EC-403 : Understanding Early Childhood Curriculum For Peace and Justice

Based on principles of child development, this course is designed to engage teacher candidates in various experiences that provide opportunities for understanding early childhood curriculum in its complex and multiple facets. The focus on peace and justice teaching emphasizes the importance of developing attitudes and behaviors that can contribute to building a democratic, ecologically responsible society. This includes encouraging early childhood educators to nurture dispositions in young children towards collaboration, curiosity, engaged inquiry, ecological consciousness, fairness, and empathy. Teacher candidates will have opportunities to explore the philosophical, theoretical, and practical dimensions of the PreK through grade four school curriculum. The critical areas of cultural diversity, racism, gender equity, and real world problem solving, as they relate to the PreK through grade four curriculum, are highlighted. 3 credits PREREQUISITES: EC 200, EC 201, EC 303, EC 304, EC 307, EC 311, EC 318 CO-REQUISITE: EC 325.