ECE 854 - Humanitites and the Social Studies in the PK & Primary

Part One of this course (Social Studies) equips teacher candidates with the instructional tools for teaching social studies to children. The content meets PA Core and National Council for Social Studies standards. Candidates develop initial ideas of social studies teaching, which include methods of content selection and methods of teaching and be able to explain the critical role of social studies education in the school curriculum. This course is part of the Early Childhood Education Teaching and Learning Laboratory and must be taken in combination with ECE 862, ECE Pre-Student Teaching Internship. 

Part Two of this course (Humanities) explores the critical role of the arts in education, emphasizing how music, visual arts, and drama can enhance learning across subject areas. Students will examine the neurological benefits of arts education, engage in hands-on activities that align with educational standards, and develop lesson plans that integrate the arts into core subjects such as Language Arts, Science, Math, and Social Studies. Additionally, students will acquire basic musical skills, including playing the recorder and piano, to use in the classroom. The course culminates in a persuasive writing assignment advocating for the importance of arts in schools and a portfolio presentation showcasing completed projects.