ECE300 ECA (End-of-Course Assessment) SUSS : July Semester 2024 – Scientific Enquiry and Social Studies in an Integrated Curriculum, Singapore

Part 1:  Plan and design a Social Studies-based, integrated, inquiry-based learning experience plan 

a. Map out a detailed plan for executing this learning experience using the given ECE300 Learning Experience Plan template for this course. In your planning process, anticipate – include plans for the below potential situations:

– HOW do you think the design of this activity will address THE MAIN learning goal?

– HOW do you think this activity would unfold for the children: What questions do you think might surface for the children as they engage in the experience? What kinds of problems might arise during the activity? What are some potential issues you will need to be prepared for/put into place preventive measures? Etc.

Be sure to include enough information so that a relief teacher will be able to carry out this plan in your absence – include the below:

– The age group, size of group you will work with for this experience, the name of the activity (what you will tell children that they will get to do), sufficient details in terms of materials, resources, time, space, etc.

– A provocation/invitation/introduction plan

– The procedures should clearly reflect the main social studies area that is of focus, as well as what children are expected to do and think about…

– Scripting of possible teacher talk/scaffolding strategies you will use to support inquiry (theory-building) and problem-solving to promote the development of the intended key concept (from THE MAIN goal)

b. What is the key concept/big idea involved in this lesson/activity/learning experience plan? Explain how you came up with this idea and briefly state how this concept will be developed through this activity (i.e., explain the rationale of your procedures).

Part 2: Try out and reflect on the implementation of your plan

Carry out your plan and reflect on the below questions:

a. Identify ONE (1) thing that happened as you had expected in your plan that enabled the children to proceed smoothly with their development of understanding of the stated MAIN Social Studies goal? Explain why you think doing so enabled such a smooth execution?

b. What was surprising about what children did/said that you had not thought of at the planning stage? How so?

c. To what extent were you able to be flexible and responsive to children’s voices and diversity of developmental stages in abilities during the course of the activity? How so?

Part 3: Critically reflect on your planning process

a. How did this learning experience plan reflect a constructivist approach to social studies? Address this question by discussing ONE (1) element in the design of your plan that is different from a traditional approach. Be specific in your discussion.

b. In hindsight, what are THE MOST critical stumbling blocks at the planning stage that made this learning experience a not-as-constructivist one – i.e., the root causes to your inability to optimize meaning-making/theory-building opportunities for children?

c. What would you do differently in future planning to fix this problem? Why?