This course provides the student with an introduction to methods and materials to assist young children three to five years of age in the learning process. Emphasis will be placed on assessment of children’s learning, arrangement of indoor/outdoor space, music and movement, dramatic play and creative media. Students will locate, plan, implement, and evaluate creative learning activities using a variety of methods and materials.
Prerequisites
None
Student Learning Outcomes
- Describe the various aspects of the indoor child-oriented learning environment.
- Identify the values of a child-oriented learning environment for children and adults.
- Describe how to choose and set up appropriate materials within the learning center/activity area environment. Include activities for music, dramatic play, and creative media.
- Explain how to use the outdoor space as an integral part of the total learning environment.
- Evaluate how to assist and make changes to the outdoor learning environment to extend and enrich the curriculum, create new interest, and meet children's
- changing needs.
- Explain how to use community resources as an integral part of the total learning environment.
- Explain the values of music and the developmental appropriateness of music activities in the early childhood curriculum.
- Demonstrate to children how to express themselves through creative movement. Provide a variety of rhythm and listening experiences for the children.
- Create a definition of creativity and a description of the values of creativity in the lives of young children. Create, set up, and stock a creative media area which demonstrates knowledge of the broad variety of creative materials.
- Develop guidelines for the effective supervision of the creative media area including the adult's responses designed to foster creativity and responsibility in young children.
- Create a lesson plan and incorporate developmentally appropriate practices.