12.4: Introducing to the Foundations
The preschool learning foundations for History and Social Science are organized into five broad categories or strands:
- Self and Society: children’s growing ability to see themselves within the context of society
- Becoming a Preschool Community Member (Civics): becoming responsible and cooperative members of the preschool community
- Sense of Time (History): developing understanding of past and future events and their association with the present
- Sense of Place (Geography and Ecology): developing knowledge of the physical settings in which children live and how they compare with other locations
- Marketplace (Economics): developing understanding of economic concepts, including the ideas of ownership, money exchanged for goods and services, value and cost, and bartering[1]
Supporting Self and Society
An early childhood education setting acquaints young children with people who have different backgrounds, family practices, languages, cultural experiences, special needs, and abilities. In their relationships with teachers and peers, preschoolers perceive how others are similar to them and how they are different, and gradually they learn to regard these differences with interest and respect rather than wariness or doubt. This is especially likely if early childhood educators incorporate inclusive practices into the preschool environment. The relationships that young children develop with others in the preschool provide opportunities for understanding these differences in depth and in the context of the people whom the child knows well. One of the most valuable features of a thoughtfully designed early childhood program is helping young children to perceive the diversity of human characteristics as part of the richness of living and working with other people.
Young children are beginning to perceive themselves within the broader context of society in another way also. Their interest in adult social roles, occupations, and responsibilities motivates pretend play, excitement about visits to places such as a fire station or grocery store, and questions about work and its association with family roles and family income. Teachers can help young children explore these interests as children try to understand the variety of adult roles
1.0 Culture and Diversity
| At around 48 months of age | At around 60 months of age |
| 1.1 Exhibit developing cultural, ethnic, and racial identity and understand relevant language and cultural practices. Display curiosity about diversity in human characteristics and practices, but prefer those of their own group. | 1.1 Manifest stronger cultural, ethnic, and racial identity and greater familiarly with relevant language, traditions, and other practices. Show more interest in human diversity, but strongly favor characteristics of their own group. |
2.0 Relationships
| At around 48 months of age | At around 60 months of age |
| 2.1 Interact comfortably with many peers and adults; actively