Resources on Early Learning
Illinois Early Learning Standards
Video & Background
Children in this video clip attended a mixed-age early childhood education program at a rural Illinois community college. The children involved were Sara (5 years, 8 months), Paige (3 years, 8 months), and Nic (4 years, 6 months). The children in the program had a variety of attendance patterns.
Automobile parts were placed in the sensory table as part of the children’s ongoing study of cars. Observation of the children as they work intently at dismantling the auto parts reveals the way this open-ended activity allowed each child to practice fine motor skills at his or her individual level. It also reveals the children’s awareness of the importance of safety practices; availability of several pairs of gloves in the sensory table led the children to put them on without prompting. The children talked very little as they engaged in this activity, probably because they were so focused on using their motor skills. As Sara uses a tape measure to measure an automobile part, Paige works to put on her work gloves.
Transcript
Nic: (Picking up a car part and attaching it to another.) This goes over here (experiments with spinning the piece clockwise and counterclockwise).
Sara: (Finishing screwing a screw into an auto part.) It’s gotta go this way.
Paige: (Holding a screwdriver.) I got one.
Sara: (Passes Paige an auto part that has the levers that control the windows, outside mirrors, and car locks.)
Paige: (Intently manipulates the levers.)
Nic: (Examining auto parts.) There’s too much screws in that one. Want to know which one the special one is? This is the specialest one here (carries two screwdrivers around the sensory table and stands alongside Sara).
Sara: You only need one, Nic.
Nic: (Holding a screw.) Lookit. I got one out, Sara.
Benchmarks
| Benchmark | Benchmark Description | How Benchmark Was Met |
|---|---|---|
Physical Development and Health |
Engage in active play using fine motor skills. |
All three children were actively involved in assembling, manipulating, and reassembling automobile parts with varying levels of skill. |
Physical Development and Health |
Follow simple safety rules while participating in activities. |
Paige put time and effort into getting both of her gloves on before she worked with the automobile parts and tools. Sara and Nic also wore gloves. All three children put on gloves without direct instruction or reminder. |
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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