Lynn,
Here are the lessons for 18 and 22. I am now looking at 24-25 combined; 21-23 combined.
While planning these two lessons, I tried to access the Online Companion website through www.EarlyChildEd.delmar.com (found in the preface), to no avail. Apparently, this is no longer available for this text book. Very frustrating!

Week ?
Chapter 18
Reading Assignment: Chapter 18 – Creative Language Experiences

Discussion Board by midnight on Friday:
Choose 1 of the three assignments below:
1. “When children move freely to activities of their own choice in self-initiated play in a child-centered environment, more language is used with greater richness of speech than when children are in classrooms where formal instruction dominates the program. When children discover they can satisfy needs by speaking, they gain confidence in their abilities to speak and begin to value language” Mayesky, 390-391). Observe in a classroom where young children have free-choice activities and, for five minutes during each activity, record children’s language as they play. During which activity was there the most talking? Why do you think this is so? How would you change the activities to encourage more talking? Explain.
2. Re-read Do Girls Have an Advantage in Kindergarten Literacy? on pg. 398. Write an essay in which you explore this topic. Do you agree with the premise? Have you seen evidence that this is so? After reading this, do you believe preschool teachers should change their approach to better prepare boys for kindergarten? Explain.
3. Re-read They Are Listening…What Do They Hear? On pg. 394. What do these examples tell you about young children’s listening skills? About adults’ use of words? Share some similar stories from your own childhood or from your interactions with young children.

My own story (to post on the discussion board): My son was in love with dinosaurs when he was three years old. We read and talked about dinos all the time. He had a favorite book in which several dinos were depicted, along with some facts about each. I read this to him countless times and he know a lot of facts about these creatures. One day as we looked at the book and casually discussed each dinosaur, I asked him, “what is the name of this dinosaur?”
He replied, “Brontosaurus.”
“And what does he do?”
“Eats plants.”
“Okay, which dinosaur is this one?”
“Terranosaurus.” He replied.
This was his favorite of all the dinosaurs. “And what does he do?”
With a serious look on his face, he solemnly said, “Rex stuff.”

Initial posts for this assignment should be at least 400 words in length, and include at least one idea from the reading assignment (cited, of course).

Discussion Board by midnight Sunday:
Respond to at least three other student’s posts.

Initial post and a minimum of 3 replies: potentially worth 10 points.





Week?
Chapter 22
Reading Assignment: Chapter 22 – Creative Social Studies

Preventing conflicts is the work of politics;
Establishing peace is the work of education.
Maria Montessori

Discussion Board by midnight on Friday:
Research at least three of the following websites:
http://www.nationalgeographic.com -
http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html -
http://www.castlesontheweb.com -
http://www.pbs.org/nova -
http://www.un.org/pubs/cyberschoolbus -
http://www.rpcv.org/globaled - Global TeachNet is part of the National Peace Corps Association
http://www.ed.gov/free/ -
http://www.maps.com -
Or use any of the web sites listed on pgs. 535 & 536.

Based on your research, design a social studies activity for the age group with which you work or would like to work. Remember that we are looking at creative ways to help children understand the world around them. Include at least two ideas you encountered in the chapter (cited). Use the following format:
• Websites you researched, and the one you found to be most useful; include a link to your favorite:
• Age or grade level:
• Objective:
• Materials:
• Procedure:
• Guidance:
• Ideas for adapting this activity to meet the needs of various learning styles:
• Ideas for expansion of this activity:

Initial posts for this assignment should be at least 400 words in length, and include at least two ideas from the reading assignment (cited, of course).

Discussion Board by midnight Sunday:
Respond to at least three other student’s posts.

Initial post and a minimum of 3 replies: potentially worth 10 points.


TO-DO LIST: 24-25 combined; 21-23 combined;