Module 1 Discussion Questions 2 National Association for the Education of Young Children & National Association of Early Childhood Specialists in State Departments of Education. (2002). Early lear

Evaluating Learning Activities for Young Children

To Prepare for the Discussion:

Review these following three activities. Then, using the analysis chart, evaluate each for characteristics of meaningful curriculum.

Learning Activity 1: Who’s Here? Who’s Not? Using Charts

• Learning Standard: With prompting and support, make connections between information in a text [the chart] and personal experience [who is present/who is absent].

• Activity:

• Using posterboard, make a large chart that lists every child’s name down the left side.

• Share the chart and circle time and read down the list of each child’s name, asking each child to raise their hand or stand when their name is read.

• Explain that you are involving them in taking attendance, so that every day when they come into the room, they should use the attached marker and put a check mark next to their name to show they are at school that day.

• Then, each day at circle time, you will ask someone to “read” the chart and share who is absent that day.

Learning Activity 2: Snack-Time Snafu!

• Learning Standard: Attempt problem solving activities to achieve positive outcome

• Activity:

  • At the beginning of the week, invite children to join you at circle time.

  • Explain that the kitchen in a neighboring preschool isn’t working and so they won’t have food for snack that whole week.

  • Share the concept of “brainstorming,” explaining that it is a group discussion with the goal of coming up with ideas, solving problems, and thinking of wonderful ideas! Add that every idea is welcome; there are no “bad” ideas.

  • Now let children have a few minutes to think about what should happen to solve the problem you have posed: Our neighbor preschool isn’t able to have snack next week, what can be done?

  • Share that the group will have about 10 minutes to brainstorm. (As part of the group, you can contribute, too.)

  • Choose how you want to record children’s ideas – making a list that they can see, doing an audio or video recording.

  • Remember to accept all ideas equally and then share the bounty of children’s ideas.

  • Together, decide on at least one idea you can do as a group.

Learning Activity 3: Everyone Has Feelings

• Learning Standard: Use music, art, and/or stories to express ideas, thoughts, and feelings.

• Activity:

• Share the book Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6rp0SZX7lg)

• Then ask children to fill in the following blanks:

I get mad when______

I get sad when______

I want to hide under the covers when_______

• Record what children say and use their contributions to make a book for the class library.

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