I

Approaches to Learning

A

Curiosity and Interest

Child approaches the world with curiosity and develops knowledge about specific topics.

4-year-olds – See this age across all domains Preschool

What educators might observe

• Learns details about a topic of interest, (e.g., after reading a book about sharks, reads more books about sharks and learns the names of many sharks)
• Collects objects that they are interested in, for example, sticks
• Tries to reproduce things they are interested in (e.g., looks at a book about a castle and then tries to build a castle in the block area)
• Asks for explanations of how things work (e.g., asks where the water in the faucet comes from)
• Makes connection between their experiences at home and in school (e.g., says, “I have paints at home too!”)

B

Initiative

Child pursues their own goals.

4-year-olds – See this age across all domains Preschool

What educators might observe

• Gathers the materials that they need for a simple project, such as making imaginary soup
• Finds their own clothing in their cubby and puts it on
• Makes a plan for what they want to create (e.g., plans to draw a house)
• Makes a choice about which area of the classroom they want to play in
• Makes a new friend by playing alongside or with them and engaging in conversations

C

Persistence and Attentiveness

Child focuses on tasks and perseveres in accomplishing them.

4-year-olds – See this age across all domains Preschool

What educators might observe

• Makes a bead necklace of their name and sorts through all the letters until they find those needed
• Puts blocks away in their designated places until every block has been put away
• Listens to a storybook read to the whole group from start to finish
• Asks for help from a caregiver to complete a task

D

Creativity and Inventiveness

Child uses their imagination to create and invent.

4-year-olds – See this age across all domains Preschool

What educators might observe

• Engages in detailed pretend play with peers
• Makes objects that they need for pretend play (e.g., makes a boat out of a cardboard box)
• Tries several ways to create the object they have in mind (e.g., child experiments with different foundations until they have found the one that will hold up a block bridge)
• Develops techniques for painting and drawing (e.g., makes fast and slow strokes, or thick and thin lines)
• Hears peers speaking a different language and makes up nonsense words and says they are speaking that language