CHILD STUDY LAB 

Gr 10 - 12 | 3 Credits |Semester-Long |5x per Cycle
*PREREQUISITE: Completion of either Introduction to Child Development, Teaching Young Children, or approval of the Department Head of Family & Consumer Sciences.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Child Lab provides students with the opportunity to combine the study of child development with meaningful, hands-on experience in a preschool laboratory setting.

Students examine the physical, emotional, social, cognitive, and language development of preschool-aged children while applying their knowledge through observation, planning, teaching, and reflection. Throughout the course, students participate in the planning, organization, implementation, and evaluation of activities and experiences designed to support the development and learning of young children.

Child Lab is a laboratory and teaching experience. Students are not simply observing or assisting, they are developing the skills and professional habits of an early childhood educator.

Students who elect to take the course more than once may have opportunities to assume increased leadership and responsibility, including serving as team leaders or Intensive students. These positions provide opportunities for students to take on additional responsibilities related to classroom organization, teaching, classroom management, lesson evaluation, family communication, and development of the Child Lab environment.

COURSE GOALS

The goal of Child Lab is to help students develop the knowledge, skills, and professional dispositions necessary to understand and effectively support preschool-aged children.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES / ESSENTIAL SKILLS

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

1. Identify characteristics and needs of the whole child during the preschool years.
2. Identify multiple influences on children's development and learning.
3. Create lesson plans that promote learning through action, inquiry, and exploration.
4. Teach creative lessons that promote learning through action, inquiry, and exploration.
5. Assist children in developing greater control and understanding of their bodies through interactions with their environment, materials, and equipment.
6. Provide opportunities that foster appreciation for the ethnic and cultural diversity of children, families, and the community. Discrimination in any form will not be tolerated.
7. Provide and maintain a healthy, safe, and secure environment for children.
8. Promote cooperative, informative, and respectful relationships with preschoolers and families.
9. Provide opportunities that support children's language development and their ability to express thoughts and feelings.
10. Observe, document, and assess aspects of children's development and learning.

COURSE CONTENT

Throughout the semester, students will explore and apply the following areas:

Understanding the Preschool Child

• Characteristics of preschool development
• Physical development
• Social and emotional development
• Cognitive development
• Language development
• Individual needs, interests, and abilities
• Multiple influences on development and learning

Observing Children

• Purposeful observation
• Understanding children's behavior and interests
• Observing development of the whole child
• Documenting observations
• Using observations to inform teaching and planning

Planning and Teaching

• Developmentally appropriate lesson planning
• Learning through play, action, inquiry, and exploration
• Creative activities and experiences
• Whole-group and small-group instruction
• Follow-up activities that reinforce learning
• Evaluating lessons and teaching experiences

The Preschool Environment

• Planning a preschool environment
• Designing effective play spaces
• Organizing functional groups
• Selecting and preparing materials
• Creating safe and engaging learning experiences

Guidance and Relationships

• Positive guidance and discipline
• Appropriate interactions with young children
• Supporting children's independence
• Communication and conversation
• Respectful relationships with children and families
• Personal and physical boundaries

Health and Safety

• Healthy and safe classroom practices
• Hand hygiene
• Cleanliness and sanitation
• Safe use of classroom materials and equipment
• Recognizing and reporting injuries, illness, or other concerns
• Appropriate mealtime and rest-time procedures

Grading Policy

Lesson Planning & Preparation -  30%
Students are assessed on the quality and completeness of lesson plans, developmentally appropriate activities, preparation of materials, organization, creativity, and readiness to teach.

Teaching & Student Engagement - 60%
Students are assessed on their ability to implement lessons effectively, build positive relationships with children, communicate appropriately, encourage participation and exploration, maintain a safe and supportive environment, respond to children's needs, and demonstrate professionalism.

Reflection  - 10%
Students are assessed on their ability to thoughtfully reflect on teaching experiences, analyze children's responses and engagement, identify strengths and areas for growth, respond to feedback, and use reflection to improve future teaching.

Students are expected to be prepared, actively participate, collaborate respectfully with classmates, and demonstrate professional behavior throughout the course. Growth and improvement are important components of the Child Lab experience.
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District Curriculum Accommodation Plan:

District accommodations (DCAP)Links to an external site. 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