Child Theorist Showdown: Meet the Minds!

All grades Lesson 90 minutes

Child Theorist Showdown: Meet the Minds!

AMALA K

6.A

7.A

5.A

8.A

9.A

+ 3 more

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Purpose

Over three 90-minute class periods, students will engage in a hands-on research project to explore the theories of a renowned child development theorist. By investigating the theorist's key concepts, students will analyze how these ideas address the developmental needs of children across various age groups. This project encourages critical thinking, self-directed learning, and collaboration, as students synthesize information and present their findings in a creative format, such as a gallery walk or a deck of cards. Through this process, students will deepen their understanding of child development and its practical applications in real-world contexts.

Learning goals

Students will research and analyze the key concepts of a famous child development theorist, focusing on how these concepts apply to the developmental needs of children across various age groups. Over three 90-minute class periods, they will create a visual or digital presentation that synthesizes their findings, which will be displayed for peer review and reflection. Through this project, students will develop critical thinking skills, engage in self-directed learning, and build an academic mindset by connecting theoretical knowledge to real-world applications.

Standards

[] 6.A - analyze the physical, emotional, social, intellectual, and moral developmental needs of children ages 13 months through 35 months
[] 7.A - analyze the physical, emotional, social, intellectual, and moral development needs of the children ages 3 through 5 years
[] 5.A - analyze the physical, emotional, social, intellectual, and moral developmental needs of children ages birth through twelve months
[] 8.A - analyze the physical, emotional, social, intellectual, and moral development needs of children ages 6 through 11 years
[] 9.A - summarize the physical, emotional, social, intellectual, and moral needs of children ages 12 through 19 years

Competencies

Self Directed Learning - Students use teacher and peer feedback and self-reflection to monitor and direct their own learning while building self knowledge both in and out of the classroom.
Academic Mindset - Students establish a sense of place, identity, and belonging to increase self-efficacy while engaging in critical reflection and action.
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving - Students consider a variety of innovative approaches to address and understand complex questions that are authentic and important to their communities.

Products

Students will create an informative digital poster or infographic that highlights the key concepts and contributions of their assigned child development theorist. This visual representation will include a brief biography, major theories, and their application to the developmental needs of children across various age groups. Students will also prepare a short presentation to share their findings and insights with the class during a gallery walk, facilitating peer-to-peer learning and discussion. Additionally, students will engage in a peer review session to provide feedback and refine their work, culminating in a collaborative digital presentation incorporating multimedia elements.

Launch

Begin with a dynamic "Who Am I?" activity where each student receives a card with a brief description of a child development theorist's key ideas and contributions. Students will mingle and ask each other questions to identify which theorist they represent. This interactive exercise sets the stage for deeper research and encourages students to actively engage with the theorists' concepts, fostering a sense of curiosity and connection to the subject matter. Extend this activity over the first class period to allow students ample time to explore and discuss, setting a collaborative tone for the subsequent sessions.

Exhibition

Students will create a visual presentation or digital poster summarizing the key concepts of their assigned child development theorist. They will include specific insights on how these theories address the developmental needs of children in various age groups. These presentations will be displayed in a gallery walk format, allowing peers to explore and engage with each other's work. Students will provide feedback and reflections on their peers' presentations, fostering a collaborative learning environment. This exhibition will conclude with a class discussion on the practical applications of these theories in real-world child development scenarios.

Learning Journey

Project Activities

Milestone Activities

No activities have been added to this phase yet.

Plan

Activities	Who Am I? Introduction Activity Who Am I? Activity Activity Who Am I? Activity Activity Who Am I? Introduction Activity Activity Research Workshop Activity Assignment of Theorists Activity Research Setup Activity Introduction to Research Project Activity Collaborative Research Activity Initial Research Session Activity Assign Theorists Activity Group Collaboration Activity Research Planning and Resource Gathering Activity Digital Poster Creation Activity Poster Creation Activity Peer Sharing Activity Guided Research Reflection Activity Peer Review Session Activity Community Partner Introduction Activity Feedback Session Activity Research and Note-taking Activity Introduction to Digital Tools Activity Self-Reflection Activity Research Planning Activity
Preparation

Activities

Who Am I? Introduction

Activity

Who Am I? Activity

Activity

Who Am I? Activity

Activity

Who Am I? Introduction Activity

Activity

Research Workshop

Activity

Assignment of Theorists

Activity

Research Setup

Activity

Introduction to Research Project

Activity

Collaborative Research

Activity

Initial Research Session

Activity

Assign Theorists

Activity

Group Collaboration

Activity

Research Planning and Resource Gathering

Activity

Digital Poster Creation

Activity

Poster Creation

Activity

Peer Sharing

Activity

Guided Research Reflection

Activity

Peer Review Session

Activity

Community Partner Introduction

Activity

Feedback Session

Activity

Research and Note-taking

Activity

Introduction to Digital Tools

Activity

Self-Reflection

Activity

Research Planning

Activity