Picnic Party Unit of Study Mixed Ages Picnic Party Unit of Study © Early Learning Success, LLC, 2016 www.earlylearningsuccess.net Some pictures courtesy of www.wpclipart.com 2 Picnic Party Unit of Study, Mixed Ages (Birth through School-Age) Copyright © 2016 by Nancy Dougherty Picnic Party Unit of Study is a component of the Early Learning Success Curriculum. Early Learning Success Curriculum, copyright © 2014, is written by Nancy Dougherty. It is owned exclusively by Early Learning Success, LLC with all rights reserved. Early Learning Success Curriculum is published online at www.earlylearningsuccess.net Logo design is by Nancy Dougherty. © Early Learning Success, LLC, 2014. Disclaimer Educators and providers that use the Early Learning Success curriculum are expected to adhere to the licensing statutes and requirements of their State. Educators and providers should understand early childhood education and care best practices, and diligently monitor safety practices when using materials as appropriate for the developmental level of the children. Online Resources for Unit Development www.wpclipart.com www.pinterest.com Picnic Party Unit of Study © Early Learning Success, LLC, 2016 www.earlylearningsuccess.net Some pictures courtesy of www.wpclipart.com 3 Units of Study All Units of Study have been developed using the same criteria. This process results in a very balanced and consistent delivery of activities that address all developmental domains. This also supports the early childhood education and care field in preparing children to be successful with STEM programming emphasis, (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). Supporting the Domains of Development and STEM Education Functions The Early Learning Success Curriculum Units of Study have been carefully designed to support and enhance every child’s learning in all developmental domains: Social & Emotional Development Approaches to Learning Creativity & the Arts Language & Literacy Development Cognitive Development, including math, science and social systems Physical & Motor Development The Early Learning Success Curriculum uses Minnesota’s early learning standards as stated in the Minnesota Early Childhood Indicators of Progress (ECIPs) document as the goals and objectives for children. These early learning standards cover the span of ages birth – school age. The curriculum is easily aligned with other early learning standards. The Units of Study also emphasize the skills and knowledge needed to be successful in the areas of STEM as stated by Janice Morrison (TIES STEM education monograph series, attributes of STEM education, 2006). She outlined several functions of a STEM education and suggested that students should be: • Problem-solvers – able to define questions and problems, design investigations to gather data, collect and organize data, draw conclusions, and then apply understandings to new and novel situations. • Innovators – creatively use science, mathematics, and technology concepts and principles by applying them to the engineering design process. • Inventors – recognize the needs of the world and creatively design, test, redesign, and then implement solutions (engineering process). • Self-reliant – able to use initiative and self-motivation to set agendas, develop and gain self- confidence, and work within time specified time frames. • Logical thinkers – able to apply rational and logical thought processes of science, mathematics, and engineering design to innovation and invention. • Technologically literate - understand and explain the nature of technology, develop the skills needed, and apply technology appropriately. Picnic Party Unit of Study © Early Learning Success, LLC, 2016 www.earlylearningsuccess.net Some pictures courtesy of www.wpclipart.com 4 Using the Unit Materials The Planning Framework Planning for preschool through school-age children is done using a ‘framework’ that includes all six developmental domains. Through purposeful planning each Unit includes 2 activity plans that address the domains of Social & Emotional, Language & Literacy, Cognitive, Creativity & the Arts, and Physical & Motor Development either as the primary or secondary focus of the activity. In addition, each activity plan identifies an Approach to Learning component and explains how the activity supports school readiness. Each activity plan also includes a STEM Education Function. The Unit planning framework provides many activities for educators/providers to implement but allows for freedom and creativity to create weekly plans that address the specific needs and interests of individual children and programs. The Units are not weekly plans, but can span several weeks depending on educator/provider preferences. A Sample Week is included but educators/providers should adapt and create plans that meet their programming needs. A blank planning form is included so that educators/providers can make each Unit their own. Included in the Unit are activity plans, templates, patterns and pictures for the numbered activities in the planning framework. All the educator/provider needs to do is read through the activity plan and gather or prepare the necessary materials. Most materials are those commonly found in childcare programs such as glue, paint and paper. The activity plans include ideas for ‘getting ready’, the actual activity directions, questions to reflect upon, and the developmental domains and importance of the activity. This helps the educator/provider know what to look for in observing a child’s skill and knowledge development. The Unit planning framework includes 8 numbered activities along with several other ideas that are not numbered. Complete instructions are included for each of the numbered activities, which can take more than one day to complete depending on time, schedules and interests of children. The sample planning sheet demonstrates how the activities in the planning framework can be used for weekly planning. A form is also included to note adaptations to activities for individual children. Planning for Infants & Toddlers The Unit activities and experiences for this age address the development needs of a wide range of infants and toddlers. These experiences are designed based on learning and discovery through sensory interactions with the educator/provider. They can be easily integrated throughout different components of the day depending on the infant’s schedule. The activities can be adapted to meet the differing skills as young infants grow to be toddlers and then preschoolers. A block-style planning form is used to indicate activities in each domain. Planning for Preschool and School-Age The included Weekly Plan uses only a few of the activities listed in the Planning Framework. Each activity identifies a developmental domain so that learning activities are balanced across all domains. This also helps educator/providers be intentional with planning based on observations of a child’s needs. Picnic Party Unit of Study © Early Learning Success, LLC, 2016 www.earlylearningsuccess.net Some pictures courtesy of www.wpclipart.com 5 Picnic Party Unit of Study Highlights Baskets packed with your favorite foods ….. A blanket spread out jussst right ….. Sunshine and gentle breezes ….. And of course, the ants (and other bugs) have found the way! ….. Picnics are a time for sharing and to enjoy the great outdoors with family and friends. Picnics are just part of summer fun! Many communities and families have picnics to celebrate special summer days or events. Nothing beats a picnic in the middle of winter or a rainy day either. This Unit of Study provides hands-on activities, for children to: Creatively use language to develop a ‘word quilt’ Explore how families and communities celebrate with picnics Make their own picnic basket out of a shoebox Plan a picnic and see how much the children enjoy it … well, maybe not the bugs! Picnic Party Unit of Study © Early Learning Success, LLC, 2016 www.earlylearningsuccess.net Some pictures courtesy of www.wpclipart.com 6 Preschool & School-Age Planning Framework Picnic Party Unit of Study based on common developmental domains and early learning standards Note: All activities encompass the Approaches to Learning Domain; the Social and Emotional Domain is integrated into specific activities Language & Literacy Cognitive Creativity & the Arts Physical & Motor Reading Math Movement/dance/music Gross Motor Picnic Book List Activity 3: My Picnic Blanket Activity 5: The Ants Go Marching Activity 7:‘Ant at A Picnic’ Circle Enjoy reading books about picnics Use various patterns to create a Children sing and march to the song, Game from the Picnic Book List picnic blanket increasing the number in line to match Fun circle game! the song verse Writing Science Art Studio Fine Motor Activity 1: Picnic Fare Ant Anatomy Activity 6: Shoebox Picnic Basket Activity 8: Clay Picnic Food Create a poster of picnic foods Detail the anatomy of an ant; create Make a usable picnic basket out of a Use self-hardening clay to make a a puzzle to put the ant together shoebox; process and product activity! variety of picnic food http://www.giftofcuriosity.com/learni ng-about-insect-body-parts-free- printable/ Speaking/listening Social Systems Understanding Healthy Living Activity 2: Picnic ‘Word Quilt’ Activity 4: We’re Going On A Pack A Picnic Make a ‘word quilt’ out of special Picnic Make a list of good foods to eat on a picnic words Identify special days families picnic! celebrate with picnics Pack them in a picnic basket and head