Module 13:  Creating and Maintaining Safe OST Environments

Designing safe indoor and outdoor environments.  Developing procedures and routines to keep children safe and prevent injuries and accidents.  Developing effective risk management strategies. Involving school-age children in developing safety rules and keeping themselves safe.  Developing and using safety checklists.  Ensuring safety on field trips.  Promoting safety through program activities.  Providing effective supervision.

Module 14:  Creating and Maintaining Healthy OST Environments

Designing indoor and outdoor environments that promote good health and hygiene.  Developing procedures and routines that promote good health and nutrition.  Involving school-age children in developing good hygiene practices, habits, and routines.  Developing and using health and hygiene checklists.  Promoting health, hygiene, and nutrition through activities.  Developing snack and meal plans and routines.  Providing effective supervision.

Module 15:  Designing Effective Indoor OST Play and Learning Environments

Assessing and evaluating program activity space.  Designing floor plans.  Creating environments for exploring a wide variety of materials and experiences.  Planning environments where materials are easily accessible and encourage independent work and play.  Planning environments that support multiple simultaneous activities.  Designing attractive environments – being an “interior decorator.”  Using effective strategies to operate in shared space.  Involving children in shaping environments.

Module 16:   Developing and Implementing Effective Indoor Interest Areas

Identifying and defining individual interest areas.  Selecting materials and equipment for individual interest areas.  Providing staff-directed activities in different interest areas.  Promoting and facilitating independent learning and child-initiated activities in different interest areas.  Proving multiple levels of supervision for effective management of indoor interest areas that support school-age child growth and development – physical, social, emotional, cognitive.

Module 17:  Developing and Implementing Effective OST Outdoor Environments and Interest Areas

Identifying and defining outdoor play areas for large group, small group, and individual outdoor activities.  Developing outdoor interest areas.  Selecting materials and equipment for outdoor interest areas and portable prop stations.  Providing staff-directed activities in different outdoor play areas – cooperative and competitive games.  Promoting and facilitating independent learning and child-initiated activities in outdoor play areas.  Providing multiple levels of supervision for effective management of outdoor play areas that support school-age growth and development in all areas – physical, social, emotional, cognitive.

Module 18:  Exploring Diverse Activity Formats, Planning Tools, and Staff Roles

Exploring tools for defining purpose and scope of activities and developing plans for short-term activities, long-term projects, club activities, independent learning activities, community involvement activities, and field trips.  Using Developmental Planning Wheels (ã R. Newman) to link themes and activities to developmental needs and tasks.  Exploring diverse staff roles for implementing activities – leader, facilitator, observer, listener, teacher, helper, mediator, coach, cheerleader, etc.