Curriculum Web, Activity Plan and Commentary

Due Date: December 12 on Blackboard

Take another look at the video of Yvonne Smith’s Pre-K classroom. Notice how she has designed multiple activities over weeks (and months) that explore the concept of “Change.” This is a good example of a long-term investigation using a thematic curriculum.

For this project you will choose a theme and create (1) a Thematic Curriculum Web with five sub-topics and (2) one detailed Activity Plan (lesson plan) based on a creative learning experience from that curriculum. Your curriculum should be developmentally appropriate for a Pre-K class (ages 3-5). You may choose your own theme or choose from the list of themes below. We will be reviewing sample curriculum webs and activity plans to familiarize you with the structures that support the curriculum planning process.

Your thematic curriculum web will include five sub-topics. For each sub-topic, you will find high-quality children’s books and design a variety of literacy-rich activities that include visual arts (drawing, painting, collage, sculpture) and performing arts (music, dance/creative movement, theater).

There are three parts to this project:

  1. Curriculum Web
  2. Activity Plan
  3. Commentary

Part 1: Curriculum Web  (PowerPoint and Class Presentation) 

During the semester, you will plan out your curriculum theme and sub-topics using various worksheets. For the final project, you will submit the Curriculum Web Planning Sheet and a presentation of the Curriculum Web. You may use PowerPoint, Google Slides, or another presentation method to create your curriculum web. You will present your curriculum web in a 5-minute class presentation. Your curriculum web: 

  • Must have a least five (5) sub-topics.
  • Each sub-topic must include at least three (3) children’s books.
  • Each sub-topic must include three (3) literacy extension activities that include a visual arts or performing arts component.
  • All creative content areas–2-D visual arts (painting, drawing), 3-D visual arts (sculpture, collage), music, creative movement/dance, theater–must be covered equally across the five sub-topics.
  • Learning activities must be designed to explore the essential questions and important concepts of each sub-topic and the main theme.

In addition to presenting your curriculum web, you will upload documentation of the presentation (e.g., a pdf of the presentation or a link to where the presentation can be viewed). 

Part 2: Activity Plan  

The Activity Plan is a detailed lesson plan of one of the learning experiences included in your Curriculum Web. You must use the Activity Plan Template. The lesson plan must include a visual arts (e.g. collage, painting, sculpture, etc.) or performing arts (e.g. music, movement/dance, theater) activity. This learning experience should support children’s engagement with the essential questions and concepts of the sub-topic. 

Design your activity to be used with a small group (4-6) of Pre-K students. The information in the Activity Plan template should be typed. You will be using this template throughout your ECE curriculum classes at the 300- and 400-level, so become familiar with it. 

The following resources will help you to complete the Activity Plan:

(1) The NYS Prekindergarten Learning Standards (2019) are your reference for completing the Standards/Goals section. Review the standards in each domain and chose those that are intentionally supported by your learning activity. What are your learning goals? How do they meet these standards?

NYS_Prek_Learning_Standards-2019

(2) The NYS Early Learning Guidelines, which provides an overview of typical development in each domain: cognitive, social, emotional, language/communication, and physical (fine motor skills and gross motor skills). This will help you to complete several sections of the activity plan, including the opening section, the section “Knowing the Learners” and the section “Growth and Learning.” In addition to this resource, you should also use the articles and handouts from your ECE 110 class on the developmental domains.

Early-Learning-Guidlines-Revised-2020

(3) Aspects of the Multicultural Self will help you to think about the multiple sociocultural influences on children’s lives. Use this to help you complete the section on “Sociocultural Context” in “Knowing the Learners.”

Aspects-of-the-Multicultural-Self

Part 3: Commentary 

Write a short essay (~2 pages) explaining the choices you made in designing your activity plan. How do these learning experiences connect to the larger themes of your curriculum web? How is your activity developmentally and culturally appropriate for a diverse group of Pre-K learners? How does this activity offer opportunities for a range of learning styles and needs? Use evidence from course readings, discussions, and materials to support your explanation. 

Need help identifying a theme for your Curriculum Web?  

Below are some common Early Childhood curriculum themes. Feel free to choose one of these or come up with your own. If you come up with your own theme, be sure to evaluate whether it is developmentally and culturally appropriate for the group for whom you are designing this unit of study. 

  • All About Us
  • My Five Senses 
  • Families 
  • Where We Live
  • My Community
  • Friendship
  • Everyone is Different
  • Seasons: Autumn
  • Seasons: Winter
  • Seasons: Spring
  • Weather and Climate 
  • Things That Grow 
  • The Environment 
  • Plants  
  • Nutrition 
  • Animals/ Pets/Farm Animals 
  • Animal Habitats 
  • The Rainforest 
  • Sea Life 
  • Transportation
  • Insects
  • Reptiles 
  • Dinosaurs 
  • Rocks and Gems (Geology) 
  • Building/Construction 
  • Careers/Occupations 
  • Community Helpers/Workers 

Here is the model I would like you to use for how to design each of the sub-theme slides:

All-About-Me-A-Curriculum-Unit

Notice:

  • Each slide lists goals for the sub-theme. These are the goals that I hope to achieve through the various learning activities.
  • Each sub-theme includes three activities and at least three books. The books and activities are directly related to the learning goals of the sub-theme. The activities include a range of creative arts (theater arts, visual arts, music and creative movement).

Below are four student examples of the powerpoint presentations developed for the Thematic Curriculum Web. Please note that each of these is imperfect, but in general, the themes and sub-themes are well-thought-out and the activities are creative and provide a variety of music, creative movement, theatrical play, and visual arts experiences for young children.

Reduce-Reuse-and-Recycle-Curriculum

The-Ocean-Curriculum

My-Five-Senses-Curriculum

Where-We-Live-Curriculum