Child and Human Development
Minnesota Department of Education
Academics Standards Course Framework
Child and Human Development
Child and Human Development is an introductory course for all students as a life foundation and academic
enrichment; it is especially relevant for students interested in careers that draw on knowledge of children, child
development, and nurturing of children. This course addresses issues of child development from
conception/prenatal through the life span. It includes the study of prenatal development and birth; growth and
development of children; child care giving and nurturing; and support systems for parents and caregivers.
Issues on the profession and ethics in child development; child growth and development; child development
theories, research, and best practices; child health and wellness; teaching and guiding children; special
conditions affecting children; and career exploration in child development and nurturing is part of course
content. A project-based approach that utilizes higher order thinking, communication, leadership,
management, and fundamentals to college and career success is recommended in order to integrate these
topics into the study of child development. Direct, concrete mathematics and language arts proficiencies will be
applied. Service learning, introductory laboratory/field experiences with children in preschool and early
elementary school settings, and other authentic applications are strongly recommended. This course provides a
foundation for continuing and post-secondary education in all career areas related to children, child
development, and nurturing of children.
Application of Content
Intensive laboratory applications are a component of this course and may be either school based or
work based or a combination of the two. Work-based learning experiences should be in a closely related
industry setting. Instructors shall have a standards-based training plan for students participating in work-based
learning experiences.
Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSO)
Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSO) are a powerful instructional tool when integrated
into Career and Technical Education programs. They enhance the knowledge and skills students learn in a course by
allowing a student to participate in a unique program of career and leadership development.
Students should be encouraged to participate in FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America), the CTSO
for Family and Consumer Sciences.
FCCLA Student Leadership Opportunities:
STAR Event Early Childhood
STAR Event- Teach and Train
STAR Event- Illustrated Talk
STAR Event Focus on Children
Minnesota FCCLA Skill Event Toys that Teach
STAR Event- National Programs in Action- (Families First)
Child and Human Development
21st Century Skills should be an integral part of all courses being taught. These soft skills are the foundation for all
Career and Technical Education.
Critical Thinking and Reasoning: Thinking Deeply, Thinking Differently
Information Literacy: Untangling the Web
Invention
Collaboration: Working Together, Learning Together
Self-Direction: Own Your Learning
Invention: Creating Solutions
Possible Course Titles
* Child Development 1
* Child Development 2
* Child Development & Psychology
* Human Development
1. STEM/STEAM Connections
Child and Human Development
Career Pathways
Career Field: Human Services > Career Cluster: >Human Services> Career Pathways: Early Childhood
Development and Services
Career Field: Human Services>Career Cluster: Human Services>Career Pathways: Family and Community
Services
Career Field: Human Services>Career Cluster: Education and Training>Career Pathways: Teaching and Training
Career Field: Health Science Technology>Career Cluster: Health Science>Career Pathway: Support Services
Key
FACS=Family and Consumer Sciences
MCHD= Minnesota Child and Human Development
STEM=Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math
STEAM=Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, & Math
FCCLA=Family, Community, & Career Leaders of America
Topic: Importance of Child Development and Parenting
Minnesota Frameworks: 1.0 Analyze roles and responsibilities across the lifespan.
National Standard Correlation: 15.1 Analyze roles and responsibilities of parenting.
STEM/STEAM Standard:
BENCHMARK: 9.4.4.2.2 Antibodies in Fighting Disease
Explain how the body produces antibodies to fight disease and how vaccines assist this process.
i.e Do you vaccine or not vaccine?
National
Minnesota
Benchmarks/Competencies
Standard
Correlation
Framework/
Standard
15.1.1
15.1.2
15.1.3
15.4.3/15.4.4
MCHD 1.1
MCHD 1.2
MCHD 1.3
MCHD 1.4
Analyze parenting roles across the lifespan.
Examine parenting responsibilities through each stage of the life span.
Identify the impact of parenting decision on the individual, family, and society.
Discuss implications of parenting alternatives.
Child and Human Development
Topic: Prenatal
Minnesota Frameworks: 2.0 Analyze principles of human growth and development across the life span.
National Standard Correlation: 12.1 Analyze principles of human growth and development across the life span.
STEM/STEAM Standard:
STANDARD 9.4.3.2
Variation within a species is the natural result of new inheritable characteristics occurring from new combinations of
existing genes or from mutations of genes in reproductive cells.
BENCHMARK: 9.4.4.2.4 Decisions & Health
Explain how environmental factors and personal decisions, such as water quality, air quality and smoking affect
personal and community health.
i.e recognition of family genetics, such as RH negative factor, downs syndrome, age of mother
National
Standard
Correlation
Minnesota
Framework/
Standard
Benchmarks/Competencies
12.1.3
MCHD 2.1
Analyze current and emerging research about human growth and development,
including nutrition, brain development, birth defects, labor, delivery and the
post-natal period of parent and child.
Topic: Infants
Minnesota Frameworks: 3.0 Analysis factors that influence infant human growth and development.
National Standard Correlation: 12.1 Analysis factors that influence human growth and development.
STEM/STEAM Standard:
National
Standard
Correlation
Minnesota
Framework
/Standard
Benchmarks/Competencies
12.1
MCHD 3.1
12.2
MCHD 3.2
12.2
MCHD 3.3
4.2
MCHD 3.4
Illustrate the effects of heredity and environment on infant growth and
development.
Identify key concepts of infant development: social, emotion, physical and
intellectual and moral development.
Analyze the impact of social, economic, technology on individual growth and
development
Identify child development theories and discuss their implications on infant
development.
Child and Human Development
Topic: Toddlers
Minnesota Frameworks: 4.0 Analyze factors that influence toddler human growth and development.
National Standard Correlation: 12.1 Analyze principles of human growth and development across the life span.
STEM/STEAM Standard:
Minnesota
National
Benchmarks/Competencies
Framework/
Standard
Standard
Correlation
12.1
MCHD 4.1
Illustrate the effects of heredity and environment on toddler growth and
development.
12.2
MCHD 4.2
Identify key concepts of toddler development: social, emotion, physical and
intellectual and moral development.
12.2
MCHD 4.3
Analyze the impact of social, economic, technology on individual growth and
development
4.2
MCHD 4.4
Identify child development theories and discuss their implications on toddler
development.
Topic: Pre-school
Minnesota Frameworks: 5.0 Analyze factors that influence pre-school human growth and development.
National Standard Correlation: 12.1 Analyze principles of human growth and development across the life span.
STEM/STEAM Standard:
National
Standard
Correlation
Minnesota
Framework/
Standard
Benchmarks/Competencies
12.1
MCHD 5.1
12.2
MCHD 5.2
12.2
MCHD 5.3
4.2
MCHD 5.4
Illustrate the effects of heredity and environment on pre-school growth and
development.
Identify key concepts of pre-school development: social, emotion, physical and
intellectual and moral development.
Analyze the impact of social, economic, technology on individual growth and
development
Identify child development theories and discuss their implications on preschool
development.
Child and Human Development
Topic: School-age/Adolescence
Minnesota Frameworks: 6.0 Analyze factors that influence school-age/adolescence growth and development.
National Standard Correlation: 12.1 Analyze principles of human growth and development across the life span.
Minnesota Frameworks:
STEM/STEAM Standard:
BENCHMARK: 9.1.1.1.2 Reasons for Investigations
Understand that scientists conduct investigations for a variety of reasons, including: to discover new aspects of the
natural world, to explain observed phenomena, to test the conclusions of prior investigations, or to test the
predictions of current theories
9.1.3.2.1 Provide examples of how diverse cultures, including natives from all of the Americas, have contributed
scientific and mathematical ideas and technological inventions.
National
Minnesota
Benchmarks/Competencies
Standard
Correlation
Framework/
Standard
12.1
MCHD 6.1
12.2
MCHD 6.2
12.2
MCHD 6.3
4.2
MCHD 6.4
Illustrate the effects of heredity and environment on School-age/Adolescence
growth and development.
Identify key concepts of School-age/Adolescence development: social, emotion,
physical and intellectual and moral development.
Identify key concepts of School-age/Adolescence development: social, emotion,
physical and intellectual and moral development.
Identify child development theories and discuss their implications on school age/
adolescent development.
Topic: Young Adulthood
Minnesota Frameworks: 7.0 Analyze factors that influence young adulthood growth and development.
National Standard Correlation: 12.1 Analyze principles of human growth and development across the life span.
Minnesota Frameworks:
National
Standard
Correlation
12.1
Minnesota
Framework/Standard
Benchmarks/Competencies
MCHD 7.1
12.2
MCHD 7.2
12.2
MCHD 7.3
Illustrate the effects of heredity and environment on pre-school growth and
development.
Identify key concepts of pre-school development: social, emotion, physical and
intellectual and moral development.
Analyze the impact of social, economic, technology on individual growth and
development
Child and Human Development
4.2
MCHD 7.4
Identify child development theories and discuss their implications on school age/
adolescent development.
Topic: Topic: Middle Adulthood
Minnesota Frameworks: 8.0 Analyze factors that influence middle adulthood growth and development.
National Standard Correlation: 12.1 Analyze principles of human growth and development across the life span.
STEM/STEAM Standard:
National
Standard
Correlation
12.1
Minnesota
Framework/Standard
Benchmarks/Competencies
MCHD 8.1
12.2
MCHD 8.2
12.2
MCHD 8.3
4.2
MCHD 8.4
Illustrate the effects of heredity and environment on School-age/Adolescence
growth and development.
Identify key concepts of School-age/Adolescence development: social, emotion,
physical and intellectual and moral development.
Identify key concepts of School-age/Adolescence development: social, emotion,
physical and intellectual and moral development.
Identify child development theories and discuss their implications on school age/
adolescent development.
Topic: Old Age
Minnesota Frameworks: 9.0 Analyze factors that influence old age growth and development.
National Standard Correlation: 12.1 Analyze principles of human growth and development across the life span.
STEM/STEAM Standard:
National
Standard
Correlation
12.1
Minnesota
Framework/Standard
Benchmarks/Competencies
MCHD 9.1
12.2
MCHD 9.2
12.2
MCHD 9.3
4.2
MCHD 9.4
Illustrate the effects of heredity and environment on School-age/Adolescence
growth and development.
Identify key concepts of School-age/Adolescence development: social, emotion,
physical and intellectual and moral development.
Identify key concepts of School-age/Adolescence development: social, emotion,
physical and intellectual and moral development.
Identify child development theories and discuss their implications on school age/
Child and Human Development
adolescent development.