ECE 108 - Literature/Social Studies for Children

3 Credits, 3 Contact Hours
3 lecture periods 0 lab periods

Survey of principles, materials, and techniques for the selection and evaluation of children’s literature and social studies materials. Includes exploration of diversity among people, places and power/authority through the lens of cross-cultural literature and integration of a variety of cultural genres. Also includes the history of children’s literature, resources, evaluation, use of appropriate materials which encourage self-awareness of attitudes or stereotypes which favor one group over another, alignment with social studies standards, connections with language development in the early years, and developmentally appropriate practices. This course focuses on young children from birth through eight years of age.

Information: In order to be successful in all ECE courses, students must have college-level reading and writing skills.
Gen-Ed: Meets AGEC - HUM; Meets CTE - A&H

Course Learning Outcomes

Review the history, development, and notable authors of literature for children. (NAEYC 4b, 4c, 5a, 5b)
Locate and use community and global resources to enrich learning activities in all curriculum areas. (NAEYC 2b, 5a, 5b)
Select and evaluate developmentally appropriate literature for use in literature and social studies content areas, based on criteria of excellence developed in the class. (NAEYC 5a, 5b, 5c)
Identify materials to enhance the understanding of social and cultural diversity, using children’s books for enrichment. (NAEYC 2a, 2b, 4b)
Align and present developmentally appropriate activities that integrate literature with social studies standards using a variety of techniques, materials, and media to present literature and social studies to the class and to children. (NAEYC 4b, 4d, 5c, 5d)
Demonstrate the connections between ages and developmental abilities for children 0-8 years of age that support literature selection. (NAEYC 1b, 1c, 4b)

Outline:

History and Development of Children’s Literature
1. Early authors and literature
2. Development of children’s literature
3. Children’s literature awards
4. Notable authors and illustrators
Community and Global Resources
1. Public resources
2. Private resources
3. Local and state resources
4. National resources
5. Global and online resources
Selecting and Evaluating Children’s Literature
1. Developmentally appropriate literature
2. Anti-bias literature
3. Book genre
4. Book format
Enhancing Understanding Across the Content Area
1. Using children’s literature to inform social studies
2. Using children’s literature to inform art and music
3. Using children’s literature to inform math and science
4. Using children’s literature to inform anti-bias understanding
5. Using children’s literature to inform language and literacy
Integrating Children’s Literature and Social Studies Standards
1. Children’s Literature and Social Studies Standards
  1. Culture
  2. Time and change
  3. People and places
  4. Identity
  5. Power and authority
  6. Production and consumption
  7. Science and technology
  8. Global connections
  9. Civic practice
  10. People and places
2. Presenting Literature to Young Children
  1. Reading
  2. Storytelling
  3. Flannel boards
  4. Puppet shows
  5. Props
  6. Technology
3. Activities that Integrate Literature and Social Studies
  1. Social studies activities
  2. Art and music activities
  3. Math and science activities
  4. Language and literacy activities
Developmentally Appropriate Techniques
1. Literature and the classroom community
2. Literature and teaching modalities
3. Literature and curriculum
4. Literature and assessment
5. Literature and families

Effective Term:
Fall 2022