The authors consider the present and future of new media and the classroom environment of pupils in primary education. Some experts are inclined to see the future of the classroom teaching environment solely through the perspective of new media, primarily computers and the Internet. The authors agree that these media are essential for modern teaching and for pupils in primary school, but they also stress the necessity of providing various other material and equipment to meet the development needs of children. By analysing these development needs, the authors reach conclusions on the manner in which a student-oriented classroom should be designed and equipped to enable pupils in mid childhood to satisfy their needs for knowledge and development. The basic needs of children are communication, movement and work, involvement in research and creativity (in the motor and cognitive fields), and play. Primary classrooms should provide equipment which allows for the meeting of these children's needs. The authors find ideas for designing primary classrooms in the exponents of reform pedagogy, primarily John Dewey, Maria Montessori and Celestin Freinet. (Contains 3 figures and 1 footnote.)