🌿 Environment as the Third Teacher

Four Online Reggio Inspired Environment Design Workshops

Time: 6:00–8:00 PM (2 hours each) PST
Format: Live online
Cost: $50 per session or $175 for all 4
Presenter: Patricia Hunter McGrath

Designed for infant, toddler, and preschool educators seeking to create intentional, beautiful, and meaningful environments that support curiosity, creativity, responsibility, and deep engagement.

What Participants Will Gain From These Workshops

Confidence choosing and introducing materials
Clear strategies for the care and organization of materials
Tools for building children’s responsibility and respect for materials
Practical environment setups for immediate use
A deeper understanding of the environment as a teacher

Workshop 1: Infant & Toddler Environments

Materials, Beauty, and Transformation for Our Youngest Learners

Date: July 2nd 6:00–8:00 PM $50

We Will Explore:

What materials are appropriate and meaningful for infants and toddlers
The role of natural materials in creating calm, nurturing, and aesthetically pleasing environments
How materials are introduced intentionally to infants and toddlers
How young children explore materials through sensory experiences, repetition, movement, and touch
When materials are changed, rotated, or transformed
How environments evolve in response to children’s development and interests
How do we create magical, creative immersive environments for infants and toddlers

This workshop focuses on slowing down, simplifying, and creating environments that honor early relationships and exploration.

Workshop 2: Outdoor Classroom Environments

Designing Living, Creative, and Evolving Outdoor Spaces

Date: July 7th 6:00–8:00 PM $50

Topics Include:

How to design innovative, enticing, and creative outdoor environments
Outdoor paint setups: easels, ground and wall painting, natural paint tools, temporary and permanent setups
How children are invited to design and co-create outdoor provocations
How the teacher’s role shifts from supervisor to facilitator
How outdoor provocations change over time, seasons, and children’s interests
The role of gardening in children’s learning: observation, responsibility, patience, and inquiry
How growing plants and gardens support children’s connection to the natural world
How discoveries from the outside become indoor explorations
What kinds of materials and mediums can be used outside.

This workshop reimagines the outdoors as a dynamic, creative, classroom that changes and transforms throughout the year.

Workshop 3: Preschool Classroom Environments

Dynamic, Creative, and Responsive Learning Spaces

Date: July 9th 6:00–8:00 PM $50

We Will Discuss:

What makes a preschool classroom dynamic and creative
What materials are intentionally integrated into the classroom and why
How classrooms are organized to support independence, focus, and collaboration
The role children play in organizing materials, caring for the environment, and classroom decision-making
How teachers set clear boundaries around the care and use of materials
How materials extend curiosity, creativity, attention span, and problem-solving
When and why materials are changed, revisited, or expanded
How is light used to define space and create irresistible provocations
What kind of textural elements create warm and coziness in the classroom
How do you design shelfs and environments to inspire childrens ideas

This session emphasizes balance—between freedom and structure, beauty and function.

Workshop 4: Ateliers Inside & Outside

Studios, Materials, and Shared Creative Spaces

Date: July 14th 6:00–8:00 PM $50

In This Workshop, We Explore:

How different kinds of ateliers are integrated throughout a school
Ateliers for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers
What are intelligent materials are and how they support thinking and expression
How atelier materials are introduced, organized, stored, and revisited
How ateliers can function as materials lending libraries
Designing atelier spaces using shelves, rolling carts, studio rooms, and outdoor areas
Supporting collaboration, creativity, and responsibility across shared spaces
What are inspiration books and how are they used to inspire work throughout the school
How can materials be used to support and develop resilience and social relationships.

This workshop supports schools in creating cohesive, connected creative, collaborative learning environments rather than isolated classrooms.

Contact the host of Innovative Environment Series - Online via ZOOM