Curriculum Development in Early Childhood

							                Curriculum Development in Early Childhood:
               Resources Available at Livingston Lord Library
                   Minnesota State University Moorhead

1. Background – A variety of resources may be used to gather background
   information on your topic.
       a. World Book Encyclopedia. Curric. Ref. 031 W927 2008. Look up your topic in
          the index, volume 22.
       b. Childcraft: The How and Why Library. Curric. Ref. 031 C535. Look up your
          topic in the index, volume 15. There is also an older set of Childcraft that
          circulates.
       c. Children’s books on your topic appropriate for intermediate/upper elementary.
       d. K-12 Databases available on the Curriculum Materials Center website
          http://www.mnstate.edu/cmc/. Search in Kids InfoBits.
2. Activity Books/Resources for Teacher
       a. Consult the handout entitled "A Selection of Materials Useful for Developing
          Units for Young Children."
       b. Do a subject keyword search in MnPALS: ACTIVITY PROGRAMS
          PRESCHOOL.
       c. Curriculum Bulletins/Activity Books and Textbooks
             i.   Browse in the curriculum bulletins/activity books and textbooks in the
                  CMC under the call number 372.21 or 372.218.
            ii. Kraus Curriculum Development Library - This is available from the
                  CMC web page. Click on K-12 Databases and scroll down the
                  alphabetical list. For directions, see the handout entitled "A Guide to the
                  Kraus Curriculum Development Library (KCDL)."
3. Picture Books - Stories and Informational Books
       a. MnPALS keyword search: TOPIC JUVENILE.
             i.   You may search for only Easy Books by clicking on Advanced Searches.
                  Then, type in your topic juvenile. From the drop down menu for
                  collection, choose curriculum easy.
       b. Consult Selection Aids from the CMC reference collection. Suggested titles
          include:
             i.   A to Zoo: Subject Access to Children's Books. Curric. Ref. 011 L732a
            ii. Best Books for Children Preschool through Grade 6. Curric. Ref. 010
                  G478b
           iii. Character Education: A Book Guide for Teachers, Librarians, and
                  Parents. Curric. Ref. 372.01 M1416c
           iv.    Informational Picture Books for Children. Curric. Ref. 028.1 C566i
            v.    Picture Books by Latino Writers: A Guide for Librarians, Teachers,
                  Parents, and Students. Curric. Ref. 016.8109 Y63p
           vi.    Picture This: Using Picture Story Books for Character Education in the
                  Classroom. Curric. Ref. 158.2 S832p
          c. Use Web-based Internet databases:
                 i.   Database of Award-Winning Children's Literature
                ii. Children's Picture Book Database
               iii. Horn Book Guide Online
   4. Big Books – click on Advanced Searches. Then, type in your topic. From the drop
       down menu for collection, choose curriculum big book.
   5. Poetry
          a. MnPALS keyword search: TOPIC JUVENILE POETRY
          b. Consult the children's poetry indexes located in the CMC reference collections,
              call number Curric. Ref. 808.81.
   6. Children's Songs
          a. Consult Index to Children's Songs (Curric. Ref. 016.7846 P485i) to find songs in
              books. See "Broad Topic Guide" beginning on page 163.
          b. Consult Children's Song Index (Curric. Ref. 016.7846 C536) or Children's
              Jukebox (Curric. Ref. 016.7842 R357c) for songs on record, tape cassette, or CD.
   7. Fingerplays
          a. MnPALS keyword search: FINGER PLAY
          b. Consult Creative Fingerplays and Action Rhymes (Curric. Ref. 793.4 D316c) or
              Neal-Schman Index to Fingerplays (Curric. Ref. 793.9 C777n).
   8. Pictures - Sizes of pictures vary from 8 1/2" x 11" to large posters.
          a. In MnPALS from the select a library catalog drop down menu, choose Picture
              File. Then, do a keyword search under your topic.
   9. Puppets/Puppetry/Storytelling
          a. For actual puppets located in the CMC: In MnPALS from the select a library
              catalog drop down menu, choose Audio Visual. Then, do a keyword search under
              your topic.
          b. For books on making puppets and puppet plays, do a keyword search in
              MnPALS: PUPPET#.
          c. For books about storytelling, do a keyword search in MnPALS:
              STORYTELLING.
   10. Computer/CD-ROM Programs - Consult the handout entitled "Computer Programs for
       Preschool Level."
   11. Other Multi-Media Materials: In MnPALS from the select a library catalog drop down
       menu, choose Audio Visual. Then, do a keyword search under your topic.




Compiled by Carol H. Sibley, Curriculum Librarian, Minnesota State University Moorhead,
Moorhead, Minnesota, 08/08.