Work at a local daycare while researching early childhood development. Observe the children, and then develop and deliver lesson plans.
Overview
- Essential Question: Is teaching in Early Childhood Education a career that is a good fit for me?
- Areas of study: Career Exploration, Child Development
- Type and amount of credit earned: 1/2 Career Exploration (elective), 1/2 Child Development (Elective)
- Community partner: Daycare educator
Competencies
- Understand conditions that influence child development from conception to middle childhood.
- Understand that child development theories have implications for working with children.
- Demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to work with young children.
- Generate relevant questions and gather information from appropriate, reliable sources.
- Reflect on actions, outcomes, processes, and learning to develop and enhance skills.
- Design and create an original artifact/project that synthesizes newly gained knowledge and reflects personal learning style.
- Present learning through relevant artifacts, explanations of key ideas, and connections linking key ideas.
- Understand that workplace behaviors such as punctuality, responsibility, producing quality work, and appropriately responding to feedback are essential for post-secondary success.
See the detailed ELO description for the full text of these competencies.
Student activities
- Create timeline to illustrate development at different stages of childhood from conception to age six.
- Research effects of heredity and environment on early childhood development.
- Compare the theories of human development from three major contributors.
- Observe and explain actions of children based on two of the theories, and complete formal observation reports.
- Compare three services offered or arranged by the NH DHHS that involve services to children or families.
- Construct a timeline of important milestones in child protection in our country.
- Research requirements for early childhood certification.
- Research and compile education requirements.
- Research and log career statistics.
- Create two lesson plans to be delivered.
Assessment
Student was assessed throughout the ELO process to ensure understanding of the material. Student worked at a local daycare four days a week, researched child development milestones, theories, protective services, and career/education requirements. Student created slideshows, info graphics, lesson plans, and a story book as assessments/artifacts for each topic. Student then completed a 60-minute presentation of learning to connect artifacts to the course competencies. The purpose of the presentation was to demonstrate a full understanding of the competencies and explain how the work is evidence of mastery. Student gave a 20-minute presentation that was open to the community.
This ELO was submitted by Anne Banks, Pittsfield Middle High School
