Thought Process and Rationale

Working with young children can be exciting yet challenging!
The biggest challenge is how too accurate assess if the children in this age group are gaining in knowledge from what you are introducing them to. When creating a test for this age group which is 4-5 year olds it important that you create something that is not only age appropriate, but also developmentally appropriate as well.
The 3 choices that I used for developing test for my age group are.

1. Matching- I chose matching because it allowed for the opportunity to use pictures and words for the test. Young children often need visual cues.

2. Multiple Choice- I chose multiple choices for my second test. Again this is a simpler test for young children and I would be able to use words that they are familiar with in simple sentences. I am also able to use   one or two word answers for choices.

3. Essay question.-Finally the essay test would prove to be the most challenging of the three.
I put a little twist on it. I f I were asking an essay question for pre- kindergarteners, I would use it as a group question. I would document what each child's s statement. It is not the traditional way of using an essay test, but for this age group made the most sense.

Learning Outcomes- Pre-Kindergarten

Early Childhood 

The age group that I have chosen to work with is Early Childhood. Early Childhood starts as early as infants until 3^rd grade. My Focus will be Pre-Kindergarten children.
The children’s ages range between 4-5 years old.  The learning outcomes will base on the children doing a cooking project. Cooking projects is a very important aspect of a young child’s learning experience. It is important because it incorporates many lessons into one.

Children have the opportunity to use new language, as well as learn math and science all at the same time.

Learning Activity: Children will participate in a Group Cooking Project

Outcome:  Children will learn new language, using cooking terms such as mix, stir, pour

Outcome:   Children will learn how to add measure and use fractions while cooking.

(Example Add 2 eggs)  (1 teaspoon of Salt)   ¼ cup of oil.  These are all mathematical terms

Outcome:  Children will mix ingredients together to create muffin mix (flour, oil, water, eggs etc.  When children are putting these items all together they are expecting a different result when mixing these items together.  Children are learning how to bake from the beginning which is gathering  supplies, mixing and then baking.

Test and Essay Items

Matching Test

Create a picture to word matching test using the cooking terms that the children have learned during the cooking lesson.

Example

Spoon   

Multiple Choices

 Create a multiple choice test using the definition of cooking tools

Example  

1. A bowl is used for

a.      Mixing

b.      Baking

c.       A Hat

Essay

Create an essay answer with the children as group using their thoughts based on what their individual answers are for the question.

Example: Do you like Cooking Why or Why not?  What Can you learn from cooking ?