ENG-200 Children's Literature: Pre-readers to Middle Grade

Students will learn how children's literature cultivates a love of books in young readers (kindergarten-middle school). Focusing on a variety of literature such as fables, poems, myths, fairy tales, picture books, and chapter books, students will read, research, interpret and write about literary and artistic elements of children's literature. The course is suited for students in AA Liberal Arts and Sciences, AA Childhood Education or the Teaching Assistant certificate programs who need to learn how to select quality, age appropriate texts to be used in children's classroom activities. It is also open to students who enjoy children's literature and wish to study it closely. This course carries SUNY General Education Humanities credit.

Credits

3

Prerequisite

ENG-101

Lecture Contact Hours

3

Lab Contact Hours

0

Other Contact Hours

0

Department

• Humanities

Grading Scheme

• Letter

SUNY Gen Ed Credit

• Yes

Semesters Course Will Be Offered

• Fall
• Spring

Course Learning Outcomes

1. Survey the range and diversity of literature written for audiences ranging from kindergarten to middle school.
2. Analyze the literary and artistic elements present in children's literature written for audiences ranging from kindergarten to middle school.
3. Apply literary criteria to evaluate children's literature for practical classroom activities geared for kindergarten-middle school aged students.
4. Perform and analyze their performance of a reading of a literary work for an age-appropriate audience.

View Course Outline

ENG 200: Children's Literature: Pre-readers to Middle Grade

Department

Humanities

Course Description

Students will learn how children's literature cultivates a love of books in young readers (kindergarten-middle school). Focusing on a variety of literature such as fables, poems, myths, fairy tales, picture books, and chapter books, students will read, research, interpret and write about literary and artistic elements of children's literature. The course is suited for students in AA Liberal Arts and Sciences, AA Childhood Education or the Teaching Assistant certificate programs who need to learn how to select quality, age appropriate texts to be used in children's classroom activities. It is also open to students who enjoy children's literature and wish to study it closely. This course carries SUNY General Education Humanities credit.

Credit Hours

3

Contact Hours

Lecture	3
Lab	0
Other	0

Grading Scheme

Letter

Semester(s) Course Will Be Offered

Fall, Spring

Prerequisites

ENG-101

SUNY General Education Course

• Humanities

Course Learning Outcomes

1. Survey the range and diversity of literature written for audiences ranging from kindergarten to middle school.
2. Analyze the literary and artistic elements present in children's literature written for audiences ranging from kindergarten to middle school.
3. Apply literary criteria to evaluate children's literature for practical classroom activities geared for kindergarten-middle school aged students.
4. Perform and analyze their performance of a reading of a literary work for an age-appropriate audience.

Topic Outline

1. History of Children’s Literature: an overview of children’s literature from advent of illustration to contemporary literature.
2. Relationship between Children and Children’s Literature
   1. Personal and Academic Values of Literature to Children
   2. Relationship between Children’s Development
      1. (physical, cognitive, linguistic, and moral) and their Literature
3. Elements of Children’s Literature
   1. Narrative elements --Plots, characters, settings, themes, and styles
   2. Illustrations
      1. visual literacy
      2. artistic technique
      3. media
4. Categories of Children’s Literature
   1. Pre-readers and Picture Books
   2. Nonfiction
   3. Historical Fiction
   4. Fantasy
   5. Poetry and Nursery Rhymes
   6. Multi-cultural and International literature
5. Current Topics (censorship, social issues, rewriting of classics, etc.)