EDU 32700 - Early Childhood Social Studies Methods And Family Studies

The course has a dual focus: One goal of the course is to explore issues related to children, families, and communities including legal and ethical issues, and public policies affecting young children from a deeper understanding of families and communities; the course will then focus on goals of a social studies curriculum for young children, including appropriate methods and strategies of instruction.

Cr. 3.
Student Learning Outcomes
1. Understand contemporary issues in the lives of children and families, including out-of school learning, diversity, and technology (INTASC 2, 3; NAEYC 2).
2. Value and devise strategies for building reciprocal relationships with families by a) getting to know the families’ communities better, b) increasing communication
with families we serve, c) valuing the perspectives and funds of knowledge that families offer (NAEYC 2), and working with families to support their children’s
healthy growth.
3. Learn about the content and methods of social studies education in the lives of young children.
4. Understand and value the processes of social studies, including social skills, attitudes, values, critical thinking, problem solving, and concept formation (INTASC 4,
NAEYC 4).
5. Plan engaging, responsive, and emergent social studies curriculum that facilitates the construction of knowledge for young children (INTASC 4, 7, 8; NAEYC 3, 4).
6. Identify and utilize (community) resources for learning social studies (INTASC, 7, 10; NAEYC 4).