EXAMINE
The following steps focus on identifying and developing quality concepts and topics. Each step includes a video exploration with some rationale about how to determine whether a concept is quality and how it can be adapted to meet the needs and interests of young children.
The first step of planning involves identifying a concept or topic: what explorable, overarching topic will the children be engaging with? What is the big idea within which they we will learning? This topic selection is the hardest part. It involves identifying a topic broad enough to incorporate multiple developmental domains, narrow enough to engaging children in a meaningful way, but also cover enough concepts to maintain interest over a period of time with the flexibility to pull in new ideas. Consider the following common topics in early childhood education. Which of these topics would you consider to be better than others?
The first step of planning involves identifying a concept or topic: what explorable, overarching topic will the children be engaging with? What is the big idea within which they we will learning? This topic selection is the hardest part. It involves identifying a topic broad enough to incorporate multiple developmental domains, narrow enough to engaging children in a meaningful way, but also cover enough concepts to maintain interest over a period of time with the flexibility to pull in new ideas. Consider the following common topics in early childhood education. Which of these topics would you consider to be better than others?
Wondering why we ranked these concepts the way we did? Take a listen to the audio below for an explanation, or read the document for our rationale.
VOICES FROM THE FIELD COMMENTARY:
| RANKING CONCEPTS EXPLANATION |
One key criteria for this topic selection is that children have hands-on ability to manipulate and engage directly with the elements of this topic. For example, exploring oceans in the Midwest is not a good topic for young children because many may not have seen or been to the ocean, know personally what the ocean is like in relation to all five sense, and is too abstract without active hands-on experience. Another key criteria is to be prepared for what the exploration will entail. If you have allergies, fears, or a lack of access to specific resources, consider these when developing your topic as well as your concepts.
Another critical step of topic selection and concept development is to rule out certain elements of interest, or, rather, reframe them into a meaningful learning experience. For example, many young children engage in superhero play. Instead of ruling out superheroes as a topic because of its developmentally appropriateness (or lack thereof), ask yourself: what is it about superheroes the children are interested in? Is it power? Interactions? Strength? The key to this is to truly listen, observe, document, and analyze children’s conversations and actions. Looking at the list below, which of these concepts can be reframed into explorable ones?
Another critical step of topic selection and concept development is to rule out certain elements of interest, or, rather, reframe them into a meaningful learning experience. For example, many young children engage in superhero play. Instead of ruling out superheroes as a topic because of its developmentally appropriateness (or lack thereof), ask yourself: what is it about superheroes the children are interested in? Is it power? Interactions? Strength? The key to this is to truly listen, observe, document, and analyze children’s conversations and actions. Looking at the list below, which of these concepts can be reframed into explorable ones?
Take a look at the video below. Which of these areas would be hands-on AND student-centered? How would you ensure the children are able to actively explore the concept? The video also includes how to adapt some of these concepts into explorable, relevant topics for young children.
Further, consider how you will need to adapt your environment to meet the needs of the investigation. Keep this piece in mind as you move forward into identifying specific experiences throughout the developmental domains. It is imperative to note that the key to developing meaningful investigations is not to jump ahead to the experiences. Identifying an overarching topic and the critical concepts involved in that topic is the key to deep, meaningful, long-term investigations for young children.
Further, consider how you will need to adapt your environment to meet the needs of the investigation. Keep this piece in mind as you move forward into identifying specific experiences throughout the developmental domains. It is imperative to note that the key to developing meaningful investigations is not to jump ahead to the experiences. Identifying an overarching topic and the critical concepts involved in that topic is the key to deep, meaningful, long-term investigations for young children.
| IDENTIFYING & ADAPTING QUALITY CONCEPTS |