With emergent curriculum as the overarching approach to curriculum development, this course focuses on designing, implementing, and evaluating appropriate activities and environments for children in preschool and kindergarten with a focus on blocks, math, science, woodworking, and technology with literacy and art concepts integrated into each area. Emphasis is on the concrete, practical application of different philosophies, theories, and current research manifested in early childhood education curriculum models.
Students reflect together as they explore the cycle of inquiry and project work for developing, implementing, and assessing curriculum. Emphasis is on planning stimulating, age-appropriate classroom and outdoor learning environments that encourage child-initiated discovery and act as a tool in behavior management. These environments are child- and family-friendly, barrier free, and inclusionary, and meet state regulatory requirements. Students learn about and apply successful attributes of documentation panels that make children’s learning visible.
An NHTI ECE lab fee is assessed for all students taking this course. Students are expected to complete 2 hours per week of observation and practice in a preschool or kindergarten setting.
