CHLD 205 Learning Plan Project

For the Learning Plan Project each student will design (observe and plan), implement, and reflect on one Learning Plan for young children (2- 5 years old).

Each student will choose one of the following Learning Plans to develop: A Nutrition Learning Plan, or, a Health Habits Learning Plan, or, a Safety Learning Plan.

Each student will choose the setting in which to implement his or her Learning Plan from one of the following:

1)     If you work in a center/preschool/family childcare it would be ideal to develop and implement your Learning Plan Project at the center/preschool/family childcare where you work.

2)     If you do not work at a center you can develop and implement your Learning Plan Project at any center/preschool/family childcare of your choice.

(If you chose to do your Learning Plan on Nutrition when you call to request permission and schedule a time to observe and implement your activity also ask about their policies on activities involving food. If your activity requires food many centers/preschools do not allow outside food brought in.)

3)     You can develop and implement a Learning Plan with your own young children (at least 2 children, 2-5 years old). In place of the “Teacher Evaluation of Activity” signed by the supervising teacher you will need to submit a 1-Minute video showing the first minute of your presentation including materials used.

4)     You can develop and implement a Learning Plan with children you know (at least 2 children, 2-5 years old). You will need to get written permission from the parents, as you will need to video the first minute of the presentation in place of the “Teacher Evaluation of Activity.” Permission forms on page 24 of directions.

Purpose: To observe, document, plan, implement and reflect on a Learning Plan activity.

This assignment addresses Student Learning Outcome (SLO) #1: Design and implement health, safety, and nutrition procedures and activities that maximize the mental and physical health of children and adults in early childhood settings.

Contents:

Procedure - Page 2

Directions – Pages 3-8

Checklist – Page 9

Learning Plan Outline – Pages 10-13

Student Evaluation of Activity – Page 14

Teacher Evaluation of Activity – Pages 15

Parent Release Form (For 1 Minute Evaluation Video) – Page 16

Example of What to Include in Learning Plan Outline – Pages 17-19

Procedure:

1)     You will choose to do your Learning Plan Project on one of the following strands in the California Foundations Health Domain:

•      Nutrition, or,

•      Health Habits, or

•      Safety

2)     In developing your Learning Plan you will use the “Curriculum-Planning Process and Cycle” (p. 25-31), and “Interactions and Strategies,” p. 233-275, from the California Preschool Curriculum Framework, Volume 2; and the Foundations, p. 80-87, from the California Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 2.

3)     You will observe, document, plan, implement and reflect on a Learning Plan activity following the steps in the directions below.

4)     You will use the Learning Plan Outline to develop your activity that is included in these directions. See example in directions Step #3 below on how to fill it out.

5)     You will observe the children at the center/preschool/family childcare where you work, or, at a center of your choice, or, your own young children, or, young children you know. See Step #1 in directions below.

6)     You will reflect on what you observed and include the source of inspiration, or child interest you observed, of why you chose the activity for this Learning Plan. This reflection will be included in the Learning Plan Outline under “Observation.” See Step #2 in directions below.

7)     You will plan a learning activity on the strand you chose (Nutrition, or, Health Habits, or, Safety) inspired by what you observed. See Step #3 in directions below.

8)     OPTION: If you would like to you can submit your Learning Plan Outline on the Assignment Page for me to review and write suggestions on before you do the activity with children. Some students like to do this to make sure they are on track.

9)     You will implement your Approved Learning Plan at the center/preschool/family childcare where you work, or, at a center of your choice, or, with your own young children, or, with young children you know. See Step #4 in directions below

10)  You will have the supervising teacher sign and complete the “Teacher Evaluation of Activity“ form; OR, do a 1-Minute video, that includes materials used and the first minute of your presentation, for the students who chose to implement with their own children or children they know. See Step #4 in directions below.

11)  You will reflect on your presentation of the Learning Plan activity you implemented with children by responding to the questions on the “Student Evaluation of Activity” form in these directions (p. 10). See Step #5 in directions below.

12)  You will submit the full Learning Plan Project: “Learning Plan Outline;” “Teacher Evaluation of Activity” (or 1-Minute video with permission forms signed by parents); and “Student Evaluation of Activity” form on the Assignment Page by the assigned due date.

13)  You will post your Learning Plan Outline (just the outline) on the Discussion Board during the week the completed Learning Plan Project is due.

Directions:

Step #1: Observation:

•       “Planning preschool curriculum begins with teachers discovering, through careful listening and observation, each child’s developmental level.

•      Observation is an essential teaching skill.

•      Observation means being present with children and attentive as they play and interact with others and the environment.

•      Mindful presence means waiting to see what unfolds in order to gain a complete picture of children’s play.

•      When teachers mindfully observe, they discover how individual children make meaning in everyday moments of play and interactions, and how they can deepen their relationships with children.”  (CA Dept. of Ed., 2011)

The first step in developing your Learning Plan will be to first observe the children you will implement your learning plan with.

To do this you will need to contact the center/preschool/family childcare/parents and find out the procedures for observing and make arrangements to observe. Give yourself enough time to do a mindful observation. (Also, inquire about procedures to implement an activity and arrange a time to implement the activity after you reflect and plan it.)

If you are doing a Health Habits or Safety activity it would be most beneficial to observe during an open activity/free choice/play time, inside or outside. If you plan on doing a nutrition activity it would be most beneficial to observe during a snack or mealtime or at a time when children have access to the kitchen play area, or during a cooking activity.

Listen and observe what the children say and do. For example, you observe a child running inside. This could be the inspiration for an activity to promote the safe practice rule of walking in the classroom by developing an activity involving music such as the “Elephant Moves” song or, use musical instruments, to have children move slow and fast and discuss the safety rule of walking inside (slow).

Next to the word “Observation” on the Learning Plan Outline you will write your source of inspiration, “why this activity,” after reflecting (Step #2) on your observation.

Step #2: Reflect:

·        “As teachers observe children’s play and interactions, they also discover ways to extend experiences in order to support children in building more complex and coherent ideas.”

Reflect on what you observed the children say and do. Your reflection will help you determine and give meaning to your activity. What did you see or hear that inspired you to choose the activity you chose. For example, you observed children excited to see purple food, when served eggplant at lunch. This inspired you to create an activity involving a variety of foods in different colors.

Step #3: Plan:

·       “From observation, reflection, and documentation, teachers not only gather evidence of children’s progress in learning but also generate curriculum plans within ongoing cycles of mindful observing, listening, documenting, and reflecting on what might come next.

·   Intentional teaching includes planning interactions, activities, environments, and adaptations.

·   Teachers plan such learning opportunities based on their observations and assessments of children and what they learn from the children’s families.

·       When teachers plan learning opportunities, they have in mind how the children might respond. But plans need to be flexible so that teachers can be responsive to how the children actually engage in learning.” (CA Dept. of Ed., 2011)

The Third Step in developing your Learning Plan is to plan an activity you will do with a small group of children by following the Learning Plan Outline.

In step three you will develop an activity in the strand you chose (Nutrition, or, Health Habits, or, Safety) based on what you observed and the foundation you are addressing.  Here you will complete the Learning Plan Outline with the following information:

Learning Plan Outline

Your Name: Write your name here

Curriculum Area: Here you will state “Health” and the strand you chose (Nutrition, or, Health Habits, or, Safety).  

Example: Health/Nutrition (or Health/Health Habits, or, Health/Safety)

Name of Center/Preschool/Setting: State name of the place where you will do activity.

Observation:  Source of Inspiration/Children’s interest (what did you see that was interesting to the children and inspired you to promote the children’s learning?)

After observing the children state here what the children did or said to give you the inspiration to do this activity?

 Example: After observing the children enjoying playing with the fake fruit and vegetables in the home center I felt an activity involving feeling the texture of and tasting of real fruits and vegetables may expand their curiosity and knowledge of a variety of fruits and vegetables.

California Foundations: Developmental Emphasis & Goals: Based on your observation, identify one competency (knowledge and skills) from the California Preschool Foundations that could support children’s learning. Remember to include page number, domain, strand, sub-strand, and foundation (i.e. pg. 85, Health, Nutrition, Nutrition Knowledge, 1.1: “Children will identity a larger variety of foods and may know some of the related food groups.”) Objectives should come directly from California Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 2.

Here you will state what you anticipate the children will learn by stating the Learning Foundation your activity addresses. You will only need to state one. (Foundations for Health Habits are found on p. 80-83, for Safety on p. 84 and for Nutrition on p. 85-87)

Example: Pg. 85, Health, Nutrition, Nutrition Knowledge, 1.1: Children will identity a larger variety of foods and may know some of the related food groups. (CA Dept. of Ed., 2010, p.85)

California Preschool Curriculum Frameworks: Rationale for Activity:  Based on the one foundation you chose to focus on, write one teaching interaction and strategy from California Preschool Curriculum Framework that you plan to use to support children’s learning. Remember to include the page number, Domain, Strand, Substrand, and Interaction and Strategy (i.e pg. 265, Health, Nutrition, Nutrition Knowledge, “To provide opportunities and encouragement in food exploration.”).

Here you will state the underlying set of ideas behind your activity. Rationale should come directly from California Preschool Curriculum Framework, Volume 2, “Interactions and Strategies.” (See Framework for “Interactions and Strategies” for the strand you choose: Health Habits p. 233-251, Safety p. 252-261, Nutrition p. 262-275)

Example: “To provide opportunities and encouragement in food exploration.”  (CA Dept. of Ed., 2011, p.265)

Tittle/Name of Activity: State the name of your activity here

 Procedures:  Here you will thoroughly describe the learning process of your activity from preparation to initiation to completion to extension by including the following:

Materials you will need: (Be specific and complete. A substitute should be able to get everything needed from this list): Here you will state the materials you will use.

Location in classroom or outdoors, where the experience will be implemented: State where the activity will take place – on the rug, small table, ect…

Group size: (remember smaller is usually better): Here you will state what you would like the ideal group size for this activity to be.

Preparation: (what do you need to do before introducing it to children to get it ready for them – no children in this): Here state what you need to do to prepare before involving students. How will you set up your environment? What needs to be prepared before you begin the activity?

Transition to activity: (song, fingerplay or ?): Here state how you will transition into your activity.

Process for the actual activity: (This should include how you will introduce the activity once they are gathered, how the activity will unfold, and how you will accommodate to meet the needs of all children) Here clearly state ever step: What you will say? What you will do? What the children will do. How you will have your materials set up and how you will use them. What open–ended questions you may ask to deepen the learning. How children will be actively involved. How you will actively involve the children. How will it flow…  (Write this out using as much space as needed.)

Open-ended questions you will use: (What are possible questions you could ask children to get them to think deeper and make connections? These should not have one right answer.) Here you will state the possible open-ended questions you may ask. Since your activity can go in so many different directions depending on your group it’s good to have a number of questions available to use wherever the learning may take youJ

Vocabulary and terminology you will include: (What words do you want to use/expose children to during this experience)  Here you will state the vocabulary you want the children to be exposed to during your activity.

Concluding the experience with the children:(What will you say to conclude the experience and transition them to another activity?) Here you will state how you will conclude your activity.

Extension of Activity: (Based on how your activity went in the classroom, what follow up activity could you plan to maximize children’s interests and learning?) Here you will write the possible ways/ideas to extend this activity in daily routines, centers, other activities and interactions.

After completing the Learning Plan Outline save it to your computer as a word doc.

Option: If you would like to take the option to have me review your Learning Plan Outline before implementing it with children submit your Learning Plan Outline on the Assignment Page. To submit your Learning Plan Outline click on “Assignments” on the main Menu of the course and then click “Learning Plan Project.” Under “Assignment Submission” click on “Browse My Computer” and upload your Learning Plan Outline, then click “Submit.”

Step 4: Implement Learning Plan Activity:

·   “Once a plan is written, teachers implement it, but the planning continues even after an activity or experience is under way.

·   Teachers observe the children and listen for teachable moments made possible by the plans.

·   As children encounter the activity or the materials placed in an interest area, the teachers check to find out how children respond to the materials they have prepared. To do so, teachers, once again, observe, reflect, and document

·   The curriculum planning is a continuous cycle, as teachers watch to discover children’s responses to the planned curriculum and evidence of their developing skills and concepts during the planned learning encounters.

·   As with every phase in the planning cycle, teachers would do well to approach the implementing phase with a sense of wonderJ “ (CA Dept. of Ed., 2011)

Step 4 in the Learning Plan Project is to implement your Learning Plan activity with children.

Once your Learning Plan Outline is complete you will implement the activity with children, in a small group setting (at least 2 children), at your appointed time.

Before you begin your activity give the “Teacher Evaluation of Activity” form to the supervising teacher if doing activity at a center/preschool/family childcare and collect it when completed and signed by the supervising teacher.

If you are doing the activity with your own children or children you know you will need to have someone there to video the first minute of your activity – make sure the video includes the materials you are using. Parents must fill out the Parent Release form before videotaping. Upload both the Parent Release forms and video when submitting.

Have fun with this. Be flexible and go with the children’s interest and where the learning takes youJ

Step 5: Reflection: Student Evaluation of Activity

·       “To hold in memory significant parts of what they observe, teachers record notes, take a photo, or keep a work sample, labeling and dating each.

·       They can reflect on these documents later, along with parents and even with the children, as a way to assess the impact of the curriculum plans, to generate plans to further support children’s learning, and to assess individual children’s learning.” (CA Dept. od Ed., 2011)

Step 5 in the Learning Plan Project is to reflect on your activity with children by completing the “Student Evaluation of Activity” form.

Type each question; Type response to each question; save to computer as a word doc.

Step 6: Submit Completed Project

Step 6 in the Learning Plan Project is to submit the completed project on the Learning Plan Project Assignment Page.

To complete the Learning Plan Project you will need to include the following and save it to your computer as the “Learning Plan Project”:

ü  “Learning Plan Outline”

ü  “Student Evaluation of Activity”

ü  “Teacher Evaluation of Activity” completed and signed by Supervising Teacher – You will need to scan it (if no access to scanner, take a photo then cut and paste it in your Word docx) – for students who implemented their activity at a center/preschool/family childcare

- OR –

Save 1-minute video and upload it. Must scan and submit Parent Release Forms as well.

To submit the completed Learning Plan Project Submit it on the Learning Plan Project Assignment Page by the Due Date.

To submit your Learning Plan Project on the Assignment page click on “Assignments” on the main Menu of the course and then click “Learning Plan Project.” Under “Assignment Submission” click on “Browse My Computer” and upload your Learning Plan Outline, then click “Submit.”

Due Date:

July 29

The project takes three to four weeks to complete all the steps so make sure to start at least three to four weeks before the final due date.

Checklist

q Choose the strand (Nutrition, or, Health Habits, or, Safety)

q Call for Observation policies, and policies on implementing an activity, and schedule a time for both if you chose a center to do the Learning Plan Project

q Observe the children

q Create your activity and write your Learning Plan Outline

q Submit your Learning Plan Outline to me for Approval on the Assignment Page by the Approval due date

q Check “My Grades” for Approved Learning Plan Outline. It may take up to a week to get approved  - it will take longer if changes need to be made and re- submitted.

q Make an appointment to implement activity  (if not previously done)

q Implement the activity with young children (at least 2 children, 2-5 years old) from your Approved Learning Plan Outline.

q Collect “Teacher Evaluation of Activity” signed by Supervising Teacher if you chose a center/preschool/family childcare to implement your activity, or, save and add the 1-Minute video showing your materials and first minute of your presentation if you chose to implement activity with your own children or children you know. Include Parent Releases.

q Complete “Student Evaluation of Activity”

q Submit complete Learning Plan Project: Learning Plan Outline; Student Project Evaluation (scanned), or, 1-Minute video with scanned Parent Release forms; and Evaluation of Activity on the Assignment Page

Learning Plan Outline

Your Name: ________________________   Curriculum Area: ___________________

Name of Center/Preschool/Setting: ________________________________________

Observation: Source of Inspiration/Children’s Interest (what did you see that was interesting to the children and inspired you to promote the children’s learning?):  ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Title/Name of Activity:___________________________________________________

Procedures:

Materials you will need: (Be specific and complete. A substitute should be able to get everything needed from this list) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Location in classroom or outdoors, where the experience will be implemented:

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Group size: (remember smaller is usually better) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Preparation: (what do you need to do before introducing it to children to get it ready for them – no children in this)

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Transition to activity: (song, fingerplay or ?)

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Process for the actual activity: (This should include how you will introduce the activity once they are gathered, how the activity will unfold, and how you will accommodate to meet the needs of all children)

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Open-ended questions you will use: (What are possible questions you could ask children to get them to think deeper and make connections? These should not have one right answer.)

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Vocabulary and terminology you will include: (What words do you want to use/expose children to during this experience)

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Concluding the experience with the children:(What will you say to conclude the experience and transition them to another activity?)

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Extension Activity: (Based on how your activity went in the classroom, what follow up activity could you plan to maximize children’s interests and learning?) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Instructor’s Approval________________________________ Date________________

Project Continues on Page 14….

STUDENT EVALUATION of ACTIVITY

1)     Briefly describe what happened. How did the children approach the materials and respond to the activity (cite individual examples to illustrate)?

2)     Explain why (or why not) you think this activity was valuable for the children’s growth and development. How did you adapt the activity to meet the needs of the individual children (cite individual examples to illustrate)?

3)     Explain how you felt this activity went and how it met the foundation you listed in the “Developmental Emphasis and Goals,” section of the learning plan. 

4) How would you change, expand, narrow, or adapt this activity if you did it again?

TEACHER EVALUATION of ACTIVITY

      (Student fills out top section; Supervising Teacher fills out bottom section)

Student (your name):                                                              Date:                                                                                    

Course:  CHLD 205                                                                 Instructor: Veronica Moore                                                                         

Name of Preschool/Child Development Center:                                                                                                                                            

Classroom:                                                                     Supervising Teacher:                                                                                    

Title of Activity                                                                                                                                             

To be filled out by Supervising Teacher: Circle the appropriate rating for each of the following statements, with (1) being low/poor, (3) being medium/average, and (5) being high/exceptional.

Student was organized and prepared                                1           2           3           4                                                                                                 5

Project was developmentally appropriate                         1           2           3           4                                                                                                 5

Student related to children in appropriate manner          1           2           3           4                                                                                                 5

Student extended child interest & involvement                1           2           3           4                                                                                                 5

Supervising Teacher Comments:

Supervising Teacher’s Signature _____________________________ Date _______

Parent Release Form

I give permission for my son/daughter to be videotaped for a 1-Minute video, and/or photographed, to be used for sole the purpose to submit with an assignment for CHLD 205 at MiraCosta College.

Parent’s Signature                                              Child’s Name                                              Date

(Scan and submit with Learning Plan Project. Need one for each child in video that is not your own child.)

(If you do not have access to a scanner, take a picture of the signed form and save it as a PDF (or copy and paste into a word doc.))

EXAMPLE of LEARNING PLAN OUTLINE

Name:  Veronica Moore                     Curriculum Area: Health/Nutrition

Name of Center/Preschool/Setting: MiraCosta Child Development Center

Observation: Source of Inspiration/Children’s Interest (what did you see that was interesting to the children and inspired you to promote the children’s learning?): 

After observing the children enjoying playing with the fake fruit and vegetables in the home center I felt an activity involving feeling the texture of and tasting real fruits and vegetables may expand their curiosity and knowledge of a variety of fruits and vegetables.

California Foundations: Developmental Emphasis & Goals: Based on your observation, identify one competency (knowledge and skills) from the California Preschool Foundations that could support children’s learning. Remember to include page number, domain, strand, sub-strand, and foundation (i.e. pg. 85, Health, Nutrition, Nutrition Knowledge, 1.1: “Children will identity a larger variety of foods and may know some of the related food groups.”)

Pg 85, Health, Nutrition, Nutrition Knowledge, 1.1: “Children will identify a larger variety of foods and may know some of the relate food groups.” CA Dept. of Ed., 2010, p. 85)

 California Preschool Curriculum Frameworks: Rationale for Activity: Based on the one foundation you chose to focus on, write one teaching interaction and strategy from California Preschool Curriculum Framework that you plan to use to support children’s learning. Remember to include the page number, Domain, Strand, Substrand, and Interaction and Strategy (i.e pg. 265, Health, Nutrition, Nutrition Knowledge, “To provide opportunities and encouragement in food exploration.”).

Pg. 265, Health, Nutrition, Nutrition Knowledge, “To provide opportunities and encouragement in food exploration” (CA Dept. of Ed., 2011, p. 264-265)

Title/Name of Activity:  The remainder of this example will show just 

the format of how you will write up your activity not an actual activity. Each section should be a separate paragraph (shown where the blue type is) and each section should be labeled as shown (shown where black type is - include all black type in your outline as the label of each section).  There should be a space between each paragraph and label.

Write the name of your activity here

Procedures:

Materials you will need: (Be specific and complete. A substitute should be able to get everything needed from this list)

Materials listed here.

Location in classroom or outdoors, where the experience will be implemented:

Location stated here.

Group size: (remember smaller is usually better)

Group size stated here.

Preparation: (what do you need to do before introducing it to children to get it ready for them – no children in this)

State what you need to do to prepare before involving students. How will you set up your environment? What needs to be prepared before you begin the activity?

Transition to activity: (song, fingerplay or ?)

State how you will transition to the activity here.

Process for the actual activity: (This should include how you will introduce the activity once they are gathered, how the activity will unfold, and how you will accommodate to meet the needs of all children)

Thoroughly describe the learning process of your activity from initiation to completion to extension.

Clearly state ever step: What you will say? What you will do? What the children will do. How you will have your materials set up and use them. What open–ended questions you may ask to deepen the learning. How children will be actively involved. How you will actively involve the children. How will it flow…

(Write this section out using as many paragraphs and as much space as needed.)

Open-ended questions you will use: (What are possible questions you could ask children to get them to think deeper and make connections? These should not have one right answer.)

State the possible open-ended question you may ask. Since your activity can go in so many different directions depending on your group it’s good to have a number of questions available to use wherever the learning may take youJ

Vocabulary and terminology you will include: (What words do you want to use/expose children to during this experience)

State the vocabulary you want the children to be exposed to during your activity here.

Concluding the experience with the children: (What will you say to conclude the experience and transition them to another activity?)

State how you will conclude your activity here.

Extension Activity: (Based on how your activity went in the classroom, what follow up activity could you plan to maximize children’s interests and learning?)

Here you will write the possible ways/ideas to extend this activity in daily routines, centers, other activities and interactions such as to discuss textures of fruits and vegetables at lunch and snack time.