Basic Terms of Physical Development
This powerpoint will familiarize you with some of the important, foundational ideas about physical development. Physical Development Homework Activity
Directions: Copy this page into a Word doc. Fill in the blanks below as you go through the Powerpoint. Print and hand in this page with your notes as your homework assignment.
1. Human development is organized into 3 domains:__, __, and __.
2. The domain of physical development is organized into: __, __, and __.
3. Universality in human development means: ___. One example of universality in human development is:__.
4. One developmental critical period is the development of language. This means ____. This period is general during which years?
5. In your own words, define “plasticity.”
6. Give and example of plasticity in human development.
7. What is resilience? What are the implications of this idea for teachers?
8. Provide a 1‐3 sentence explanation about how plasticity results in resilience.
Human Development is organized into 3 broad, overlapping areas.
Today’s homework activity is all about physical development, especially the crucial early years.
Physical
Cognitive/language
Social/Emotional
For an optional, but interesting overview of human development watch this film:
Will our kids be a different species? http://youtu.be/Syi9bqfFIdY
Physical Development is organized into 3 areas:
Body Growth
Movement
Health
http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/yf/famsci/f
s632.pdf ‐‐UNIVERSALITY
• Click on the article above—scan the article for a basic understanding of important terms on the note‐taking sheet.
• Make sure you understand the basic patterns in the way human bodies grow and movement skills development.
• Developmental patterns like these are common to all human beings. We say these patterns show universality. Sensitive/critical Periods
• Humans are “programmed” so that many developmental skills are best learned during certain early ages.
• If certain skills are not learned during the important time periods, children have difficulty learning them later.
• These important times are called “sensitive periods.”
The chart below shows some of the important critical periods.
Nature/Nurture
• Most areas of development, though universal, are not exactly alike from person to person.
• Development is also influenced by unique genetic heritage and experiences/environments and environments.
• These influences are labeled “nature” (genetics) and “nurture” (everything else.)
• Watch this You‐Tube video to better understand the influence of nature vs nurture on development: http://youtu.be/P‐D33oWiOEg
Though learned best at certain times, many skills can be improved with the right experiences, even when the best timing is passed. We refer to this concept as PLASTICITY
• The “right” experiences help students the most: http://youtu.be/VNNsN9IJkws
Plasticity explains why children can be RESILIENT
• Definition: The ability to spring back despite challenges to physical, cognitive, or emotional challenges • Watch this short video to better understand this important concept: http://youtu.be/JNimix56mHM
• Optional article to find out how YOU can be more resilient: http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/road‐
resilience.aspx#
All students have a variety of supportive (protective) and risk factors in their lives.
PROTECTIVE FACTORS
RISK FACTORS
REMEMBER: STUDENTS ARE RESILIENT WHEN PROTECTIVE FACTORS “OUTWEIGH” RISK FACTORS
The Central Goal of this Course!!!
• To use your understanding of human development to design school and classroom experiences to help all students be resilient! ( I will ask a quiz question about this goal in class . . . shhhhhh—don’t tell.)