Active learning ideas
Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development revolutionised how we understand children's thinking. Students explore the four stages: sensorimotor, pre-operational, concrete operational, and formal operational. They also learn the mechanisms of growth: assimilation (fitting new info into existing schemas) and accommodation (changing schemas to fit new info).
Activity 01
Students work in groups to replicate Piaget's experiments, such as conservation of liquid or the three mountains task, using classmates as 'participants.' they record their results and see if they match Piaget's stage predictions.
What are Piaget's four stages of development?
Activity 02
Students create a short comic strip or skit that demonstrates a child experiencing assimilation (calling a zebra a 'horse') and then accommodation (learning the new category of 'zebra'). They then present these to the class.
How do children assimilate new information?
Activity 03
Create four stations, each representing one of Piaget's stages. Students must add 'milestone cards' (e.g., object permanence, egocentrism, abstract thought) to the correct station and explain why they belong there.
What is object permanence?
A few notes on teaching this unit
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
Children are just 'mini-adults' who know less.
Piaget showed that children actually think in qualitatively different ways than adults. Using a role-play where students try to explain a complex concept to a 'pre-operational' child helps them experience these cognitive differences.
Object permanence means a child forgets an object exists.
It actually means they don't yet understand that objects continue to exist even when they can't be seen. A simple 'hide and seek' demonstration with a toy can help clarify this specific developmental milestone.
Methods used in this brief
Early Brain Development
Students will learn about the development of the brain from early gestation through childhood. They will explore the functions of different brain areas and the impact of early experiences.
8 methodologies
The Effects of Learning on Development
Students will explore Dweck's Mindset theory and Willingham's learning theory. They will discuss the differences between fixed and growth mindsets and the myth of learning styles.
8 methodologies