Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Graduate Theses and Dissertations Dissertations 2014 Safety issues of children age 3-5 years in school classrooms: a perspective of classrooms in the United States Weiqi Chu Iowa State University Follow this and additional works at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd Part of the Art and Design Commons, Fine Arts Commons, and the Other Education Commons Recommended Citation Chu, Weiqi, "Safety issues of children age 3-5 years in school classrooms: a perspective of classrooms in the United States" (2014). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 14103. https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd/14103 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Dissertations at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Safety issues of children age 3–5 years in school classrooms: A perspective of classrooms in the United States by Weiqi Chu A thesis submitted to the graduate faculty in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF FINE ARTS Major: Interior Design Program of Study Committee: Fred Malven, Major Professor Lee Cagley Carla Peterson Iowa State University Ames, Iowa 2014 Copyright © Weiqi Chu, 2014. All rights reserved ii DEDICATION I dedicate this research project to my sisters and brothers for their unwavering support both spiritually and morally and for their great encouragement to see me succeed in my career and to my friends who greatly supported me during the entire duration of my studies; without them, the course would have been strenuous. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................. vi LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................. viii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ..................................................................................................... ix ABSTRACT ...............................................................................................................................x CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION ..............................................................................................1 1.1 Introduction ..........................................................................................................................1 1.2 Study Background ................................................................................................................1 1.2.1 Evolution of interior design ..................................................................................1 1.2.2 Interior design today .............................................................................................3 1.2.3 Safety and interior design .....................................................................................4 1.2.4 Interior design in classrooms ................................................................................6 1.3 Problem Statement .............................................................................................................13 1.4 Study Purpose ....................................................................................................................15 1.5 Significance of the Study ...................................................................................................15 1.6 Objectives ..........................................................................................................................16 1.7 Research Questions ............................................................................................................16 1.8 Scope, Assumptions and Limitations of the Study ............................................................16 1.9 Definitions of Terms ..........................................................................................................17 1.10 Nature and Order of Presentation ....................................................................................17 1.11 Summary ..........................................................................................................................18 CHAPTER 2. GENERAL THEORY OF SCHOOL SAFETY ...............................................19 2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................19 2.2 Threats Faced by 3- to 5-Year-Old in School Classrooms ................................................19 2.3 Threats to School Performance ..........................................................................................20 2.4 Threats in Classroom Buildings .........................................................................................24 2.4.1 Mechanical threats ..............................................................................................25 2.4.2 Electrical threats ..................................................................................................26 2.4.3 Chemical threats ..................................................................................................27 2.4.4 Organic threats ....................................................................................................28 2.4.5 Physiological threats ...........................................................................................29 2.4.6 Thermal/radiation threats ....................................................................................30 2.4.7 Emotional threats ................................................................................................31 2.5 Safety Theories ..................................................................................................................32 2.5.1 Chain theory ........................................................................................................33 2.5.2 Domino theory ....................................................................................................34 2.5.3 Gestalt theory of interior design .........................................................................35 2.5.3.1 Gestalt theory of interior design ..................................................................35 2.5.3.2 Grouping principles of gestalt design theory ...............................................36 2.6 Effect of Classroom Threats on Children’s Learning ........................................................40 2.7 Safety Measures in Classrooms .........................................................................................42 iv 2.8 Policy Measures That Will Ensure Safety in Children’s Classrooms ................................44 2.9 Qualities of a Well-Designed Classroom ...........................................................................45 2.9.1 Space and spacing ...............................................................................................45 2.9.2 Movement within the classroom .........................................................................47 2.9.3 Ease of supervision .............................................................................................48 2.9.4 Window design ...................................................................................................48 2.9.5 Lighting ...............................................................................................................49 2.9.6 Size of room ........................................................................................................49 2.9.7 Flooring ...............................................................................................................50 2.9.8 Ventilation...........................................................................................................51 2.9.9 Sink design ..........................................................................................................51 2.9.10 Choice of color ..................................................................................................51 2.9.11 Storage ..............................................................................................................52 2.9.12 Other elements of classroom design .................................................................52 2.10 Conceptual Framework ....................................................................................................52 2.11 Summary ..........................................................................................................................53 CHAPTER 3. RESEARCH ON CHILDHOOD SCHOOL SAFETY .....................................54 3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................54 3.2 The Interior Design Industry ..............................................................................................54 3.3 General Classroom Design and Description ......................................................................55 3.4 Threats Faced by Children 3–5 Years of Age in Classrooms ............................................56 3.4.1 Thermal threats ...................................................................................................56 3.4.2 Biological/organic threat prevalence among children ........................................60 3.4.3 Radiological/chemical