Learning Through Play
Curriculum: Learning Through Play
When I am building a curriculum for pre-k it is my philosophy that children at this age learn through play. To accomplish this, the classroom will be set-up for the children to learn math, science, social development, literacy, diversity, and arts. It is said By Jane K. Frobose, Colorado State University Extension Family and Consumer Education Denver County, that “through play, children learn about themselves, their environment, people and the world around them. As they play, children learn to solve problems and to get along with others. They enhance their creativity and develop leadership skills and healthy personalities. Play develops skills children need to learn to read and write. Play in early childhood is the best foundation for success in school.”(February 2008) I could not agree more and could not have said it better. Children are wired to play and have short attention spans because of this we must make learning fun. For me, curriculum building begins with set up of the classroom. I will offer several areas of learning in different areas of the classroom. These would include but may not be limited to an art area, block area, dramatic play, small manipulative, reading area, music, and math and science area. When setting up these areas I will add activities and props that will promote diversity, critical thinking, and social development. For example to promote diversity in the classroom I will have pictures and posters of people of different backgrounds and culture, I will have students make a poster of their families and post them for the class to enjoy, making home-made books that the students take part in making that describes their culture using pictures (family homework), adding babies of different race in the dramatic play area, costumes from different cultures, offering props in the block area of people of all ages, race, and ability, to play with the blocks. I will promote good social skills by setting a
When I am building a curriculum for pre-k it is my philosophy that children at this age learn through play. To accomplish this, the classroom will be set-up for the children to learn math, science, social development, literacy, diversity, and arts. It is said By Jane K. Frobose, Colorado State University Extension Family and Consumer Education Denver County, that “through play, children learn about themselves, their environment, people and the world around them. As they play, children learn to solve problems and to get along with others. They enhance their creativity and develop leadership skills and healthy personalities. Play develops skills children need to learn to read and write. Play in early childhood is the best foundation for success in school.”(February 2008) I could not agree more and could not have said it better. Children are wired to play and have short attention spans because of this we must make learning fun. For me, curriculum building begins with set up of the classroom. I will offer several areas of learning in different areas of the classroom. These would include but may not be limited to an art area, block area, dramatic play, small manipulative, reading area, music, and math and science area. When setting up these areas I will add activities and props that will promote diversity, critical thinking, and social development. For example to promote diversity in the classroom I will have pictures and posters of people of different backgrounds and culture, I will have students make a poster of their families and post them for the class to enjoy, making home-made books that the students take part in making that describes their culture using pictures (family homework), adding babies of different race in the dramatic play area, costumes from different cultures, offering props in the block area of people of all ages, race, and ability, to play with the blocks. I will promote good social skills by setting a
References: Jane K. Frobose (2008). Learning through Play- a Child’s Job [Electronic version] Colorado State University, retrieved October 29, 2012 from http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/columncc/cc010309.html The Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards Steering Committee (2011) Wisconsin Early Learning Standards, retrieved October 29, 2012 from http://dpi.wi.gov/fscp/pdf/ec-wmels-rev2011.pdf Claudia Eliason and Loa Jenkins (2012). A Practical Guide to Early Childhood Curriculum, pg.82 para 6. Pearson Education, Inc.