Physical Environments, Materials, And Resources

Physical Environments, Materials, And Resources

This section or excerpt of the Cultural and Linguistic Competence Self-Assessment for Early Head Start and Head Start Programs requires staff to explore the ways in which they support and contribute to building a culturally responsive environment for young children — that is welcoming and reflective of the young children, and families served within the classroom.

Please select A, B, or C for each of the items presented in this checklist

  • A = Things I do frequently
  • B = Things I do occasionally
  • C = Things I do rarely or never

In our Head Start or Early Head Start program:

A B C 1. I hang pictures, posters and other materials that reflect the cultures and ethnic backgrounds of children and families we serve.
A B C 2. I include materials for the dramatic play/housekeeping area that represent different cultures (including dolls, clothing, cooking utensils, household articles, furniture, and other items).
A B C 3. I include pictures and storybooks in the book/literacy area that show the different cultures of children and families served.
A B C 4. I make sure that toys and other play items that represent the various cultural and ethnic groups in my community and the society in general.
A B C 5. I read a variety of books to children to expose them to various life experiences of people from ethnic and cultural groups other than their own.
A B C 6. I provide opportunities for children and their families to create their own books and include them among the resources and materials in the classroom.
A B C 7. I provide opportunities for children and their families to share experiences through storytelling, puppets, or other props to support the “story telling tradition” common among many cultures.
A B C 8. I plan trips and community outings to places where children and their families can learn about their own cultural or ethnic history as well as the history of others.
A B C 9. I select videos, films, or other media resources that reflect diverse cultures to share with children and families served in our program.
A B C 10. I play a variety of music and introduce musical instruments from many cultures to the children in my classroom.
A B C 11. I ensure that meals provided reflect the cultural and ethnic backgrounds of children and families served.
A B C 12. I provide opportunities for children to prepare and/or sample foods typically served by different cultural and ethnic groups.
A B C 13. If the children and families in our program are of the same cultural or ethnic group, I feel it is important to support an environment that reflects the cultural diversity within the society at large.
A B C 14. I implement activities that reflect the cultural diversity within the society at large.
A B C 15. I ensure that curricula include holidays that are unique to the culturally diverse children and families served in my program.

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This product was developed [in part] under grant number 1H79SM082070-01 from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The views, policies and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of SAMHSA or HHS.