Resources on Early Learning
Illinois Early Learning Standards
Video & Background
A mixed-age group of children in a preschool class at a rural community college studied the cars in the automotive lab where mechanics are trained. Returning from one visit, the children became engaged in a discussion about various aspects of the cars they had seen. Discussions that occur during projects usually reveal children’s misunderstandings about the topic as well as those things they do understand. A discussion with 4-year-old Morgan revealed that she understood that the less inflated the tires, the slower a car is likely to go. It also revealed that she was unclear about the real function of a car’s battery.
Children’s discussions of their observations and ideas often reveal the skills they use to communicate with each other and with adults. As Morgan tried to explain the importance of filling the tires with air, she used gestures effectively to compensate for vocabulary she had not yet mastered.
Transcript
Morgan: The truck wasn’t working, because I think the batteries were getting flat tires.Teacher: Do you?
Morgan: (Nodding.) It wasn’t working, because whenever we seed it, it would go very slow (demonstrating by tightening fist in front of face)—that slow.
Morgan: There was flat tires coming.
Teacher: It was getting flat tires.
Morgan: (Demonstrating with her hands.) It was getting flatter and flatter and flatter, and flatter, until it didn’t work.
Teacher: So what did Dan do to fix it?
Morgan: He put a big…He fatted it up like that (demonstrating with her hands).
Teacher: He fatted it up. What do you think he put in there to fat it up?
Jace: Air.
Morgan: (Echoing Jace.) Air.
Benchmarks
| Benchmark | Benchmark Description | How Benchmark Was Met |
|---|---|---|
Science |
Describe the effects of forces in nature (e.g., wind, gravity, and magnetism) | Morgan explained that as tires become flat, the car goes slower. |
Language Arts |
Communicate information with others. | Morgan used a combination of gestures, words, and expressions to communicate her ideas. |
This section of the Illinois Early Learning Web site links to activities related to the Benchmarks in the Illinois Early Learning Standards. We expect that early childhood professionals and parents will use these ideas in ways appropriate to their children and their setting. We are sure that you will find many ways to adapt these activities into themes, projects, and units in your program or at home.
An Illinois Early Learning link to a Web site does not imply an endorsement by the Illinois Early Learning Project or the Illinois State Board of Education of any product, resource, or service on that Web site.
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Esta sección del sitio Web de Illinois Early Learning tiene enlaces a actividades relacionadas con los Parámetros en las Pautas de aprendizaje infantil de Illinois. Esperamos que profesionales de la niñez temprana y padres utilicen estas ideas de maneras apropiadas a sus niños y sus situaciones. Estamos seguros de que usted hallará muchas maneras de adaptar estas actividades a los temas, proyectos o unidades de su programa o en casa.
Un enlace de Illinois Early Learning a cierto sitio Web no implica que el Proyecto Illinois Early Learning o la Junta de Educación del Estado de Illinois endose ningún producto, recurso ni servicio de ese sitio Web.
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