Instructional Materials for Early Childhood Education Key Terms

Educate yourself with these key terms on instructional materials for early childhood education

By Rachel Davy, Writer/Editor

For teachers and education professionals who work with pre-school age children, it is important to know what kinds of instructional materials are available as well as how to utilize them. One way to learn about these items is to learn the key terms used for each of them. Since there are instructional materials for early childhood education that encompass a number of areas, learning the key terms can help you guide students to achieve their educational goals.

Arts and crafts

Arts and crafts early education materials help preschool children learn about things like colors and shapes. Many arts and crafts projects will help motor and listening skill functions in students. Display finished projects on classroom walls or give them as gifts to parents.
Try: Learn about the arts and crafts supplies used for early childhood education at Discount School Supply.

Educational games and puzzles

Educational games and puzzles offer students a fun way to learn lessons about number and letter sequences, words, and also increase motivational and listening skills. Teachers can use educational games and puzzles to teach students individually or as a group.
Try: Gather information about early childhood educational games and puzzles at Really Good Stuff.

Curriculum and lesson plans

Curriculum and lesson plans offer educators ideas on how best to instruct preschool age and early education-level students. Besides activities, there are instructions on how to work with parents to help young ones achieve educational goals and how to create a learning environment that engages children.
Try: Read the article about preschool and early education curricula and lesson plans at Teaching Strategies.

Literacy resource materials

Literacy resource materials aid teachers and educators in teaching early education students the fundamentals of reading and literacy. Beginning with simple lessons about the alphabet and letter sequences, literacy resource materials equip early education students with the building blocks necessary to become successful and proficient readers.
Try: Find out about early education and pre-school literacy resource materials and books at Gryphon House.

Multimedia programs

Multimedia programs offer students and their instructors fun and creative ways to learn about things including the alphabet, art, music, computers, and literacy. Use multimedia programs to complement other instructional materials for early childhood education to increase the potential for students to learn essential lessons.
Try: Review the selection of early childhood educational multimedia CDs and DVDs at Baby Genius.

Music and movement

Music and movement instructional materials for early childhood education give educators and students a fun way to get exercise while learning about music. There are lessons about rhythm and dance as well as about different types of music. Teachers can include instruments in their lessons so that children can learn how to make their own music.
Try: View the early childhood music and movement materials available at Delmar Cengage Learning.