ECH 430 Wk 1 - Signature Assignment: Lesson Analysis

Helping young children learn about themselves, each other, and the concept of community, as well as gaining social skills and understanding, requires the knowledge of social studies content and a solid grasp of child development. In this assignment, you will explore the standards, theoretical perspectives, and developmental considerations for early childhood social studies education. 

Review the following:

• National Standards for the Preparation of Social Studies Teachers from NCSS

• Arizona History and Social Science Standards from the Arizona Department of Education

• Early Learning Program Accreditation from NAEYC

Research an early childhood social studies lesson plan that meets the following criteria:

• Addresses one of the following NCSS standards:

• Content Knowledge

• Application of Content Through Planning

• Design and Implementation of Instruction and Assessment

• Social Studies Learners and Learning

• Professional Responsibility and Informed Action

• Addresses one or more state standard(s), at the grade level you wish to teach, in one of the four core disciplines of social studies:

• Civics

• Economics

• Geography

• History

Write a 2- to 2 ½-page analysis of the lesson in which you:

• Describe the lesson, including the source, topic, learning objectives, and activities.

• Evaluate the alignment of the state content standard(s), social studies discipline, and the content of the lesson.

• Explain how the lesson addresses the NCSS standards.

• Explain how the lesson supports the expectations of the NAEYC for early childhood social studies education.

• Explain the significant theoretical perspectives in early childhood social studies instruction related to this lesson.

• Justify the developmental appropriateness of the lesson.

• Recommend additions or changes to the lesson with supporting reasoning.

Compile the following for submission:

• Copy of the lesson plan

• Analysis

Submit your assignment.

ECH 430 Wk 2 - Lesson Plan Accommodation Summary

Most early childhood education learning environments are designed to meet the needs of many children with or without special needs. In many cases, children with special needs will benefit from simple accommodations and modifications, and as the teacher, it is your responsibility to know which accommodations to provide.

Use the lesson plan you analyzed for the Week 1 – Signature Assignment: Lesson Analysis and adapt the lesson plan to indicate how you would make specific accommodations for students with exceptionalities in an inclusive early childhood setting.

Write a 350- to 525-word summary in which you:

• Describe the learning environment and inclusive strategies you will use when teaching the lesson.

• Explain the specific accommodations you would make for students with the following exceptionalities:

• Speech and language delay

• Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

• Intellectual and developmental disability (IDD)

Submit your assignment.

ECH 430 Wk 2 Team - Culturally Responsive Teaching Presentation and Plan

The term culturally responsive instruction has been used for a couple of decades but is getting more attention in recent years. With our classrooms growing more and more diverse every year, teachers are interested in how they can best teach students from different backgrounds. For this assignment, you will work with your learning team to research and collect information for the best practices related to culturally responsive instruction and classroom environments.

Create an 8- to 10-slide presentation that provides information about creating culturally responsive instruction and maintaining a culturally responsive classroom environment. 

Include the following in your presentation:

• An introduction that includes the following:

• Definition of culturally responsive instruction

• Description of a culturally responsive learning environment

• Culturally responsive teacher behaviors that demonstrate the following:

• Understanding and appreciation for all cultures

• Respectful and positive interactions

• Culturally responsive student behaviors that demonstrate the following:

• Understanding and appreciation for all cultures

• Respectful and positive interactions

• Culturally responsive instructional strategies that address the following:

• Lesson delivery

• Adaptation techniques

• Multiple perspectives

• Cooperation and collaboration strategies for working with other teachers to support culturally responsive instruction

• Culturally responsive materials, books, and/or digital tools for in-classroom student use

Write a 1- to 1 ½-page outline that summarizes a plan for a school-wide implementation of culturally responsive instruction and learning environments.

Include the following elements in your plan outline:

• Vision statement

• Timeline for implementation

• Overview of topics to be covered in teacher training(s)

• Suggested resources for teachers

Compile the following for submission:

• Presentation

• Plan outline

Submit your assignment.

ECH 430 Wk 3 - Integrating Social Studies Activities 

There is a substantial amount of content that a teacher is expected to teach in several academic subject areas each year. All too often, social studies education may not make the cut for what is most important to teach. For this reason, many educators are integrating social studies concepts into other content areas with great success. In this assignment, you will practice integrating social studies concepts into the instruction of other content areas.

Consider the early childhood age group (i.e., toddler-Pre-K, kindergarten-Grade 1, or Grades 2-3) and locate 2 instructional activities to teach an early childhood social studies lesson in two different disciplines (1 per activity):

• Civics

• Economics

• Geography

• History

Integrate each activity with at least 1 other content area (e.g., mathematics, science, reading and language arts, art, or physical education).

Write a 350-word description for each activity that includes the following:

• Name/title of the activity

• Selected early childhood age group

• Content areas addressed

• National or state standards addressed

• Learning objectives

• Description of the activity, including materials needed

• Accommodations for diverse learners

• Multicultural considerations

Submit your assignment.

ECH 430 Wk 3 - Games and Apps in Early Childhood Instruction Presentation

Early social studies learning involves young children gaining an understanding of different communities and cultures, as well as learning the basics of geography. Young children can learn about other cultures via a video game or develop a better sense of place by zooming in or out on an interactive map app. The important consideration in using games and apps in early childhood education is that they be developmentally appropriate for the child using them.

Research current video games and/or apps appropriate for early childhood settings that have social studies content embedded in them.

Choose 4 current video games and/or apps from your research.

Create an 8- to 10-slide presentation about using your selected games and/or apps that includes the following information for each game and/or app:

• Name and brief description

• Appropriate age group for use

• Specific content embedded within

• Benefits and challenges of use

• Examples of developmentally appropriate usage in the classroom

• Safety precautions

Provide detailed speaker notes on each slide and an APA-formatted references slide in your presentation.

Note: You may find helpful tools for creating your presentation in the Technology Resource Library. 

Submit your assignment.

ECH 430 Wk 4 - Signature Assignment: Integrated Global Awareness Lesson and Reflection

Designing an integrated lesson may feel overwhelming as it incorporates different subject areas that complement each other in one unit of study. For this reason, it is important to find the right connections between the subject areas so you can effectively address multiple standards in the lessons and incorporate related resources. To practice this important skill, you will complete this two-part assignment in which you create an integrated lesson that develops children’s awareness of a global community.

Part 1: Lesson Plan and Instruction

Research programs or other resources that promote global connections and awareness for children to incorporate into your lesson.

Review the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Standards for Students and choose a technology standard you plan to address in your unit.

Use the Integrated Lesson Plan Template to create an early childhood lesson plan that develops children’s awareness of a global community and incorporates the following:

• Technology

• Another subject area (e.g., math, science, literacy, etc.)

• One of the programs and/or resources you researched

Teach your Integrated Global Awareness Lesson in an early childhood setting (Pre-K to age 8).

Document your time spent teaching your lesson in My Time Log.

Part 2: Teaching Experience Reflection

Write a 525- to 700-word reflection of your experience in which you:

• Explain the main points of your lesson and how it supports developing children’s awareness of a global community.

• Explain how you incorporated technology, another subject area, and one of the programs and/or resources you researched.

• Analyze the successes and challenges from your teaching experience, including the changes for future teaching of the lesson.

• Describe the assessment(s) for the lesson, including how they inform future teaching of the lesson.

• Explain how you modified the lesson for exceptional learners or how it could be modified for future teaching of the lesson.

• Explain the feedback you received from your cooperating teacher and how you will apply this to future instructional practice.

Compile the following for submission:

• Completed Integrated Lesson Plan Template

• Teaching Experience Reflection

Submit your assignment.

ECH 430 Wk 5 - Signature Assignment: Classroom Geography Fair and Website

Providing opportunities and strategies for families to be involved in their child’s education is an important aspect of being an early childhood educator. Engaging and empowering families to participate in the education process promotes student learning and achievement and can be accomplished in creative ways. For this assignment, you will combine a project-based learning experience with a classroom geography fair to promote student learning in early childhood social studies education.

Research project-based learning in early childhood social studies education to build knowledge of best practice application. 

Choose a theme or topic for students to focus on that is aligned with one or more state standards for geography at the grade level you wish to teach.

Research free website hosting platforms (e.g., Wix, Weebly, Webstarts, GoDaddy, or Google Sites) and create an account, making sure to save a link to your website for reference.

Develop a website to promote your class’s study of geography and the culminating classroom geography fair in which you:

• Describe the concept of project-based learning and how it influences student learning.

• Present a comprehensive list of types of projects for students to choose from and strategies for selecting appropriately.

• Describe the theme/topic for the project-based learning assignment.

• Explain the expectations for the project-based learning assignment, including:

• Timeline for completion 

• Guidelines for writing and content

• Strategies for families to support the student

• Explain the purpose of the classroom geography fair and how it supports family involvement and student learning.

• Promote the activities that will be offered at the classroom geography fair.

• Formulate a list of home extension activities for families that supports the theme/topic of the project and fair.

• Generate a comprehensive directory of community-based resources for students and families that support social studies education.

Use appropriate text, color, images, and/or multimedia to make your website engaging, well organized, and attractive.

Create a Microsoft® Word document with a link to your web page for submission and ensure the website is marked public so your instructor can view it.

Submit your assignment.