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Course Prefix/Number/Title
: ENGL238/Children's Literature
Number of Credits:
3
Course Description:
This online course will help students who are preparing for an Elementary
Education/Early Childhood program. Topics covered are Developmental Characteristics of
Children, Literature and Teaching of Reading, Criteria for evaluation and selection of books for
children, and the following Genres of literature and their characteristics: Poetry and plays,
picture books, traditional literature, modern fantasy, realistic and historical fiction, biography
and informational books, and literature for a diverse society. Also covered is the Presentation of
Literature in the Classroom.
Pre-/Co-requisites:
None
Course Objectives:
Students completing the course should:
Find pleasure and enjoyment in children's literature through reading many children's books.
Show familiarity with the various genres of children's literature and learn how each might be
integrated into the K-8 school curriculum.
Have read and appreciated some prose and poetry of all kinds and for all levels from preschool
through eighth grade.
Know evaluation criteria for children's picture books, fiction, and nonfiction.
Know the elements of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and illustration as they apply to evaluation and
analysis of literature.
Understand developmental stages and types of books appropriate to use within each stage.
Be aware of First Amendment rights of children and how these rights pertain to offering children
choice in their reading materials. Be familiar with the difference between selection and
censorship.
(Gen Ed Goal #8)
Be familiar with the historical development of the various genres of children's literature.
Be able to design, role play, and teach lessons which encompass a variety of literature-related
activities and purposes, including nature and environmental concerns.
(Gen Ed Goal #5)
Demonstrate an ability to read orally both prose and poetry in an entertaining fashion and to
develop storytelling techniques.
(Gen Ed Goal #9)
Be able to appreciate the aesthetic quality of illustrations in children's picture books; also
perceive the illustrations' contributions to the story.