Introduction to Child Development

Mrs. Bender

Rm. 111/ Child Lab

benderk@wellesleyps.org

Course Overview

This course provides a comprehensive exploration of early human development, spanning foundational brain architecture, prenatal development, infancy, and early childhood milestones. Students will examine physical, cognitive, language, and social-emotional growth while completing reflective and experiential activities, research projects, and observational analysis. 

Course Units

Unit 1: Child Development Fundamentals & Brain Architecture

Core Concepts:

• • Definition and foundational concepts of child development.
  • Brain architecture, neural connections, and early childhood brain science.
  • Building resilience and factors supporting healthy growth.
• Project:
  • Resilience Recipe: What what conditions and experiences contribute to the development of resilience in young children? (10 pts)

Unit 2: Prenatal Development & Biological Foundations

Core Concepts:

• Stages of early pregnancy and prenatal development week-by-week.
• Debunking common myths around pregnancy and prenatal health.
• Project: Project: Prenatal Fact or Fiction? (15 pts)

Unit 3: Infancy & The First Year

Core Concepts:

• • Essential facts regarding newborn care and early physical development.
  • Overview of the key developmental domains during the first 12 months.
• Project:
  • Baby Book Project: The First 12 Months (25 pts)

Unit 4: Toddlerhood Development (Ages 12-24 Months)

Core Concepts:

• • Physical, cognitive, language and social-emotional milestones for 12, 18 and 24-month-old children
  • Understanding the experiential perspective of young children through the lens of their developmental abilities and limitations

Unit 5: The Preschool Years (Ages 3-5)

Core Concepts:

• • • Physical, cognitive, language and social-emotional milestones at each age 
    • Observation opportunities in the Child Lab
    • What are 3, 4, and 5 year olds able to do? Experiential learning
    • Multi-Age Classrooms: Structure, benefits, and instructional adaptations.

• Project: Developmental Milestones & Learning Activities Project: Supporting Progress with Practice (25 pts)

Unit 6: Developmentally Appropriate Practice

Core Concepts:

• • Serve and Return Interactions: Fostering responsive communication, secure attachment and engagement
  • Importance of Play: Playful learning, types of play, guided play vs. free play, brain science behind play.
• Project:  Hot Topics in Early Childhood (15 pts)

 

Grading: Grades will be based on a 200 point scale

• 90 pts  In-class activities and assignments
  • communication of key learning to peers 
  • connecting understanding across topics and stages
• reflections and take-aways demonstrating understanding, synthesis, and piqued curiosity
• hands-on experiences and activities providing insight into the lived experience of young children
• review of articles, videos, and podcasts highlighting key concepts

• 90 pts Class projects (5 projects) 
• Creating informational pamphlets and posters supporting or debunking "common knowledge" about pregnancy and the prenatal period of development
• Researching and correlating developmental milestones and supporting activities and experiences across early childhood ages and stages

• 20 pts Participation
• complies with technology and attendance policies
• engages in discussions
• active in group projects
• fulfills obligations in a timely manner

 

Policies and procedures:

Technology:

• The use of cell phones and headphones/earbuds are prohibited in Rm. 111.  

• • No technology should be brought into the Child Lab classroom space, including:

• • • cell phones

• • • headphones/earbuds

• • • laptops

• • • cameras

 

District Curriculum Accommodation Plan:

District accommodations (DCAP) are available to all students, and in the 26-27 school year, WHS is committed to moving this forward with fidelity.

While some accommodations can be offered at the moment, others require advanced notice.

For example: Extended time on an in-class assessment is a collaborative decision made by the teacher, student, and family to meet individual student needs.  The WHS guideline is up to 25% extra time.  This accommodation relies on proactive student communication prior to the date of the assessment.  The student and teacher must establish how the accommodation will be provided. 

 

WHS Values:        Academic Excellence * Commitment to Community 

Respect for Human Differences * Cooperative & Caring Relationships