Teaching Strategies GOLD & The Creative Curriculum For Preschool By Angela Zinn & Eliza Kraham
Basic Beliefs Underlying Creative Curriculum Constructive, purposeful play is a vehicle for meaningful learning. The development of social competence is a key focus of the preschool years. Curriculum and assessment must be linked. Families are partners in children’s learning. The teacher’s role is vital in connecting content, teaching and learning. All children, including those with special needs, can thrive in an appropriate preschool classroom.
Organization of Creative Curriculum
• Structure
• Focus on Interest areas
Blocks Toys and Games Dramatic Play Art Library Discovery Sand and Water Music and Movement Cooking Computers Outdoors
Objectives for Development and Learning • Organization of the 36 objectives
• Four major areas of child development • Social-emotional • Physical • Language • Cognitive
• Content learning • • • • •
Literacy Mathematics Science and Technology Social Studies The Arts
Overview of GOLD objectives: • Social/Emotional: emotions, relationships, cooperation w/others • Physical: movement, balance, gross motor/fine motor/ coordination, strength, pencil grip • Language: comprehension, expressing thoughts/needs, conversation skills • Cognitive: curiosity, problem solving, engagement/ attending, connections, symbolic thought, sorting
Overview of GOLD objectives: • Literacy: rhyming and alliteration, letter sound knowledge, alphabet knowledge, how to use books, retell, writing skills • Math: counting, quantifying, shapes, measuring, patterns • Science/Technology: inquiry skills, the living world, physical properties, environment, using technology • Social Studies: knowledge of self, how people live, geographic knowledge, change over time • The Arts: Visual art, music, dance, drama • English Language Acquisition: listening, understanding, speaking
Definition of a study: • An in depth investigation of a topic • A research effort focused on finding answers to question • Questions can be posed by children or the teacher
Units of Study in the Creative Curriculum: • Clothing study • Buildings study • Tree study • Balls study • Beginning of the year • Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Interest areas in a preschool classroom • Block area • Dramatic play • Art area • Library • Sand and water area
• Discovery/Science
Typical materials in interest areas: • Block area: measuring, building, cars, block people, animals, different types of building materials, books • Dramatic play: babies, dress up clothes, costume clothes, books, play food, puppets, dishes • Art area: paints, clay, markers, colored pencils, glue, craft supplies, easel, crayons, scissors
Typical materials in interest areas: • Library: books: non fiction, fiction, fairy tales, concept books, multi-cultural, animals, listening center, story props • Sand and water area: measuring, digging tools, float and sink sets, letters, (other sensory objects to explore with) • Discovery/Science: light table, magnifying glasses, magnets, books, natural materials (rocks, plants)
Typical materials in interest areas: • Music and movement: Instruments, song books, bean bags, scarves, cd player
• Cooking: Measuring cups, ingredients, recipe cards, cookbooks
• Computers: Little Tykes computer center, games
Typical materials in interest areas: • Toys and games: puzzles, board games, peg boards, lacing cards/beads
• Math: counting and sorting materials, shapes, pattern cards, sequencing cards
• Prototyping: recyclable materials, craft materials, design thinking process visuals, tape
Typical materials in interest areas: • Technology: ipads, tech cart with projector, speakers, document camera
• Writing: writing journals, Zoo-Phonics alphabet, name cards, pencils, drawing supplies, chalk boards, dry erase boards, dry erase markers
Clothing Study- examples of implementation in the classroom: • Block area- building and measuring with measuring tape, doll house people w/clothes, books on clothes • Dramatic play: dress up clothes, books on clothes, clothes line, dolls, hats, scarves, shoes, cash register, hangers, buttons • Library: Variety of books on clothing fiction, non fiction, multicultural • Math: sorting buttons, number games on hats, socks-sequencing, patterning beads, and buttons • Discovery/Science: Light table/fabrics/ magnifying glasses, sensory boxes • Art: painting clothing on easel, beading, fabric collage, measuring and covering body tracings with fabric, painting with cotton balls • Technology: ipad bugs and buttons game, letter/sound games, MyOn digital
Clothing Study- examples of implementation in the classroom: • Writing: writing prompts on favorite shirt/ shoes, outfit • Prototyping: design a shoe for a child without shoes, explore materials to keep shoe on, that’s functional, and work collaboratively in group
• Sand and Water: wool in sensory bin, tweezers, cotton balls, egg crates for sorting and counting, clothing wash with baby clothes, soap, scrubbers