For a course in early childhood curriculum or elementary curriculum methods with a focus on preschool and primary grades. A joyful, child-centered book that will help develop knowledge of curriculum and understanding of what makes learning experiences meaningful to young children.   Designed to help students understand the content and processes involved in curriculum that has intellectual integrity and that celebrates young children, Meaningful Curriculum for Young Children is comprehensive, practical, and engaging to read. It is unique in that it combines a child-centered, student-friendly approach with a focus on meaningful subject area and field-tested content from the author's lab school. The field-tested learning activities demonstrate intellectual integrity and sensitivity to children while providing practical resources as examples for planning high quality curriculum. The book focuses on four domains: physical (large motor, fine motor, sensory), creative arts (art, music, creative movement), communication (language, literacy, literature), and inquiry (math, science, social studies). Each of the curriculum chapters explores the value of the subject area, describes children’s development in the subject, explains the theory, structure and content of the discipline, and clarifies its connection to early learning standards. A discussion of ways to teach each subject through play in a planned environment, teacher-child interaction, and planned activities is part of each chapter, including examples of a planned activity, a week’s plan, the curriculum area in an integrated study, how children with special needs can be included in this curriculum area, and considerations for working with primary school age children.