ECE Child Growth and Development: Developmental Principles

Lesson Content

• Lesson Plan Template:

  CTE Lesson Plan

• CTE Course Info and Benchmark Notes

  
  

  Course Title:

  Early Childhood Education 1

  Course Number:

  8405110

  Career Cluster:

  Education and Training

  CIP Number:

  0419070913

  Course Type:

  Career Preparatory

  Standard(s) or benchmarks

  Focus

  6.02 Describe the principles and stages of development.

  Supporting

  6.03 Describe the characteristics of children ages birth to either in the following domains: physical development; approaches to learning; social and emotional; language and communication; and cognitive development and general knowledge.

• Unit Outline

  
  

  This lesson can be used within a unit focused on child growth and development, including principles of development, developmental theories and theorists, and the developmental domains. The unit can begin with a lesson to develop background knowledge around the topic of developmental principles. This lesson can be used to introduce the concepts of, and vocabulary related to developmental principles and theories of development. Additional lessons in the unit can focus on research about developmental theorists, and production of a digital artifact reflecting student research, and a presentation showcasing the research.

• Career Connection

  
  

  This lesson includes the skills of synthesizing information, making connections, and using career-relevant vocabulary. In addition, knowledge of child growth and development is essential for early childhood and education related careers.

• Learning Objectives

  
  

  Students will be able to:

  • Describe a principle or universal truth related to child growth and development.
  • Describe characteristics of development and developmental domains.
  • Use academic vocabulary related to child growth and development in writing.

• Prior Knowledge

  
  

  Students should be familiar with:

  • Developmental domains in early childhood.
  • Summarizing information.

• Guiding Questions

  
  
  • What developmental principles guide growth and development?
  • What implications do the principles of development have on teaching and learning?
  • What are the characteristics of the developmental domains for learning?

• Procedure

  
  
  1. To introduce the lesson, activate prior knowledge by asking students to share their ideas about or a memory from childhood regarding how children learn. Students might also have an example of children’s development and learning from a younger sibling, family member or volunteering in which they can share.
     • See Teacher Notes for possible previous lesson idea.
  2. Set the purpose for the lesson by explaining to students that there are various research-based developmental principles that guide the education of young children.
     • Explain that a principle of development is a truth or idea based on extensive research that helps practitioners understand children’s growth and development, and that has implications (or influences) on how we interact with and teach young children.
  3. Display the Principles of Development Word bank attachment. Have students work with a partner to identify and define any unfamiliar terms. Allow student groups to address these terms with the class. Discuss meanings for all terms brought up with the class and address any misconceptions that arise with the whole group.
  4. Provide students with the Principles of Development Notes handout attachment. Instruct students to use the handout during the class discussion to take notes on at least three of the developmental principles being discussed.
     
     • Keep the Principles of Development Word Bank available. As students take notes, remind them to refer to the word bank to use academic vocabulary related to the developmental principles.
  5. Continue with a discussion on the various developmental principles.
     • See Teacher Notes for information about the Principles of Development PowerPoint. Refer to the PowerPoint slides for example activity ideas.
     • Pause within the discussion to highlight vocabulary and ask students to share their notes. As students think of examples of the principles connected to early childhood education, ask them to share the story connected to the example.
     • Engage students within the discussion by modeling examples with classroom materials, available videos, or examples of teaching with young children.
  6. To close the lesson, have students choose a developmental principle to summarize. Students may use the information provided and discussed, their course text, or an online resource. If using online resources, encourage students to check the resource for credibility and reliability, referring them to reputable early childhood education organizations. Teachers may also choose to pre-print copies of developmental principle information.
     • Students should include a description of the developmental principle, a real-world example, and an implication to teaching. Encourage students to refer to the Principles of Development Word Bank and use one or more of their vocabulary terms in their summary. There is a space for a drawing of the developmental principle; teachers may require this as they see fit.

• Teacher Notes

  
  
  • CPALMS Resource ID # 206490 includes a lesson to build prior knowledge about developmental principles. Teachers may choose to review student research in the introduction if students completed the previous activity.
  • Teachers should review the Principles of Development Word Bank and alter depending on the teacher’s own discussion points.
  • Teachers may choose to use the Principles of Development PowerPoint to facilitate discussion. Teachers should review the PowerPoint and alter depending on the teacher’s own discussion points. Teachers may also choose to use a provided course text or teacher designed presentation.
  • Example developmental milestones charts, referenced in the Principles of Development PowerPoint, can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/index.html. Many other milestone charts can be found from educational and early childhood organizations.

• Optional

  
  

  Accommodation Ideas:

  • Provide any printouts of presentations or articles.

  Formative Assessment Ideas:

  • Teachers can use the written summaries to formally assess student understanding of the developmental concepts and vocabulary.

  Extension Ideas:

  • Have students share their written descriptions with a partner. Have the partners then summarize the developmental principle back into a short phrase.
  • Have students create flashcards, class vocabulary posters or online vocabulary cards for future reference of the vocabulary during the unit.