In Kindergarten Classroom Setup Made Easy Part 1, I shared my plan for classroom set up in “zones” and shared my free Classroom Set-up Planner.

kindergarten classroom layout and floor plan

In this post, I show you the down and dirty process I went through in creating those zones!

(Note: I’ve been adjusting to life at home without any children for the first time ever and I think I needed a project to throw myself into and this was it!)

3-Steps to Classroom Setup

Step 1 Sort Your Stuff

The first step was to unpack everything and place it in the zone in which it would be used and stored. This made it easier to get started and helped me avoid that, “where do I begin” feeling.

Getting ready to set up the classroom

In doing so, I emptied every cupboard and closet.

empty cupboard
I quickly found that I needed a “don’t know” pile for those things I wasn’t sure about.  As this pile grew and grew, I realized that this was the stuff I would probably have to get rid of since it didn’t really have a home.

Step 2 Organize Each Zone

Once everything was sorted, I went zone by zone and began to put things away.  This was probably the most difficult part of the kindergarten classroom setup process.

I had to think about how often I used certain materials, how much space they took up, and whether they were really worth keeping.

I liked the idea that some materials, that had been hidden away in cupboards, might now get more use since they would be more accessible and stored in their appropriate zone.

While I wanted things to be out and easily accessible to both the children and I, I didn’t want the visual clutter, so in many cases I “containerized” stuff rather than just placing them loosely on shelves.

kindergarten classroom center organization

These baskets were a great deal. One had a $1.99 sticker on it and the cashier at the Christmas Tree Shop let me buy all 6 for that price! #MerryChristmastome

I also had to consider which materials were going to be open and closed to children in each zone so that I could be intentional about what I offered at any given time.

It was also important (and challenging!) to leave some empty space in each zone to set up and rotate out new invitations throughout the year.

Step 3 Add Soft Touches

I think of this step as the “dessert” of the kindergarten classroom setup process! I added seating options, pillows, lighting, rugs, and plants to soften the zones and make them more inviting.

Adding soft features to classroom design
Adding soft features to classroom design

Take The Classroom Zone Tour

This process took about 5 days and involved evening trips to Walmart, Big Lots, and The Christmas Tree Shop to find just the right storage containers.  I found it helpful to have pictures of each zone “in progress” on my phone and a measuring tape in my purse to use while out shopping.

Here are the “done enough” zones as they looked before the start of the school year!

Meeting Zone

In this zone, I placed everything we might need for morning meeting, birthday celebrations, and whole group instruction.  I added the blue bins to hold instructional materials that I need for the day (one for morning and one for afternoon).  The middle one holds supports such as fidget toys and egg timers.
meeting area in K classroom
I maximized storage behind the easel using shoe pockets and baskets to hold different types of markers, sharing balls, interactive writing materials, sentence strips, and erasers.
classroom easel storage

Unpacking/Packing Zone

This is the spot where children keep their belongings.  Each child has their own cubby basket that houses tool boxes and headphones. Backpacks rest on the base of the cubbies and coats are hung on the hooks.
classroom cubby storage and organization
Next to the cubbies, is the place where lunches are stored.  Take-home folders go in the “turn-in bin” on the bottom shelf.  Homework folders go in the bottom cubby.
lunch box shelf in kindergarten classroom

Supplies Zone

It used to be that many of our community supplies were spread out all over the room.  Now they are in one central location and in easy reach of my small group table so I can quickly grab white boards, highlighters, or makers when we need them.
organizing supplies and materials in a kindergarten classroom

Teacher Zone

Here I put supplies that are mainly for me to use.  Sticky notes, pads of paper, and note cards for communication, files for important papers, and a little basket of Rx that holds cough drops, Tylenol, and a never ending supply of tea bags!
teacher prep zone in a kindergarten classroom

Art Zone

Everything art goes here! Paper is stored below the easels, brushes between the easels and collage materials are kept in the little linen bins on an old toy bin rack. And in case you are wondering where I get all these little bins, it’s from The Christmas Tree Shop ($1 each)!
art center in kindergarten classroom
These shelves are organized by color and hold paint, markers, crayons, and colored pencils.

Science/Research Zone

This space backs up to our meeting zone and serves double duty as a place for calendar and news as well as independent research during discovery time. (Find the birthday bunting HERE!)
science center and calendar in kindergarten classroom
The corner holds plants for the children to care for and jars of tiny treasures for them to explore.
classroom setup of science center
Closed storage for science materials is found on the bottom shelves.  The tubs on top will be for collections of objects to observe, sketch, take-apart, and experiment with. Science tools are kept in the shoe pockets behind the tubs.
kindergarten classroom science center

Building Zone

The blocks on the bottom left shelf are open to children.  The storage containers on the bottom right are closed storage and will be rotated in throughout the year.  The baskets on top will eventually hold smaller items known as “loose parts” that children can incorporate into their block constructions.  The clothesline strung across the back will be used for pictures that might provide inspiration to little builders.
block center in kindergarten classroom
More closed storage in the cupboards behind the chairs for additional materials that will be rotated in and out.  The counter under the window holds different shaped frames and wood pieces children can use while building.

block center for building in K classroom

The blue and green tubs hold fine motor building materials such as Legos, Knex and Magnetix.  We call these “tub toys” and reserve these for indoor play when we are unable to go outside.
On the bookshelf are books about building that might also provide inspiration for children.

Makerspace Zone

The baskets on the left hold construction sets including train sets, marble runs, peg boards, and beads/laces. The cupboards under the window provide closed storage for this center.
classroom setup of a maker space
This bookshelf holds makerspace supplies that children might use to create or invent something new.  They can select their materials, place them on the tray, and bring them to the workspace by the window.
makerspace center in kindergarten classroom

Writing Zone/Quiet Zone

This zone has a few different functions.  The location is in a corner, far enough away from our meeting area and work tables, that is ideal for 1:1 assessments.  It is also great as a quiet spot for a child who might need a break or is easily distracted when completing independent work.  Lastly, it is used as a writing center during choice time centers.
writing center in kindergarten classroom
The counter behind it, as well as the cupboards below, are used to store writing and assessment materials.
storage and organization in kindergarten

(It occurs to me as I look at this picture that this is probably not the best place for our flag – it was placed there before I moved into this space and until this very moment, I have never given it a second thought. The lesson here is to take pictures of your space and you will see things you otherwise overlook!)

Math Zone

I didn’t realize how many math materials I had accumulated until I gathered it all up in one space. There was so much stored in my closet and cupboards that just wasn’t getting used.  So in order to make it all fit, I got rid of anything that I used only once or twice a year as well as class sets of materials that were not needed since I teach math in small groups.
Anything in the cream colored baskets is closed storage while the bead counters and brown baskets are open to children.  The empty space next to the felt board will be where I will rotate out new materials as they relate to our small group lessons.
math center in kindergarten classroom
These Pringle containers hold math manipulative/loose parts that I use during small group math as well as make available to children through games and center invitations.
math manipulative storage
Seasonal puzzles are stored in this basket and covered with a crib sheet.
toy storage in kindergarten classroom

Reading Zone

This “secret door” actually leads to a closet that I am now using to store books including leveled readers, decodables, anthologies, big books, and collections of picture books.

The linen baskets on the bookshelf will hold storytelling props that children can use to retell stories that we have read together.

reading nook in kindergarten classroom

Another shelf holds the children’s book boxes.  Felt boards and felt stories will be kept on the top shelf.

reading center in kindergarten classroom

Kindergarten Classroom Setup √

So that’s it – but setup is never quite done until the children arrive and begin to use the space!

This process definitely raised my awareness about storage and use of materials and I’m sure I’ll continue to tweak things as we move through the year.

If you are looking for more guidance on creating centers these Classroom Center Setup Guides can help! Each one focuses on a different center (blocks, art, makerspace, science, storytelling, and writing) and walks you step-by-step through the setup process.

To find more classroom organization and setup ideas, visit the Growing a a Learning Space Category in the Roots & Wings Resource Library. 

 

Kindergarten classroom setup made easy using a zones model

 


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Comments

  1. Kelsey Myers says

    I’m new to the primary world and getting ready to so something similar to my classroom this year! I so enjoyed reading about your process!

    • Jackie says

      Hi Kelsey! I’m so glad you enjoyed this post. That process continues to work well for me. Would love to hear about your process too -feel free to share!

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