The purpose of this assignment is to provide students an opportunity to familiarize themselves with using and vetting activities found online for curriculum development.
Today there are hundreds of online sources offering activity plans and instructional tips for early childhood practitioners in childcare, preschool, and K–3 programs. Some of these can provide the inspiration for developmentally appropriate activity plans. However, there are no guarantees that the examples you come across are suitable as presented.
A clever idea highlighted in a fellow teacher’s blog, on Pinterest, or in a smartphone app may have great teaching and learning potential, or it may not. In every case, it is important to remember that educational value comes from the goals an activity addresses, the extent to which the components of the plan align with those goals, and how well the plan can be individualized to meet the needs of your particular children.
No activity idea, no matter where it comes from (books, workshops, another teacher, or online), is automatically beneficial or well suited for the children you are teaching. It is up to you to establish goodness of fit. Every good plan starts with intentional planning.
This assignment has two parts. Ensure that you address each part of the assignment to receive full credit.
Part 1: Locate an activity using the internet, either a teacher’s blog, Pinterest, Youtube, or any educational application. Provide the following information about the activity:
-
Activity name
-
Where you located the activity
-
Example of the activity (this can be a picture taken from the website, ensure it is properly cited and referenced).
Part 2: Using your knowledge and the information in your class text, and the included resources determine if the activity is developmentally appropriate for your class or age of children by answering the following questions. Be sure to explain each question with supporting facts from your text, current knowledge, or included resources. If you answer no to any of the questions, include how the activity can be adjusted.
-
Can the activity be adapted to clearly address a specific goal or standard?
-
Will the activity be interesting to a majority of the children?
-
Does the activity involve tangible materials and hands-on experience?
-
Does the activity allow for simplifications and extensions?
-
Does the activity communicate accurate information
-
Does the activity encourage children’s deep involvement with materials and ideas?
-
Does the activity provide opportunities for exploration prior to any prescribed instruction?
-
Are the materials for the activity accessible to me?
-
Can the activity be adapted to meet the age-related, experiential, cultural, and language needs of the children in my group?
-
Can the activity be adapted to meet the varying abilities of children in my class?
The essay must be 1-2 pages in length, 5 paragraphs, 3-5 sentences per paragraph, written in APA format, include a minimum of at least one scholarly article to support the activity being discussed, and provide a reference page.
*Teachers beware and vet with care: Online educational marketplaces Article provided for additional reading and understanding in “Assignment 3” and “Literature Resources”