California Preschool Curriculum Framework

1 California Preschool Curriculum Framework Volume 2 California DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SACRAMENTO, 2011 California Preschool Curriculum Framework Volume 2 Visual and Performing Arts Physical Development Health Publishing Information The California Preschool Curriculum Framework , Volume 2, was developed by the Child Development Division, California Depart-ment of Education. This publication was edited by Faye Ong and John McLean, working in cooperation with Laura Bridges, Consultant. It was designed and prepared for printing by the staff of CDE Press, with the cover and interior design created by Cheryl McDonald. It was published by the Department of Education, 1430 N Street, Sacramento, CA 95814-5901.

2 It was distributed under the provisions of the Library Distribution Act and Government Code Section 11096. 2011 by the California Department of Education All rights reserved ISBN 978-0-8011-1716-9 Ordering Information Copies of this publication are available for purchase from the California Department of Education. For prices and ordering information, please visit the Department Web site at http://www. or call the CDE Press Sales Office at 1-800-995-4099. Notice The guidance in the California Preschool Curriculum Framework , Volume 2, is not binding on local educational agencies or other en-tities. Except for the statutes, regulations, and court decisions that are referenced herein, the document is exemplary, and compliance with it is not mandatory.

3 (See Education Code Section ) Contents A Message from the State Superintendent of Public Instruction .. v Acknowledgments ..vii CHAPTER 1 Introduction to the Framework .. 1 California s Preschool Children .. 3 Overarching Principles ..5 Organization of the Framework .. 9 English-Language Development and Learning in All Domains .. 11 Universal Design for Learning .. 14 Curriculum Planning .. 14 The Daily Schedule .. 19 The Curriculum -Planning Process .. 26 The Curriculum -Planning Cycle .. 27 Implementation of the Framework .. 34 Endnotes .. 35 Bibliography .. 37 CHAPTER 2 Visual and Performing Arts .. 39 Guiding Principles .. 42 Environments and Materials .. 45 Summary of the Strands and Substrands.

4 48 Curriculum Framework for the Visual and Performing Arts Disciplines .. 49 Visual Art .. 50 Notice, Respond, and Engage .. 51 Develop Skills in Visual Art .. 54 Create, Invent, and Express Through Visual Art ..58 Bringing It All Together ..61 Music .. 63 Notice, Respond, and Engage .. 64 Develop Skills in Music .. 72 Create, Invent, and Express Through Music ..80 Bringing It All Together ..83 Drama .. 86 Notice, Respond, and Engage .. 88 Develop Skills to Create, Invent, and Express Through Drama .. 91 Bringing It All Together ..98 Dance .. 101 Notice, Respond, and Engage .. 103 Develop Skills in Dance .. 108 Create, Invent, and Express Through Dance.

5 111 Bringing It All Together .. 115 Concluding Thoughts .. 117 Map of the Foundations .. 118 Teacher Resources .. 119 Suggested Arts Materials .. 122 Endnotes .. 123 Bibliography .. 127 CHAPTER 3 Physical Development .. 131 Guiding Principles .. 133 Environmental 136 Summary of the Physical Development Foundations .. 138 Summary of the Strands and Substrands .. 138 Fundamental Movement Skills .. 139 Balance .. 140 Locomotor Skills .. 147 Manipulative Skills .. 156 Bringing It All Together .. 171 Perceptual-Motor Skills and Movement Concepts .. 176 Body Awareness .. 178 Spatial Awareness .. 181 Directional Awareness .. 186 Bringing It All Together .. 190 Active Physical Play.

6 192 Active Participation .. 193 Cardiovascular Endurance .. 199 Muscular Strength, Muscular Endurance, and Flexibility .. 202 Bringing It All Together .. 206 Concluding Thoughts .. 210 Map of the Foundations .. 211 Selected Developmental Sequences .. 212 Teacher Resources .. 216 Endnotes .. 219 Bibliography .. 222 iii CHAPTER 4 225 Guiding Principles .. 227 Environments and Materials .. 229 Summary of the Health Foundations .. 231 Summary of the Strands and Substrands .. 232 Health Habits .. 233 Basic Hygiene .. 234 Oral Health .. 238 Knowledge of Wellness .. 241 Sun Safety .. 246 Bringing It All Together .. 250 Safety .. 252 Injury Prevention.

7 253 Bringing It All Together .. 260 262 Nutrition Knowledge .. 263 Nutrition Choices .. 267 Self-Regulation of Eating .. 271 Bringing It All Together .. 274 Concluding Thoughts .. 276 Map of the Foundations .. 277 Teacher Resources .. 278 Endnotes .. 280 Bibliography .. 283 Glossary .. 286 iv A Message from the State Superintendent of Public Instruction Iam pleased to present the California Pre-school Curriculum Framework , Volume 2, a publication I believe will be a major effortin working to close the school-readiness gap for young children in our state. Cre-ated as a companion to the California Pre-school Learning Foundations, this frame-work presents strategies and information to enrich learning and development oppor-tunities for all of California s Preschool children.

8 Like the second volume of the Preschool learning foundations, this installment of the Curriculum Framework focuses on three learning domains: visual and per-forming arts, physical development, and health. Topics include guiding principles (in particular, the vital role of the family in early learning and development); the diver-sity of young children in California ; and the ongoing cycle of observing, document-ing, assessing, planning, and implement-ing Curriculum . The Framework takes an integrated approach to early learning and describes how Curriculum planning con-siders the connections between different domains as children engage in teacher-guided learning activities. Chapters two through four focus on the learning domains.

9 Each chapter provides an overview of a domain, the foundations for that domain, principles in planning Curriculum , and Curriculum strategies illustrated by vignettes. The strategies pertain to both the learning environment and teachers interactions with children. These chapters offer key principles and a rich variety of ideas for early childhood educators to support the learning and development of Preschool children. Principles and strategies for teaching children who are English learners are included. Three themes are interwoven through-out this volume: early childhood educa-tors need to be intentional in supporting learning in all domains, young children learn through play, and young children s families are their first teachers.

10 As young children play, they express themselves through the exploration of art materials, dance, music, and drama; they constantly use their developing fine motor and gross motor skills; and they often show concern for their health and safety. Observation and documentation of young children s play gives insights into how to build on their interests and expand their learn-ing. early childhood educators also enrich young children s learning through ongoing collaboration with families. Together, early childhood educators and family members can create meaningful learning experi-ences for children in Preschool and at home. The Framework speaks to new early childhood educators as well as experi-enced ones. It recognizes the best prac-tices already used by Preschool programs and provides new ideas that bring the Preschool learning foundations to life for everyone responsible for the care and edu-cation of young children.