Well, we are here at the hot, sunny Lake Erie (except for that one day of crazy thunderstorms we got stuck in) for the week and I thought I would share some of the things with you that my toddler has been learning. The objectives I am using come from the draft of the new early childhood content standards for Ohio. The age group is "Younger Toddlers."
OBSERVING YOUR SHADOW
1. Show a sense of satisfaction when making things happen. (Approaches Toward Learning)
2. Recognize self as a separate person with distinct characteristics. (Social and Emotional)
THROWING ROCKS/SHELLS IN THE WATER
3. Using trial and error to discover how things fit and move in space. (Math)
4. Use trial and error and repeat actions to explore objects. (Approaches Toward Learning)
USING TOOLS TO DIG, SCOOP, POUR, AND FILL
5. Repeat actions intentionally to achieve goal. (Approaches Toward Learning)
6.Use objects in new and unexpected ways. (Approaches Toward Learning)
7. Explores the environment through a variety of sensory motor activity. (Approaches Toward Learning)
8. Use both hands together to accomplish a task. (Physical Well-Being and Motor)
GATHERING, COLLECTING, GROUPING ROCKS/SHELLS
9. Pay attention to quantities when interacting with objects. (Math)
10. Notice changes in quantity of objects. (Math)
MATCHING SIMILAR SIZES and COMPARING DIFFERENT SIZES
(disclaimer: my son did not do this, it is just an example)
11. Match 2 objects that are the same. (Math)
12. Shows awareness of the size of objects. (Math)
WRITING IN THE SAND WITH A STICK
(disclaimer: my son also did not do this)
13. Use a full-hand grasp to hold a writing tool to make scribbles. (Language and Literacy)
And here are the rest of the goals/objectives that we covered at the beach while doing all these activities:
14. Purposefully try behaviors to make things happen. (Science)
EX: scooping and pouring sand, throwing rocks
15. Try out different things with an object to see what happens or how things work. (Science)
EX: throwing rocks at different lengths, at different angles, or different heights
16. Focus on an activity for brief period of time (Approaches Toward Learning)
17. Show emerging signs of responding positively to limits and choices offered by adults to help guide behavior. (Social and Emotional)
EX: reminding child to share toys with other children
18. Walk with increasing coordination and balance. (Physical Well-Being and Motor)
19. Participate in active physical play. (Physical Well-Being and Motor)
20. Follow adult intervention/guidance regarding safety. (Physical Well-Being and Motor)
EX: reminding child not to go too far out into the water