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Curriculum Components
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“Setting the Stage for Learning”
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The Creative Curriculum
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Core Knowledge
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High Scope
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Research-based(philosophy, values, guiding principles)
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Based on and imbedded in the following:
- DAP
- Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences
- Bloom’s Taxonomy
- Emergent approach
- Lev Vygotsky
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- Abraham Maslow
- Erik Erikson
- Jean Piaget
- Lev Vygotsky
- Howard Gardner
- Sara Smilansky
- Learning & resiliency
- Learning & brain research
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The Core Knowledge Preschool Sequence is the result of a long process of research and critical review undertaken by the non-profit Core Knowledge Foundation. The resulting Preschool Sequence represents a synthesis of exemplary practice and experience, both in the United States and abroad.
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High/Scope is committed to developing curriculum content and methods that are scientifically based and have evidence of effectiveness. The Perry Preschool Longitudinal Study is perhaps the best known of High/Scope's studies demonstrating the effectiveness of the High/Scope Preschool Curriculum.
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Comprehensive: Developmental Domains (physical, social, emotional, cognitive, language)
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Addresses the following developmental domains:
- Cognitive – through activities/lessons/ interest centers
- Social – through activities/ lessons/room design
- Language – through activities/ interest centers
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The Creative Curriculum® for Preschool addresses all areas of development: social/emotional, physical, cognitive, and language.
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Comprehensive preschool curriculum that addresses all facets of early childhood development
Identifies explicit skills and knowledge that are critical to a young child's development, in terms of "readiness to learn". |
High/Scope's "key developmental indicators"(KDIs) are early childhood milestones that guide teachers as they plan and assess learning experiences and interact with children to support learning.
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Comprehensive: Content Areas (language/literacy, mathematics, science, social studies, the arts, health/nutrition, gross motor, technology)
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10 thematic units plus 12 common holidays for teachers to pick and choose from over 1200 lesson choices
Thematic & holiday units offer lesson choices in: arts & crafts, cooking, fingerplays & songs, games, language arts, math, science and social studies.
Offers teachers ideas with specific suggestions of ways to infuse thematic learning in the following interest centers: free art, housekeeping, blocks, writing, science exploration, table activities, sand/water table and library/book area all to promote independent and/or small group child-initiated exploration.
Most activities are cross-curriculum in design. I.e. Art begins with discussion & mini lesson promoting language, culture, science and/or social studies concepts. |
The Creative Curriculum® for Preschool guides you on how to address content in each of these areas:
Literacy
Math
Science
Social Studies
The Arts
Technology |
Core Knowledge offers suggestions for skill development in:
- Movement & coordination
- Autonomy & social skills
- Work habits
- Language
- Mathematics
- Orientation in time
- Orientation in space
- Science
- Music
- Visual arts
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In a High/Scope setting, children explore, ask and answer questions, solve problems, and interact with classmates and adults as they pursue their choices and plans. During this process they engage in teacher- and child-initiated learning activities in 10 child development content areas. Within each content area are "key experiences" that foster developmentally important skills:
Language/literacy
Social & emotional
Physical development & health
Mathematics
Science & technology
Social Studies
The Arts |
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Play-based
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Setting the Stage for Learning offers specific suggestions to enhance each interest center to promote learning in a play-based format.
Encourages the philosophy of the “gift of time” allowing the children longer interaction times over multiple times and/or sessions during play time
Promotes a balance of child-initiated and teacher guided activities/ lessons
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The Creative Curriculum for Preschool says,
“A curriculum is like a blueprint; it is a piece of paper until it is interpreted and used to carefully build something. A well-designed blueprint meets the standards of the profession and helps to construct a high-quality building.”
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Teacher assumes an interactive role in guiding and presenting experiences and instruction
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The curriculum is based on the belief that children learn best through "active learning," direct, hands-on experiences with people, objects, events, and ideas. Children are encouraged to "construct" their own knowledge by pursuing their personal interests and goals, guided by trained adults who understand the important learning areas for children in the preschool years.
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Role of the Teacher
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Setting the Stage for Learning is clear that the role of the teacher needs to be that of facilitator – stepping back, observing and letting the children’s interests guide quality & comprehensive planning
Lesson cards are formatted with open-ended questions to remind teachers to allow for multiple responses – letting the children’s responses guide the learning
Manual provides information to guide teachers in room design and function to promote opportunities for observations, interaction and “teachable moments” |
The Creative Curriculum for Preschool describes the teacher's role as an ongoing cycle of observing children, guiding their learning, and assessing their progress. They show how to motivate children, build on their prior knowledge and strengths, and support their learning in an intentional way by using a variety of strategies to increase their knowledge, skills, and understandings
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Teachers are encouraged to use a wide variety of teaching strategies, groupings, and materials to help children learn the knowledge and skills specified in the Preschool Sequence.
It provides teachers with many options for teaching each area of the Preschool Sequence, including planning activities for large and small group instruction, incorporating learning into center play, and so on. |
High/Scope® teachers give children a sense of control over the events of the day by planning a consistent daily routine that enables children to anticipate what happens next.
High/Scope® teachers and caregivers are trained to participate as partners in children's activities rather than relate to children primarily as managers or supervisors |
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Assessment (planning instruction & progress monitoring)
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Setting the Stage for Learning supports the assessment process by:
The teacher’s role – as a facilitator, the teacher is able to observe and arrange activities to assess learning
The interest center format allows the opportunity for teachers to offer activities to assess language, skill development, social skills and more
Additional information/assessment tools are available |
The Creative Curriculum® Developmental Continuum for Ages 3-5 is designed for purposeful observation everyday practice. The Developmental Continuum is the core of the Assessment System and helps to evaluate each child's developmental level, to map each child's progress, and to plan learning experiences based on individual strengths and needs
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Offers the Preschool Assessment Tool for purchase focusing both on comprehensive assessment and specific & explicit guidance for evaluation
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The COR (Child Observation Record) is used to evaluate child progress in High/Scope infant-toddler and preschool programs. The Preschool Program Quality Assessment (PQA) is used to evaluate the quality of the program, focusing on five key areas: learning environment, daily routine, adult-child interaction, curriculum planning and assessment, and parent involvement and family services.
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Classroom Environment (room arrangement, climate, schedules, materials, aesthetics)
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The manual for Setting the Stage for learning offers specific suggestions for room design to create areas for group and independent interactions
Offers specific suggestions for changing the content/materials for each thematic unit to keep learning fresh and interesting
Provides specific suggestions for creating “theme immersion” offering ways for teachers to let the room teach with & for them |
The Creative Curriculum shows how to:
Set up the physical environment and maintain interest areas
Establish a classroom structure that includes the daily routine and schedule, choice times, and small- and large-group times
Create a classroom community that promotes positive relationships and where children make friends and learn social problem-solving skills |
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The space and materials in a High/Scope® setting are carefully selected and arranged to promote active learning. The center is divided into "interest areas" organized around specific kinds of play, for example, block area, house area, small toy area, book area, sand-and-water area, art area.
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Parent Involvement
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Setting the Stage for Learning involves parents by:
Activities that encourage parent assistance for physical help
Offers suggestions to use parents as resources for information and materials
Provides suggestions/activities to involve parents for cultural enrichment |
The Creative Curriculum for Preschool provides guidance on getting to know families, welcoming and communicating with them regularly, partnering for children's learning, and responding to challenging situations
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Culturally Relevant & Responsive
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Setting the Stage for Learning is culturally relevant & responsive by:
Offering suggestions for parent involvement with each theme
Using holidays as opportunities for cultural education
Emergent approach allows for responsive teaching |
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In Core Knowledge children are exposed to literature, art, and music selections from many cultures. Likewise, history instruction introduces children systematically to cultures, races, and religions throughout the world.
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Instruction/ Adaptation Strategies
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Setting the Stage for Learning:
Many activity cards offer ways to differentiate instruction
Many cards offer suggestions for adaptations/variations for younger/older/diverse groups
The manual provides information for the emergent approach that allows “fluid” teaching to respond to the instructional & developmental needs of the class |
The Creative Curriculum has a specific section on including children with disabilities in the classroom. In addition, information on incorporating children with special needs is woven into individual chapters on activity areas as appropriate. Because The Creative Curriculum emphasizes social competence and shows teachers how to individualize their program, it is appropriate for children of all abilities.
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The Core Knowledge Preschool Sequence will provide a solid foundation for future learning for all young children.
The explicit specification of what is to be taught, as contained in the Preschool Sequence, safeguards all children against the likelihood of lower expectations and watered-down curricula.
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The High/Scope® approach is used with special needs children in both self-contained and inclusive settings. High/Scope® teachers approach children with special needs by emphasizing the broad cognitive, social, and physical abilities that are important for all children rather than by focusing on the child's deficits.
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Sample Activities/ Experiences
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Setting the Stage for Learning:
Offers over 1300 activities with specific and general ideas for enriching educational experiences
The manual provides specific suggestions for the implementation, flexibility and instructional format |
The Creative Curriculum for Preschool goes on to address content very specifically. The Creative Curriculum explains how to teach content in ways that respect the developmental stages of preschool children, defines the body of knowledge included in each content area, and the process skills children use to learn that content.
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Offers Core Knowledge Preschool lesson plans with specific activity and lesson ideas
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High/Scope® offers a planning manual
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Resources (professional development, videos, supplemental materials)
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Setting the Stage for Learning:
Provides FREE consultative support as a resource for implementation
Offers supplemental materials:
- For Parent communication
- For assessment
- Webinars
- Developing training DVD’s
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The Creative Curriculum offers many supplemental resources:
Books
Videos
Training
Webinars |
Core Knowledge offers many supplemental resources:
Books
Videos
Training
Webinars |
High/Scope® offers many supplemental resources:
Books
Videos
Training |
