Lund’s 5 STAR early childhood education program uses an educational approach called ’emergent curriculum’. Emergent curriculum is defined as “a process where teachers plan activities and projects based on the specific group of children they are working with, taking into account their skills, needs, and interests”. (brigshthorizons.com, retrieved March 2020) Teachers plan and design activities and projects tailored to the unique interests of the children their classroom.
What does this look like at LECP? Children in the preschool might be working on creating paper snowmen as part of a project based on their interest in snow, the toddlers might be giving baby dolls a bath because they have been interested in caring for babies sparked by the arrival of a baby sibling, the infant classroom might be playing with drums and handbells because they were so excited by a visiting musician the week before. Teachers spend time taking notes on what the children are doing, or jotting down reflections and new ideas. The teachers plan taking into account what they know about individual students and the group as a whole.
This approach is underpinned by the Vermont Early Learning Standards and the children’s progress towards social, emotional, and developmental goals is tracked so that teachers can be assured that they are gaining the necessary age appropriate skills and laying a solid foundation for success in kindergarten.
Emergent curriculum is flexible, child centered and creates a collaborative learning relationship between teachers and students. It is particularly appropriate for Lund’s early childhood classrooms because it creates environments where children feel safe and comfortable to explore their own natural curiosity. It doesn’t insist on a one size fit all or time bound approach and allow welcomes divergent learning styles and different developmental stages within an age group.
To learn more about emergent curriculum, click here
