Unit rationale, description and aim

Positive early experiences with health and physical education lay the foundations for positive health and physical participation in later life.

In this unit pre-service teachers will explore physical health and nutrition curriculum for children birth to eight years. In addition, pre-service teachers will examine issues of children’s wellbeing in the contexts of prior to school, transition to school, family and community. It will have a particular focus on the issues being faced by Australian Indigenous children, children with disabilities, children who are gifted, and children experiencing marginalisation (e.g., children who are speakers of English as an additional language). Australian educational policy and subsequent curriculum documents (e.g., Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and state frameworks) will be examined in relation to supporting young children’s physical health, wellbeing. The unit will also briefly focus on the physical and emotional health and wellbeing of staff who work within prior to school and school settings as complementary (and contingent to) young children’s wellbeing.

Campus offering

No unit offerings are currently available for this unit

Prerequisites

Nil

Incompatible

EDHP313 Health, Wellbeing and Physical Education in Early Childhood , EDPH460 Health, Wellbeing and Physical Education in Early Childhood , EDEC100 Health, Family and Young Learner Wellbeing in the Early Years

Learning outcomes

To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.

Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.

Explore the graduate capabilities.

Identify and explain the significance of health, w...

Learning Outcome 01

Identify and explain the significance of health, wellbeing and physical activity on early brain development, and physical, social and emotional development and learning in young children (APST 3.1, 4.4; ACECQA A3, A4, A5, B8)

Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC2, GC3, GC9, GC11

Explain the range of influences on children’s well...

Learning Outcome 02

Explain the range of influences on children’s well-being, with particular focus on specific issues around the participation rights of children, with emphasis given to Australian Indigenous children, children with disabilities, children who are gifted, and children experiencing marginalisation (e.g. children who are speakers of English as an additional language) (APST 4.4; ACECQA A5, A6, D3)

Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC2, GC3, GC5, GC6, GC9, GC11

Design and critically evaluate play experiences an...

Learning Outcome 03

Design and critically evaluate play experiences and pedagogical approaches (inclusive of engaging with children’s views and opinions about their learning) in the early years that support the development and learning of young children in the domains of physical education, health and nutrition (APST 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 5.3; ACECQA A4, A5, B8, C1, C2, D4)

Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC3, GC5, GC6, GC7, GC8, GC9, GC11

Critique child protection and how it impacts upon ...

Learning Outcome 04

Critique child protection and how it impacts upon the health and wellbeing of young children (APST 4.4; ACECQA A4, A5, B8)

Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC2, GC3, GC5, GC7, GC9, GC10, GC11

Evaluate and report on occupational health and saf...

Learning Outcome 05

Evaluate and report on occupational health and safety and how it impacts upon the health and wellbeing of young children and educators (APST 7.2; ACECQA A4, A5, B8, F2)

Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC2, GC3, GC6, GC7, GC9, GC10, GC11

Content

Topics will include:

Health and safety issues including hygiene, infection control, allergies, anaphylaxis, and keeping the environment safe for all
The influence of prior-to-school/school, home and community characteristics and the importance of relationships in supporting the physical, social and emotional health and wellbeing of all young children.
Values and principles underpinning student wellbeing with a focus on the whole person, including Catholic social teaching
Planning, implementing, evaluating and reporting/sharing healthy eating learning opportunities for young children in the early years making links to the relevant National and State curriculum and policy documents
Planning, implementing, monitoring, evaluating and reporting/sharing physical activity and education experiences in alignment with the Early Years Learning Framework and State curriculum and policy documents
A health model of wellness and wellbeing as a framework for exploring the social, cognitive, physical, environmental, emotional and spiritual aspects that support a healthy start to life
The importance of supporting the physical, social and emotional health and wellbeing of young children for their development and learning
Approaches to supporting the physical, social and emotional health and wellbeing of young children in prior-to-school and school settings, including a play-based approach to curriculum and safe and supportive environments.

Assessment strategy and rationale

A range of assessment procedures will be used to meet the unit learning outcomes and develop graduate attributes consistent with University assessment requirements. Such procedures may include, but are not limited to, essays, reports, examinations, student presentations or case studies.

Overview of assessments

Assessment Task 1 Planning Design a range of exp...

Assessment Task 1

Planning

Design a range of experiences that could be offered to support the physical health of young children, such as, natural outdoor play experiences. The rationale of the experiences should reflect a whole-of-community response, inclusive of the voices of children, that takes account of state and national curriculum and policy documents. Consideration should be given to staff wellbeing and safety in supporting young children’s physical education/activity.

Weighting 50%

Learning Outcomes LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5

Assessment Task 2 Report Select one significant c...

Assessment Task 2

Report

Select one significant contemporary issue concerning the health and emotional wellbeing of young children such as resilience, bullying, child protection and draw on literature and curriculum/policy documents to reflect on ways to support the health and wellbeing of young children. Consider how current knowledge could be applied to practice, policies and procedures.

Weighting 50%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO3, LO4, LO5

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

Students should anticipate undertaking 150 hours of study for this unit. This may involve a combination of face-to-face, online and multi-mode delivery, on a weekly basis across a 12-week semester or in intensive mode. Students should expect to participate in a range of the following: online engagement, lectures, tutorials, seminar presentations and group discussions, both online and face-to-face, self-directed study activities and assessment tasks. Some participation in appropriate educational settings maybe required.

This is a 10-credit point unit and has been designed to ensure that the time needed to complete the required volume of learning to the requisite standard is approximately 150 hours in total across the semester. To achieve a passing standard in this unit, students will find it helpful to engage in the full range of learning activities and assessments utilised in this unit, as described in the learning and teaching strategy and the assessment strategy. The learning and teaching and assessment strategies include a range of approaches to support your learning such as reading, reflection, discussion, webinars, podcasts, video etc.

AUSTRALIAN PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS FOR TEACHERS - GRADUATE LEVEL

On successful completion of this unit, pre-service teachers should be able to:

APST Graduate level standards (delete those not applicable)


3.1 Set learning goals that provide achievable challenges for students of varying abilities and characteristics.
3.2 Plan lesson sequences using knowledge of student learning, content and effective teaching strategies.
3.3 Include a range of teaching strategies.
3.4 Demonstrate knowledge of a range of resources, including ICT, that engage students in their learning.
4.4 Describe strategies that support students’ well-being and safety working within school and/or system, curriculum and legislative requirements.
5.3 Demonstrate understanding of assessment moderation and its application to support consistent and comparable judgements of student learning.
7.2 Understand the relevant legislative, administrative and organisational policies and processes required for teachers according to school stage.

ACECQA Curriculum Specifications

On successful completion of this unit, pre-service teachers should have developed the following specific knowledge:

Standards/Attributes/Criteria

A. Child development and care

A3 Social and emotional development

A4 Child health, wellbeing and safety

A5 Early intervention

A6 Diversity, difference and inclusivity

B. Education and curriculum studies

B8 Physical and health education

C. Teaching pedagogies:

C1 Alternative pedagogies and curriculum approaches

C2 Play based pedagogies

D. Family and community contexts:

D3 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives

D4 Socially inclusive practice

F. Early childhood professional practice:

F2 Management and administration

Representative texts and references

Required text(s)

Australian Curriculum https://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/

Early Years Learning Framework https://www.acecqa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2018-02/belonging_being_and_becoming_the_early_years_learning_framework_for_australia.pdf

Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) www.acara.edu.au

Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (2009). Being, belonging and becoming: Early Years Learning Framework for Australia. ACT: Commonwealth of Australia.

Recommended references

Archer, C., & Siraj, I. (2015). Encouraging physical development through movement-play. London, UK: Sage Publications Ltd.

Brewer, H., & Renck Jalongo, M.(2018). Physical Activity and Health Promotion in the Early Years: Effective Strategies for Early Childhood Educators (Vol. 14, Educating the Young Child). Cham: Springer International Publishing.

Braveman, P. (2014). Early childhood experiences shape health and well-being throughout life. Princeton, NJ: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Brakhane-Endres, J., Rockwell, R.E., & Gurden Mense, C. (2014). Food, nutrition and the young child. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

Boyle, L., & Jenkins, B. (2018). Bodysong: Exploring children's natural world through creative dance. Jamberoo, NSW¨ Pademelon Press.

Garvis, S., & Pendergast, D. (Eds.). (2017). Health and wellbeing in childhood (2nd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Goodsir, K. & Theodoropoulos, D. (2016). My family is a team: A story about mental illness. Mentone, Vic: Dandelion Books

MacNaughton, G., & Williams, G. (2009). Techniques for teaching young children (3rd ed.). French’s Forest, NSW: Pearson Education.

McGlade, H. (2012). Our Greatest Challenge: Aboriginal Children and Human Rights. Aboriginal Studies Press

NHMRC (2013). Staying healthy: Preventing infectious diseases in early childhood education and care services. Canberra ACT: NHMRC. Online access: https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/attachments/ch55-staying-healthy.pdf

Oberklaid, F. (2004). Health in early childhood settings: From emergencies to the common cold. Castle Hill, NSW: Pademelon Press.

Roberts, R. (2010). Wellbeing from birth. London: SAGE Publications.

Rose, J., Gilbert, L., & Richards, V. (2016). Health and well-being in early childhood. London; Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.

Vize, A., & Kurena, T. (2015). Taking care of you: Reducing stress and burnout among teachers and educators. Blairgowrie, Vic: Teaching Solutions.

Westwell, M. (2016). Supporting brain development. Deakin West, ACT: Early Childhood Australia.

EDEC313 - Health and Wellbeing in the Early Years