Weather and Seasons is the ninth course in a nine-part series designed to support science competencies in teachers of young children.  Please make sure to take the Introduction course before taking this 9th course in the series.
 

Please make sure to take the following Early Science Matters Professional Development Program course before you take this course:
Course 1: Introduction

Contact Hours: 1 hour     Gateways Content Areas: CPD (1 hour)     CDA Content Areas: 2 (1 hour)

Module 1 - Child Development Overview: Understanding How Young Children Grow and Develop

In this module, you will receive an overview of child development for children birth through early school age.  Emphasis will be on understanding basic milestones in development as well as on strategies used to promote the healthy development of children.

Contact Hours: 2 hours     Gateways Content Areas: HGD (2 hours)     CDA Content Areas: HS (1 hour); CD (1 hour)

Module 2a - Health Issues for Group Care

Ensuring a child's health and well-being requires more than basic first aid and emergency contacts.  In this module, you will learn how to help the growth of healthy children -- from the basics like hand washing to a more in-depth look at various practices surrounding health care.

Contact Hours: 2 hours     Gateways Content Areas: HSW (2 hours)     CDA Content Areas: 1 (2 hours)

Module 2b - Nutrition Issues for Group Care

Whether you're responsible for providing a quick snack or a well-balanced meal, understanding children's dietary needs creates healthier and happier kids.  Learn the basics of good nutrition, food safety and various practices surrounding nutrition through this module.

Contact Hours: 2 hours     Gateways Content Areas: HSW (2 hours)     CDA Content Areas: 1 (2 hours)

Module 2c - Safety Issues for Group Care

A child's safety is the number one concern for parents and child care providers alike.  In this module, you will identify tips for creating a safer group care environment, confront the issue of abuse and neglect and learn more about emergency preparedness and first aid.

Contact Hours: 2 hours     Gateways Content Areas: HSW (2 hours)     CDA Content Areas: 1 (2 hours)

Module 3 - Observation and Guidance

It is important to know how to best help children in your care by observing them and identifying their specific needs. This module will define the different kinds of observation you can use when caring for children and how to offer more effective guidance and discipline.

Contact Hours: 2 hours     Gateways Content Areas: OA (1 hour); E (1 hour)     CDA Content Areas: 3 (1 hour); 7 (1 hour)

Module 4 - Learning Happens in Relationships

Our kids are constantly responding to family members, teachers, and social relationships that help to shape their understanding of the world around them.  This module explores how relationships between families, children and teachers can help learning, and how crafting the environment around them can help children learn.

Contact Hours: 2 hours     Gateways Content Areas: CPD (1 hour); IRE (1 hour)     CDA Content Areas: 1 (1 hour); 3 (1 hour)

Module 5 - Family and Community Relationships

As our partners in child development, families, and especially parents, directly affect a child's learning. In this module you will learn the new ways of working with parents to help their children enjoy learning. You also will explore the social world of a family to be sure that the learning that takes place in your care is consistent with the learning done at home.

Contact Hours: 2 hours     Gateways Content Areas: FCR (2 hours)     CDA Content Areas: 4 (2 hours)

Module 6 - Personal and Professional Development

What does it mean to be a child care professional? How can you be sure you are getting the support and supplies you need? How can you set effective limits with parents and children alike? In this module, you will learn about your own professional development and how to care for yourself so you can continue to care for others.

Contact Hours: 2 hours     Gateways Content Areas: PPD (2 hours)     CDA Content Areas: 6 (2 hours)

Module 7a - Child Development: Ages Birth to 8 Months

Newborns and young babies are developing at an incredible rate, causing them to have special needs unlike older children. In this module, you will understand how children from birth to 8 months learn and grow, and how to individualize their care accordingly.

Contact Hours: 2 hours     Gateways Content Areas: HGD (2 hours)     CDA Content Areas: 3 (1 hour); 8 (1 hour)

Module 7b - Child Development: Ages 8 to 18 Months

In this continuation of the first child development module, you will explore development among children ages 8-18 months.  You'll identify how this age group differs in growth and their approach to learning, and you'll discover toys, games and songs that are helpful and just right for their development.

Contact Hours: 2 hours     Gateways Content Areas: HGD (2 hours)     CDA Content Areas: 3 (1 hour); 8 (1 hour)

Module 7c - Child Development: Ages 18 to 36 Months

Toddlers are an energetic bunch who require plenty of stimulation and education.  In this final section of child development training, you'll explore how children age 18 to 36 months learn language, learn to think, learn to move, and learn feelings, so you can better nurture this often curious age group.

Contact Hours: 2 hours     Gateways Content Areas: HGD (2 hours)     CDA Content Areas: 3 (1 hour); 8 (1 hour)

Module 8a - The Preschool-Age Child: Social and Emotional Development

As children approach preschool age, their needs begin to change. This is the first of four modules designed to better understand children as they approach school age. You will identify characteristics of social and emotional development and learn techniques for promoting appropriate and effective discipline for preschool children.

Contact Hours: 2 hours     Gateways Content Areas: HGD (2 hours)     CDA Content Areas: 3 (2 hours)

As children mature, their minds aren't the only things growing at an incredible rate. In this module, you will explore the special areas of physical development in preschool-aged children. You also will learn about fine motor activities that will help preschoolers grow into their bodies while developing proper coordination and movement.

Contact Hours: 2 hours     Gateways Content Areas: HGD (1 hour); IRE (1 hour)     CDA Content Areas: 2 (2 hours)

Module 8c - The Preschool-Age Child: Language Development

Appropriate speech patterns and language skills are crucial to nurturing effective communications by preschoolers. In this module, you will explore how to use pictures and storybooks to lay the foundation for good reading and proper language use.

Contact Hours: 2 hours     Gateways Content Areas: HGD (2 hour)    CDA Content Areas: PI (2 hours)

Module 8d - The Preschool-Age Child: Cognitive Development

In this module on preschool development, you will dive deeper into how preschoolers learn and identify tips for making learning fun.  With suggestions for activities that encourage your preschoolers to explore numbers, shapes, colors and science, this module gives all the information you need to grow and stretch the ability of children to think and understand.

Contact Hours: 2 hours     Gateways Content Areas: HGD (1 hour); CPD (1 hour)     CDA Content Areas: 2 (2 hours)

Module 9 - School-Age Development

This module on child development looks at school-age children to uncover how their learning and growth differs. With tips on how to better care for school-aged youth, this module offers you guidance on how to set rules and limits and to get your school-aged kids to appreciate safety and respect.

Contact Hours: 2 hours     Gateways Content Areas: HGD (1 hour); CPD (1 hour)     CDA Content Areas: 2 (1 hour); 8 (1 hour)

Módulo 1 - Desarrollo Infantil

Resumen de desarrollo infantil: Comprender cómo crecen y se desarrollan los niños pequeños. En este módulo, recibirá una descripción general del desarrollo infantil desde el nacimiento hasta la edad escolar temprana.  El énfasis estará en la comprensión de los hitos fundamentales en el desarrollo, así como en las estrategias empleadas para promover el desarrollo saludable de los niños.  

Horas de contacto: 2 horas     Áreas de contenido de Gateways:  HGD (2 horas)     Áreas de contenido de CDA: HS (1 hora);  CD (1 hora)

Módulo 2a - Problemas de salud para el cuidado en grupo

Garantizar la salud y el bienestar del niño requiere más que los primeros auxilios y contactos de emergencia.  En este módulo, aprenderá cómo ayudar al crecimiento de niños sanos, desde los fundamentos como el lavado de manos hasta una mirada más en profundidad a varias prácticas que rodean el cuidado de la salud.

Horas de contacto: (2 horas)     Áreas de contenido de Gateways: HSW (2 horas)     Áreas de contenido CDA: 1 (2 horas)

Módulo 2b - Cuestiones de nutrición para el cuidado en grupo

Ya sea que usted tenga la responsabilidad de ofrecer un aperitivo rápido o una comida bien equilibrada, entender las necesidades dietéticas de los niños crea niños más sanos y más felices. A través de este módulo, aprenda los conceptos básicos de la buena nutrición, la seguridad alimentaria y diversas prácticas que rodean la nutrición.