Early Childhood Methods
Integrated Unit Format
Please refer to your syllabus carefully about notebook presentation expectations.
Title Page
Include name, grade level, title, date, course
Background Knowledge
/Pre-Assessment
Show your knowledge and utilization of assessment. Submit your
Unit Goals and Objectives, Pre-assessment Data and Analysis.
Your Pre-assessment should determine the children's prior knowledge
NAEYC Standards 3a & 3b
of the subject and their interests in/questions about the topic. The
(Goals & Pre-Assessment)
analysis should summarize what you have found out about your
An effective teacher knows
group's knowledge on the topic, as well as individual's special
about and understands
interests and needs. How will this information inform your planning?
assessment, and uses
appropriate assessment
tools and approaches, such
as observation, interviews,
etc.
Unit Goals and Objectives
NAEYC Standards 3a & 3b
(Goals & Pre-Assessment)
An effective teacher knows
about and understands
assessment, and uses
appropriate assessment
tools and approaches, such
as observation, interviews,
etc.
This should be written in your
words and utilizing terminology
that is appropriate for
educators
Content Knowledge Paper
NAEYC Standards 4a, 4b, 4c,
4d (Lessons and Activities)
An effective teacher:

connects with children
and families;

uses developmentally
effective approaches;

understands content
knowledge in early
education; and
Outlines the main goals for this unit
Follow the same format provided for your personal goals and
objectives
Goals:
To…
Objectives:
Students will…
In a 4-5 page paper, discuss the Instruction of Science/Social Studies
in a primary classroom and synthesize into this information content
knowledge/approaches to teaching content knowledge (what you
learned about the topic and how you learned it (prior to teaching the
unit/lessons)
In addition, include a Content or Concept Analysis Page (see Price &
Nelson)
Include a Reference Page (APA format)

builds meaningful
curriculum.
Demonstrate your evidence of
meeting these standards.
Abstract/Unit Rationale
(3-4 pages)
This should be written in your
own words and not copied from
benchmarks, manuals, courses
of studies, etc.
NAEYC Standard 1a and 1c
(Students' Characteristics &
Needs)
An effective teacher:

knows/understands
children's characteristics
and needs; and

uses this knowledge to
create healthy,
respectful, supportive,
and challenging learning
environments.
Unit Web
NAEYC Standards 4a, 4b, 4c,
4d (Lessons and Activities)
An effective teacher:

connects with children
and families;

uses developmentally
effective approaches;

understands content
knowledge in early
education; and

builds meaningful
curriculum.
Scope and Sequence
NAEYC Standards 4a, 4b, 4c,
4d (Lessons and Activities)
An effective teacher:
Provides an overview and rationale for the unit
 What the unit is about and why teach this unit (provide a
rationale)
 How you plan to teach the unit (modes of instruction)
 What you know about Early Childhood Learners and how this
unit is DAP
 How the students will learn (include a rationale)
 Connections to the Benchmarks
 Address how the unit will be integrated across the curriculum for
students
 Assessment strategies (include a rationale)
 (Focus on the students as learners, not you as the teacher)
Attach a web of ideas that demonstrate integration of the unit topic.
This web should include the content areas of science, math, language,
and social studies. A web is a brainstorming tool.
This web should include the following:
Content:
 Web is representative of a brainstorming tool
 At least 15 activities for each content area
 Activities clearly described and begin with
descriptive words
 Activities connect to the unit topic (each activity
extends students knowledge of the unit topic)
 Activities show integration and evidence of
substance
Web is organized, professional, and easy to follow
Literature/description of activity is represented in all
content areas
Technology is included
Should include an overview of 10 days.
(see template-attached)

connects with children
and families;

uses developmentally
effective approaches;

understands content
knowledge in early
education; and

builds meaningful
curriculum.
Lesson Plans
NAEYC Standards 4a, 4b, 4c,
4d (Lessons and Activities)
An effective teacher:

connects with children
and families;

uses developmentally
effective approaches;

understands content
knowledge in early
education; and

builds meaningful
curriculum.
NAEYC Standards 3c & 3d
(Post-Assessment and Analysis
of Results)
An effective teacher knows about
and practices responsible
assessment and assessment
partnerships with families and
other professionals.
Include a minimum of 10 lesson plans that you taught
-Science, Soc. Studies, Math, and Language must be included (you
can also incorporate literacy-based lessons)
-For each lesson, include a description of how student’s knowledgebase improved following this lesson. Give specific examples, include
how you arrived at these conclusions-evidence
Technology
Incorporate 1 of the following in your unit
*Kid-Pix, The Amazing Writing Machine, or Graph Club, Inspiration
or Kidspiration
Provide an example of how you used this program in the instruction
of this unit. Provide a brief written explanation
(Computer-Generated)
Assessment:
Include samples of how you assessed the students (delete the
student’s name)
This can take the form of sample anecdotal records, checklists,
student self-evaluations, tests, etc.
Conduct a post-assessment that determines what the children have
learned and accomplished. Analyze the results of your assessment in a
systematic way. Describe (Include a 1-2 page text) that addresses how
your assessment strategies were effective and correlated with the unit
goals. Why were these methods chosen? (why the assessment that
you used was responsible assessment, as opposed to irresponsible or
inappropriate assessment. (Refer to the NAEYC Position Paper on
Assessment: http://www.naeyc.org/about/positions/pdf/pscape.pdf)
How do you know that the students learned what you wanted them to
learn? How did you use the results of your assessment? How did
your assessment drive instruction?
In addition, demonstrate how you know about family assessment
partnerships. You might submit summaries of conferences,
communications to families, or descriptions of your involving the
families with the assessment information. How will you collaborate
with families and/or other professionals in using this assessment
information?
Bulletin Board
(Computer-Generated)
Science Learning Center
(to be graded separately)
NAEYC Standards 4a, 4b, 4c,
4d (Lessons and Activities)
You should create a bulletin board or graphic display that correlates
to this unit. You are to recreate it using the computer (kid-pix, etc.).
This will provide a visual representation of the board for you at a later
date. You will be able to reconstruct the board using this picture.
Create a learning center that could be used to expand student
knowledge about the unit. This learning center should be a place for
students to work independently.
An effective teacher:

connects with children
and families;

uses developmentally
effective approaches;

understands content
knowledge in early
education; and

builds meaningful
curriculum.
Children’s Bibliography
NAEYC Standards 4a, 4b, 4c,
4d (Lessons and Activities)
An effective teacher:

connects with children
and families;

uses developmentally
effective approaches;

understands content
knowledge in early
education; and

builds meaningful
curriculum.
Knowledge of
Families/Communication and
Involvement of Parents/
Families
NAEYC Standards 2a, 2c, & 1b
(Knowing about,
understanding, and involving
family, community, &
influences on learning)
Using APA format, generate a list of a minimum of 15 pieces of
children’s literature that could be used with this unit. This list should
be comprehensive and annotated by you (not downloaded or
copied from a text), include a variety of genre, include a variety of
reading levels, poetry, include non-fiction, fiction, and multicultural
literature
*Organize your list by genre
*Include copies of the poems that you would incorporate
Attach a letter that introduces parents/families to the unit and gives an
overview of the unit. Please make sure that your cooperating teacher
approves this letter.
Send home a newsletter that also provides parents/families with
information on how to help their child at home
Examples of collaboration with parents/families regarding student’s
academic progress
Documentation of communication with parents/families
An effective teacher:

knows/understands
multiple influences on
development and
learning;

knows about/understands
family/community
characteristics; and

involves
families/communities in
children's learning.
Collaborative Inquiry/SelfReflection
NAEYC Standard 5c
(Teacher's knowledge,
inquiry)
An effective teacher:

engages in continuous,
collaborative learning to
inform practice.
Documentation of Involvement (plan some strategy to get parents to
visit the school, etc.
Additional Options:
Community Mapping project, descriptive text, PowerPoint, etc. In
addition, submit a lesson plan or other evidence of having included
families/community in your teaching.
Submit a lesson plan or other evidence of having included
families/community in your teaching.
Home/School Activity
This page should be prepared as if you were sending it home to
parents. Include an activity that would involve the parents in this
unit.
Engage in collaboration and inquiry in order to improve your practice.
Possible submissions include:

journal entries, reflections, descriptions of interactions with
others, inquiry projects, use of critical feedback, and
description of efforts to learn more about teaching issues and
.
content
Reflect on:
Process of constructing a unit
Substance of the unit
Effectiveness of the unit for yourself and students (what you and the
students learned)
Changes you would make
Reflect on your unit goals: were they met?
This reflection should show depth in thought
In addition, you are to prepare a creative reflection, to be shared
in class (see syllabus). This reflection should be demonstrated in
some form other than a paper (i.e. create a poem, song, PowerPoint
presentation, etc.)
NAEYC Standard 5D (Critical
Reflection on the Unit)
An effective teacher:

analyzes and reflects on
practice and his/her
effects on children.
Unit Scope and Sequence
Name
Days
Day1-Day 10 (minimum)
Each day has a separate
box
*Include topic of the day
*Include
benchmarks/standards
Unit Title
Grade
Objectives
*List the objectives
that the lesson will
meet
Lesson Overview
*Write a description of
the lesson activities
*Include set and closure
*Write enough so that
someone could write a
detailed lesson plan
from your instructions
*Literature should be
evident
*Technology should be
evident
*Consider what you
have included in your
bibliographies, web, etc.
*Should include lessons
that have identified oral
language development
Assessment
*should be clear
*should match the
objective
*if you write
“Observe”
Be specific, what are
you observing for
Include how you are
recording the
assessments (i.e.
anecdotal records,
grade book, etc.)
Please Note: In this
area you will include
an overview of scoring
guidelines (checklist,
etc.)
Other tips:
the unit should have an introductory lesson and a culminating lesson
See peer review form for other guidelines –This is the same criteria that I will use to
assess this part of your unit
Grace McDaniel