EDUCATION 3700 FALL 2017

CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION FOR NON-MAJORS : SOCIAL STUDIES

ASSIGNMENT #2 : Curriculum Analysis 20%

Grade Level : Kindergarten

(Why? I chose Kindergarten as my grade for focus and exploration in the social studies
program of studies because my ultimate passion lies with early childhood education.
Plus, I feel like it truly lays the groundwork for my further exploration of the Social studies
program of studies by establishing a solid foundation of understanding of the scope and
sequence of this discipline. Furthermore, I am a linear and visual learner myself, so if I
were to choose a grade in random order out of the program of studies without exploring
previous grade levels that lead up to that point, then I would feel a little disorganized!)

What are the major themes or big ideas in this grade?

The big ideas in the Kindergarten social studies program are two

polarizing ideas that result in a synthesis of understanding, accumulating

to an introduction of identity, which is one of the major themes in the

social studies program explored from kindergarten all the way up until

grade twelve. The kindergarten social studies program of studies builds a

sense of togetherness, in the classroom, and in the greater realms of

community which can be stretched to the local level such as the

students neighborhood, or their family all the way to the national and

global levels. This idea of togetherness is established through the

exploration of individuality, to create a sense of belonging by exploring

how their uniqueness contributes to their community. So, two polarizing

ideas are explored here; students will learn how aspects of their

community contribute to their identity, and how aspects of their identity

contribute to their community. The simplicity of the notion of being

together, belonging to, learning in, and living in a community is something

that is highly integral to a students learning both educationally and

socially seeing as it establishes a students idea of themselves, and the

world around them. For, in the social studies kindergarten program of

studies, students learn how to cherish themselves, and the people around

them, which lays a solid foundation of self esteem and confidence, which

is crucial at the primary level, seeing as how students come from all walks

of life, whether that be preschool, homeschooling, day care etc., and are

beginning on a new path together; life-long learning. These ideas are

crucial to be taught and explored at this level so as to also establish and

understand social rules and responsibility to create relationships,

interactions, and communications between people respectfully and

purposefully.

How does it connect with the subjects core concepts of citizenship and

identity?

The kindergarten outcomes for the social studies program of studies

is highly connected to the subjects core concepts of citizenship and

identity in that it is, essentially, the foundational level where students are

introduced to these concepts, upon which the rest of their education will

be built. For, at the kindergarten level, students learn how to value,

respect, cherish, and celebrate their uniqueness and their sense of

belonging through the introduction of critical thinking skills, social

interactions, citizenship and engagement. From here, the same concepts

will be explored, but to a higher degree of complexity, within different

contexts, through the exploration of multiple perspectives and times and

place, so that by grade 12, students will have made sense of the past, to

understand their present and act in the future, through informed

citizenship and social and democratic participation, to shape their world

and their unique identity and strengthen their sense of belonging at all

levels of community.

How does it attend to aboriginal, francophone and pluralist perspectives?

At the kindergarten level, the social studies program of studies

introduces aboriginal, francophone, and pluralist perspectives through

means of local and current affairs. Plus, these perspectives are introduced

through the exploration of groups and communities in the context of

exploring how these groups and peoples have attributed to their

individual and collective identity. This can be done through the

establishment of a climate of cooperation within the classroom, which

would teach proper behavior, ways of thinking and critical thinking and

inquiry skills towards others through the means of exploring different

groups, and understanding what it means to belong to a group, and what

makes groups special and valuable to and within a greater community.

Given the age at this level, I would exercise care and caution when

selecting materials, or means of exploring these perspectives, so as to

keep the content at an age-appropriate level, so as to reinforce the

notions of uniqueness and belonging which are the founding ideas of the

kindergarten program. However, I would not hesitate to explore these

perspectives as a means of introducing students to current affairs, by

encouraging them to think critically, be informed and engaged of and

within their community, so as to strengthen their understandings and value

of themselves by endlessly reinforcing the notion of belonging through the

exploration of multiple perspectives that are integral and pertinent to their

communities.

What challenges does the grade level present to teaching and learning?

This grade level presents significant challenges with regard to

establishing a strong sense of uniqueness and identity, which is directly

correlated to a students self-esteem. These ideas are particularly heavy

and challenging to navigate as an educator seeing as how kindergarten

is the age where students are introduced to everthing, socially and

educationally, making it crucial that students gain a sense of belonging

within their communities, through the exploration fo their uniqueness, so

that they may feel confident, and be competent members of their

communities through respectful and responsible interactions with others in

the various worlds around them. The challenge for teachers is to lay the

groundwork for a solid foundation of learning for the years to come

through the development of critical thinking skills, the understanding of

self-confidence, value and appreciation for others, and the reinforcement

of proper social conduct so that they may interact appropriately and be

able to problem-solve effectively.

What unique opportunities might the grade level provide for powerful

teaching and learning?

This grade level will provide opportunities for truly innocent, honest,

and purposeful learning experiences which are difficult to emulate or

recreate at the higher-level, in that these students will be quite literally

experiencing the communities, the greater world, the people, and the

events around them for the first time, together. This first-hand exploration is

something that will be completely new, and unique for everyone in that

many students will not have been exposed to or experienced such

subject matter, material, activities, or people before, and they will

experience this all together, making it truly unique. However, as students

grow up and gain their own experiences and develop their own ideas,

values and beliefs about the world, they bring that to the classroom to

enhance the learning community. But, for kindergarteners, they bring but

themselves, which is a notion that is still in development at this level,

making every activity, concept, subject matter, material etc. completely

new, and that much more affective and effective in shaping their senses

of selves, allowing them to experience of sense of belonging as they learn

and experience the world around them, together, first-hand, for the first

time. Knowing their influence, as educators, is something that is hugely

important to understand and be constantly be aware of in terms of

selecting materials, activities, and means of exploration in social studies,

so that students are given the best opportunities possible to learn about

themselves to establish a strong sense of identity, and to learn about the

world around them, to feel and experience what it means to belong in all

levels of community, which are the foundational building blocks for the

social studies program in the years to come.