Why is Planning important in Early Childhood Education?

Preschool Lesson Plans That Go Beyond the Printable

If you're searching for lesson plans for early childhood education that are meaningful, curriculum-aligned, and ready to use with digital tools, you’re in the right place. The ICT in Education Teacher Academy provides preschool lesson plan ideas that are not just engaging—but part of a structured path for your professional growth.

 

Unlike other sites offering activity printables, every plan here is linked to EYLF outcomes, supported by digital integration, and includes planning and reflection guidance. Whether you're after a preschool lesson plan example, looking for preschool lesson plans across subjects, or want sample preschool lesson plans with goals and objectives PDF, this membership delivers exactly that.

 

Use this page to preview some of the most popular lessons in the membership. Then scroll down to see how you can sign up and start downloading immediately.

📘 Lesson Plan Preview

This is a free sample to give you a feel for how our lesson plans are structured. If you’re looking for sample preschool lesson plans with goals and objectives PDF, this example shows exactly what to expect.

Every lesson plan in the membership includes:

• EYLF-linked goals

• Clear instructions and educator guidance

• ICT tools required and suggestions for alternatives

• Levels of differentiation to support diverse learners

• Planning and reflection prompts directly connected to the workbook

 

🧠 These plans go beyond simple activity sheets—they are curated preschool lesson plan examples embedded in a professional learning pathway.

 

 

Lesson Plan Spotlight: Digital Sound Safari

📘 Lesson Plan: Exploring Nature with Sound

 

Feature	What You'll Get
Learning Focus	Science and Technology, Digital Storytelling
EYLF Outcomes	4.2, 4.5, 5.3, 5.5
ICT Tools	Audio recorder app, Book Creator/iMovie, tablet/smartphone
Key Membership Link	“Science and Technology in ECE” Workshop + Community Feedback Support

 

Activity Summary: Children go on a nature walk to record sounds (e.g., birds, wind, leaves) using digital devices. They then create stories inspired by those sounds using apps like Book Creator. It encourages multimodal storytelling, nature inquiry, and collaborative digital creativity.

 

Why Members Love It:

• Built-in reflection prompts, assessment tools, and TPACK links

• Supports different abilities through ICT differentiation

• Fully aligned with EYLF + APST, with clear paths for teacher growth

 

👉 This is just one of over 50 lesson plans that guide your short-term planning and long-term development.

 

 

How to Access These Lesson Plans

Membership Costs:

👉 $20/month, or save with $200/year (2 months free!)

 

🔐 Here’s how to sign up and get access:

1. Choose your plan on the sign-up page

2. Start with the Foundation Playlist to prepare for using technology in ECE

3. Access the ECE Workshops and Preschool Technology Lessons library

4. Download, adapt, and implement lessons in your setting

You’ll be supported every step of the way—with downloadable planning templates, community feedback, TPACK-aligned guidance, and real-time classroom strategies.

 

 

Explore Lesson Plans by Learning Area

Each of the following lesson plans is included in your membership. They reflect the EYLF, support short-term learning goals, and are structured for real classroom impact.

 

👉 IF YOU ARE READY TO JOIN US, CLICK THE LESSON PLAN OF YOUR CHOICE TO START YOUR LEARNING JOURNEY TODAY!

You will asked to sign up and choose your payment plan - $20 per month or $$$AVE $40 AUD when you pay annually $200.

📚📖 LANGUAGE AND LITERACY lesson plans for Preschoolers
Speech Bubble Storytelling EYLF 5.1, 5.3	Creative Name Writing EYLF 5.2, 5.5
🎨🖼️ CREATIVITY IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Paint 3D Bunny Drawing EYLF 4.1, 5.2	Modelling Techniques with Craft Materials EYLF 4.5., 5.3
🧠 PROBLEM SOLVING AND NUMERACY IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Easter Coding Challenge EYLF 4.2, 5.4	Roll a Shape and Trace It EYLF 4.5, 5.2
🌍 Knowledge and Understanding of the World
Sorting Animals with Tech EYLF 4.4	Find the Shapes around You EYLF 4.2, 5.1
🔬 Science and Technology in Early Childhood Education
AR Nature Hunt EYLF 4.1, 5.5	Labeling Plant Parts with Photos EYLF 4.2, 4.4

 

💡 Click any image to preview. Full lesson downloads available to members.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What Makes Our Early Childhood Activities Stand Out?

Why Members Choose Our Lesson Plan Activities to Support Purposeful, Professional Practice

When early childhood educators search for early learning activities or ideas for planning activities for preschoolers, they often encounter a flood of disjointed templates and one-off crafts. But what if the activities you planned could do more than fill time?

 

Inside the ICT in Education Teacher Academy, every learning experience is more than just an idea—it’s a carefully crafted resource designed to align with early childhood theory, meet EYLF outcomes, build digital capability, and support your ongoing professional growth.

 

This blog takes a closer look at what makes our activities for early childhood education different—and why becoming a member today could be the most meaningful step in your planning journey.

 

1. Activities Grounded in Theory, Not Just Themes

Every lesson plan activity in the membership is intentionally designed using educational theories taught in our exclusive ECE workshops. Members learn how each experience supports pedagogical approaches such as:

• Inquiry-based learning

• Multimodal communication

• Play-based exploration

• Intentional teaching

• ICT capability building

 

So when members download activities for early childhood development, they understand the why behind each step. These are learning activities for early childhood that reflect real pedagogy—not just seasonal crafts.

 

 

 

2. Structured and Scaffolding Lesson Plans

Our lesson plans don’t just list steps—they guide your thinking.

Each activity plan example for early years includes:

• Clear learning goals and objectives linked to EYLF outcomes

• A list of ICT tools used, with flexible alternatives

• Steps for implementation, extension, and adaptation

• Differentiation tiers to suit all levels of digital fluency

• A Higher Order Thinking table to support assessment

• Prompts for reflection and planning using the membership workbook

 

So when you're looking for language and literacy activities for preschoolers lesson plans or integrated STEM ideas, you’re not just getting content—you’re getting a comprehensive framework that aligns with what’s developmentally appropriate and educationally sound.

 

 

 

3. Community Support and the Wisdom Tool: Your Planning Partners

While most educators can find activity ideas online, the real challenge is knowing how to plan for learning activities in early childhood that are developmentally appropriate, adaptable, and reflective of your environment. That’s where the membership's tools and community support set you apart.

 

These features turn every activity into a learning opportunity—for both the child and the educator.

 

🧠 The Wisdom Tool

The Wisdom Tool is a searchable idea bank available only to members. It gathers adaptations, enhancements, and variations of each activity that real educators have implemented—and makes them instantly searchable for your needs.

How the Wisdom Tool Supports Activity Planning:

Planning Step	Wisdom Tool Support Example
Selecting a suitable activity	Search by EYLF outcome, learning area, or ICT tool
Adapting for diverse learners	Find modifications shared by other educators (e.g., visual supports)
Differentiating ICT use	View examples using tablets, desktops, or unplugged tech
Extending the activity	Discover follow-up ideas (e.g., turn a sound safari into a class podcast)
Choosing digital tools	See which apps/tools other members used successfully

 

💡 Tip: You can also filter results by setting type (e.g., family daycare, kindy, long day care) to find the most context-appropriate versions.

 

 

💬 The Community Forum

The Community Forum is your ongoing professional sounding board. Inside, members ask questions, share photos of completed activities, upload planning examples, and reflect together.

 

How the Community Enhances Your Activity Implementation:

• Ask: “Has anyone tried the Digital Sound Safari with non-verbal learners?”
  → Receive step-by-step ideas for using visuals and sound boards.

• Share your plan and ask: “How can I extend this into a group project?”
  → Get responses from educators who’ve used the activity for collaborative storytelling.

• Contribute: “Here’s how I modified this shape activity to include nature play…”
  → Others benefit—and so do you as you reflect and refine your own practice.

 

Examples of Active Topics in the Community Forum:

• “How to make coding with Bee Bots more inclusive”

• “What are the best follow-up activities after AR storytelling?”

• “Need ideas for linking our shape lesson to literacy goals”

 

 

How These Tools Turn Activities Into Intentional Teaching

By using both the Wisdom Tool and the Community Forum, you’re not just collecting activities—you’re co-creating solutions. Here’s how they combine to support better planning:

 

FEATURE	BENEFIT FOR YOU	EXAMPLE USE CASE
Wisdom Tool	Adapts ideas to fit your learners	Find a lower-tech variation of a digital drawing activity
Community Forum	Offers real-world insights from peers	Ask how others introduced directional coding play
Membership Workbook	Helps reflect and track planning decisions	Use prompts to evaluate activity success
ECE Workshops	Ground your understanding in theory	Learn how inquiry-based learning supports activity planning

 

 

 

4. Example in Action: Digital Sound Safari

This early childhood development lesson plan integrates nature, technology, storytelling, and inquiry all in one engaging experience.

 

📘 Activity: Children explore their surroundings and record natural sounds using a tablet or smartphone. They then create a digital story using Book Creator or iMovie, sequencing their sounds and narrating their experience.

 

🧠 Theory Link: Multimodal learning, environmental inquiry, and digital literacy

 

🎯 Learning Goals:

• EYLF Outcomes 4.2, 4.5, 5.3, 5.5

• Develop communication, listening, and sequencing skills

• Build early STEM and ICT capability

 

🌟 Member Advantage:

• Watch the matching workshop to understand the educational theory

• Use the Observation Guide and Lesson Planning Template in the workbook

• Share variations with others in the community and adapt using the Wisdom Tool

• Track reflections using the community prompts on page 182

 

This is what planning activities for preschoolers looks like when done intentionally and supported by professional development.

 

 

 

5. Why Educators Are Choosing Our Activities

Whether you're new to ECE or an experienced teacher looking to grow, these activities for early childhood education support you at every step.

They help you:

• Plan with clarity and confidence

• Implement activities that align with EYLF and child development

• Reflect and adapt based on children's needs and your own goals

• Build evidence for APST alignment and CPD records

• Strengthen your TPACK knowledge as you integrate ICT

 

And it’s all included in your membership—backed by workshops, community, and a workbook that guides your development from trial to transformation.

 

 

 

Join Today and Start Downloading

If you’ve been searching for preschool lesson plan ideas or how to plan activities for preschoolers, now is the time to take action.

👉 Membership is just $20/month or $200/year (2 months free).
👉 Sign up and access all lesson plans, activities, and workshops immediately.
👉 Start planning with purpose—and grow while you teach.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turning Activities into Meaningful Learning

How ECE Educators Use Membership Lesson Plans to Build Connected, Goal-Aligned Themes

 

Introduction: What Is Thematic Planning in ECE?

Thematic planning in early childhood education is a method of designing curriculum where a central theme connects all learning areas—language, literacy, numeracy, science, creativity, and more. Instead of teaching isolated subjects, educators integrate concepts across domains using a unifying topic such as “Healthy Habits,” “Rainforests,” or “All About Me.”

 

According to Donia Fahim (2023), thematic planning supports children’s learning by creating meaningful contexts for knowledge construction, aligning with how children naturally learn—through play, connection, and exploration. As outlined by Early Childhood Australia, thematic teaching not only boosts engagement but also supports developmental appropriateness, inquiry, and creativity.

 

Thematic planning also draws from well-established educational theory. Vygotsky, Piaget, and Bruner all emphasized the power of integrated, social, and active learning—principles at the heart of the thematic approachthematic planning in ece.

 

 

Why Thematic Planning Matters

The advantages of thematic approach in preschool are clear:

• Builds deeper understanding across content areas

• Encourages transfer of learning

• Promotes vocabulary development

• Reinforces prior knowledge through repetition in multiple forms

• Supports multiple intelligences (Gardner, 1983)

• Mirrors real-world learning, not fragmented instruction

 

Using a thematic approach in early childhood education helps educators meet EYLF outcomes holistically—children investigate, reflect, and express across experiences, not just subjects.

 

 

From Lesson Plan to Thematic Plan: What Members Achieve

Many educators find it difficult to begin thematic planning because they feel overwhelmed or lack structured resources. The ICT in Education Teacher Academy bridges that gap.

Members use downloadable, ready-to-use lesson plans—each embedded with learning goals, digital tools, reflection prompts, and EYLF alignment—to build thematic units that are developmentally appropriate, engaging, and tech-integrated.

 

🎵 Example of a Thematic Approach in Action: “Music Month” Plan

Here’s a real example of thematic approach lesson plan creation using resources from the ICT in Education Teacher Academy membership.

 

📅 Theme: Music Month

Developed to celebrate World Music Day, this thematic plan explores music across key learning areas in a way that’s fun, curriculum-aligned, and digitally enriched.

Key Learning Area	Activity from Membership	EYLF Link
Communication, Language & Literacy	Speech Bubble Storytelling with Song Lyrics	EYLF 5.1, 5.2
Personal, Social and Emotional	Digital Puppet Performances of Favourite Songs	EYLF 1.4, 3.2
Creative	Paint 3D: Visualise the Sound Activity	EYLF 4.1, 5.3
Physical	Bee Bot Dancing to Rhythmic Patterns	EYLF 3.2, 4.4
Knowledge and Understanding of the World	Exploring Instrument Sounds Outdoors with Audio Recorder	EYLF 4.2, 5.5

 

Each of these preschool lesson plans comes with:

• Goals and objectives clearly outlined

• Step-by-step instructions and ICT tools

• Adaptation ideas via the Wisdom Tool

• Built-in prompts for reflection and assessment

 

💬 This is how one theme can foster cross-curricular exploration, deepen learning, and support professional growth—all while using ready-made resources from the membership.

 

 

How the Membership Supports Thematic Planning

🎯 Members Have Access To:

• Lesson plans across all key learning areas

• Editable templates for planning themes

• Community reflections and adaptations shared by other educators

• Workshops on creativity, inquiry, technology, and planning strategies

🛠️ How Members Build a Thematic Plan:

STEP	Member Action	Member Resource
1	Select a theme	Use brainstorming prompts from the Planning Template (pg. 114)
2	Map learning goals	Use EYLF alignment in each downloadable lesson
3	Choose & adapt activities	Select from >50 tech-rich ECE lesson plans
4	Plan and track progress	Record outcomes in the Workbook Reflection Log
5	Seek advice	Post questions in the Member Community
6	Extend activities	Use Wisdom Tool to see how others adapted similar plans
7	Share and grow	Upload and share how the plan evolved for feedback

 

 

Wisdom Tool & Community = Transformative Planning Support

The Wisdom Tool is a member-exclusive search engine that allows educators to:

• Find ways other members adapted a lesson plan to suit different learning needs

• See how lesson activities fit into themes across different settings

• Discover member-tested enhancements to common preschool themes

 

Meanwhile, the Community Forum allows members to:

• Collaborate on thematic ideas

• Ask for differentiation suggestions

• Share templates and documents

• Reflect on what worked or didn’t with their themes

Together, these tools ensure thematic planning is not just accessible—it’s collaborative, evidence-based, and continually improving.

 

 

🔑 Final Thought: Why This Matters for Professional Learning

Thematic planning is more than a classroom technique—it’s a way to progress professionally. As members use thematic units, they also:

• Align activities with short-term and long-term learning goals

• Build evidence for APST and EYLF frameworks

• Strengthen their TPACK understanding by combining tech, pedagogy, and content

And with every plan, reflection, and adaptation—they grow. Not just in what they teach, but how and why they teach it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How Lesson Plans Strengthen Purposeful Teaching and Professional Growth in ECE

 

Why Lesson Plans Matter in Early Childhood Education

Lesson plans in early childhood education are far more than a box to tick for compliance. They are essential tools that guide teaching, support intentional practice, and ensure that every learning experience is meaningful and developmentally appropriate.

 

According to Brightwheel, lesson planning in early childhood education helps educators "prepare for the unexpected while providing structure and consistency that young children thrive on" (source). The ChildCareEd guide notes that effective planning ensures each activity aligns with curriculum outcomes and child development goals (source).

 

The importance of lesson plans in early childhood education can be summarised by the following benefits:

• Aligns teaching with early learning frameworks (EYLF, VEYLDF)

• Supports consistent and purposeful delivery of content

• Helps educators anticipate and differentiate for varying learning needs

• Provides a record of planning for reflection, improvement, and accountability

• Promotes intentional teaching and scaffolding

 

The William & Mary School of Education further explains that lesson plans serve as a foundation for professional practice, helping educators make instructional decisions that lead to student success (source).

 

 

The Role of Lesson Plans in the Membership

Understanding the importance of lesson plans is only the beginning. What truly enhances their value is having the right support to apply them consistently and confidently. That’s exactly where the ICT in Education Teacher Academy comes in.

The membership recognises that lesson plans are central to effective early childhood practice. That’s why it offers:

• A growing library of done-for-you lesson plans for early childhood

• Customisable planning templates aligned with EYLF outcomes

• Step-by-step educator guidance on how to implement activities using technology

• Differentiation charts and reflection tools for every lesson

These aren’t generic resources. Each plan has been intentionally designed to support real-world application, digital integration, and reflective practice.

 

 

A Member’s Journey: From Downloading to Transforming Lesson Plans

But what happens after an educator downloads a lesson plan? In the ICT in Education Teacher Academy, this marks just the beginning of a deeper professional learning journey—one that evolves with every step.

 

Here's how a typical journey unfolds:

1. Download and Trial

• A member downloads a lesson plan (e.g., Bee Bot Drawing Activity)

• They trial it with available classroom technology (tablet, Bee Bot, drawing app)

• They follow the step-by-step implementation guide

 

 

2. Reflect and Modify

• Using the workbook tools, the member reflects on the experience

• They adjust timing, grouping, or resources based on what worked

• They use the Observation Guide to track engagement and learning outcomes

 

 

 

3. Share and Collaborate

• The member posts their modified plan in the community

• They get feedback, extensions, and variations from other members

 

 

 

4. Create and Contribute

• Inspired by the process, the member develops a new activity

• They align it to the lesson planning template and EYLF outcomes

• They contribute it to the shared membership library, helping others grow

 

This cycle turns lesson plans into living documents—refined by practice, enriched through reflection, and shared as part of a professional learning community.

 

 

What Happens to a Lesson Plan at Each Stage of the Success Path?

This evolution is guided by the membership’s structured Success Path—a tool that helps educators gradually build their ICT confidence and capabilities. Each phase of the path reflects a shift in how educators interact with lesson plans:

Stage	What happens to the lesson plan
Adoption	Member selects and follows a done-for-you plan exactly as provided
Adaptation	Member begins adjusting the lesson to suit their children, technology, and context
Infusion	Member embeds the plan into ongoing curriculum work, integrating ICT naturally
Transformation	Member creates original plans, shares with others, and mentors peers in digital lesson design

 

This progression doesn’t just build lesson planning skills. It supports continuous professional growth and deeper ICT integration—transforming both teaching practice and learning outcomes.

 

 

Connecting Back to Why Planning Is Important in ECE

Everything discussed so far leads back to the core question: Why is planning important in early childhood education? Because planning connected to intentional lesson plans creates the conditions for real, sustainable change.

 

• Planning helps teachers act with intention rather than reactively

• Lesson plans guide differentiation and inclusive practices

• Reflection tied to plans encourages continuous improvement

• ICT-rich plans elevate creativity, problem-solving, and digital literacy in children

 

By joining the ICT in Education Teacher Academy, educators are not just downloading a plan—they are entering a professional learning journey. One that supports:

• Structured planning

• Reflective practice

• Curriculum alignment

• Technology integration

 

In our next article, we’ll explore what short-term goals look like in ECE and how they connect directly to lesson plans in the membership. These goals help educators focus each activity with purpose and track progress over time.

 

 

 

 

 

Understanding How Lesson Plans Help ECE Teachers Achieve Meaningful Progress

 

Defining Short-Term Goals in Early Childhood Education

Short-term goals in early childhood education are specific, achievable objectives that educators set over a limited timeframe—usually within a day, a week, or a few weeks. These goals help guide planning, measure progress, and ensure intentional teaching.

 

According to Bright Kids Centre, short-term goals are focused on supporting a child’s immediate development, behaviour, or learning outcomes in the classroom (source). As outlined by Chron, short-term goals for preschool teachers might include helping a child master a fine motor skill, introducing new vocabulary, or increasing engagement during group time (source).

 

These goals differ from long-term goals (such as developing school readiness or social-emotional regulation over a term or year) in that they:

• Are tied to specific lessons or routines

• Help break down long-term outcomes into manageable steps

• Provide a clear focus for daily or weekly planning

• Allow educators to quickly observe and respond to progress

 

 

 

Why Short-Term Goals Matter in ECE Planning

Short-term goals play a vital role in effective early childhood teaching. They help educators:

• Stay responsive to children’s current needs and interests

• Use observation to guide next steps in teaching

• Ensure each lesson or activity has a clear intention

• Track learning outcomes against frameworks like EYLF

 

Short-term goals also make reflection more meaningful. When educators plan and deliver a lesson with a clear goal in mind, it becomes easier to evaluate its effectiveness and adjust future activities.

 

 

 

The Membership’s Approach: Linking Short-Term Goals to Lesson Plans

The ICT in Education Teacher Academy supports short-term goal-setting by providing done-for-you lesson plans for early childhood educators that come with clear objectives and implementation steps. Each lesson plan includes:

 

• Learning intentions aligned with EYLF outcomes

• Activity steps focused on key developmental goals

• Observation and assessment tables

• Reflection prompts to evaluate goal achievement

 

When a member selects a lesson plan, they are not just choosing an activity—they are choosing a structured experience designed to achieve a short-term goal in a specific learning area, such as:

• Problem-solving with programmable toys

• Developing oral language through digital storytelling

• Exploring shape concepts using drawing programs

• Practising digital creativity and fine motor skills

 

These short-term goals are not separate from planning—they are the plan, and the membership ensures they are achievable, curriculum-aligned, and ready for use.

 

 

Examples of Short-Term Goals from Lesson Plans in the Membership

Here are examples of short-term goals that members can implement using the ECE lesson plans:

Learning Area	Short-term Goal Example
Digital Literacy	Children will use a digital drawing app to complete a simple pattern.
Communication	Children will add speech bubbles to their photographs and describe the story orally.
Numeracy	Children will use programmable toys to trace shapes and name them.
Problem-Solving	Children will program a Bee Bot to reach a goal, testing and adjusting their instructions.
Fine Motor Development	Children will use the mouse to select colours and draw using Paint 3D.

 

Each of these goals is supported by an activity in the membership and can be achieved within one or two sessions.

 

 

From Short-Term Goal to Professional Growth

Because the lesson plans are embedded within the membership workbook, each short-term goal achieved also contributes to:

• Your documented planning process

• Your reflective practice

• Your CPD evidence

• Your progression along the membership’s Success Path

 

You can log these goals in the workbook, observe children’s responses, and adjust for next time. This helps you go beyond just delivering an activity to becoming a reflective, intentional educator growing through every plan you implement.

 

 

What Comes Next?

In the next blog, we’ll look closely at how each lesson plan inside the membership is structured to achieve short-term goals and how this connects to your long-term curriculum planning. You’ll discover how every done-for-you plan becomes a powerful tool for daily impact and deeper learning outcomes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is Early Childhood Education?

 

At the heart of every effective curriculum, is a progressive plan for the learning and development of children in early childhood. 

In this member’s exclusive technology in early childhood education resource, you will focus on programming and planning in early childhood settings in relation to the integration of ICT in early childhood learning activities.

 

Key teacher takeaways include:

• Understanding what early childhood education is.
• Developing an appreciation of what is planning in early childhood education.
• Why is planning important in early childhood education and for technology integration?
• Reflecting on the reason why is early childhood education important (its role in supporting child ICT capability).
• Technology integration lesson planning in early childhood education.

 

 

 

 

 

Early childhood education encompasses all forms of education including formal and informal from birth to 8 years of age. What highlights the importance of early childhood education itself is that in terms of a child’s learning and development, providing a strong foundation is essential to a child’s future success. This type of education is fundamental to their learning and can significantly shape their life.

 

What is Planning in early childhood education?

I begin by addressing the question ‘What is planning in early childhood education’ and point out that whatever curriculum that you teach within, planning in early childhood education is about laying the foundations for the child’s future with the curriculum in the mainstream primary education setting.

 

It is about setting your environment to maximise the opportunities for learning to take place and about shaping your resources into a plan or ‘map’. This would typically include materials, spaces, furniture, other staff members, children, and time.

 

When focusing on the integration of ICT in early childhood education planning is about ensuring that ICT is viewed as a tool to support and enhance teaching and learning and not simply as a skill to be learned and an ‘add-on’ to the curriculum.

 

The planning and delivery of learning programme in ECD in this regard enables you to thread ICT imaginatively through all early learning goals thus enhancing the quality of what is being taught and learned.

 

 

 

What is the Planning cycle in early childhood education?

 

EYLF Planning Cycle

The EYLF planning cycle consists of four key aspects that are highlighted in the diagram below. Each represents a significant phase in planning in early childhood education.

 

The Cycle of Planning EYLF

• Observe – the process of gathering information.
• Analyse – questioning what learning and development is taking place to make meaning of what has been observed.
• Plan – planning the next steps to continue supporting learning and development.
• Act/Do – putting the plan into action.
• Reflect – evaluating the effectiveness of the plan.

 

Each step of the EYLF cycle is supported by a corresponding tool in the Membership Workbook:

• Observe: Use the Observation Guide (pg. 101) to record digital engagement and ICT capability.
• Analyse: Workbook reflection prompts guide interpretation of children’s digital play and learning.
• Plan: Use the Lesson Planning Template (pg. 114) to map clear learning goals, EYLF links, ICT tools, and differentiation strategies.
• Act/Do: Implement with confidence using the membership’s library of done-for-you digital lesson ideas.
• Reflect: Complete post-lesson reflections using critical thinking questions built into the workbook.

 

 

How does the technology integration planning cycle fit into this?

Planning for integration is ensuring that ICT is viewed by young children as a tool used for a particular purpose and it also involves enabling them to understand and identify the many uses of ICT in their everyday lives.

It is the key to making learning effective and exciting in addition, to facilitating learning progression in ICT capability and ICT literacy in young children.  

The workbook supports this by helping educators design lessons that intentionally promote digital capabilities—not just exposure to technology. Tools like the ‘Planning for ICT Integration’ checklist (pg. 6) help you determine which digital experiences support learning, rather than distract from it.

 

Observing

The process of gathering information is accompanied by the method of identifying first what you want the children to learn. This is where the EYLF early learning goals are stressed to be defined for effective teaching. If your approach is to focus on the breadth and depth of the early years curriculum that you teach within, then it makes good sense to do this at the outset of the ICT activity.

You then need to decide what evidence is needed. Planning here involves considering how the children will produce evidence of their learning.

The most effective way to gather evidence when integrating technology in early childhood education is through continuous observation. This also involves listening and sustained shared thinking and discussions. You can question children and ask them to demonstrate how they went about a task for example in various contexts.

While the children are engaged in ICT activities, informal observations can be used to monitor how different children respond to an activity. You may notice that some may be confident, and they may be those who could be reluctant to try anything out for themselves and who persistently seek reassurance that what they are doing is right.

For you as an early childhood teacher, it is, therefore, important to develop skilled observations of individual contributions to partner work in technology integration in early childhood education.

 

Analysing

Analysing your observations is a very important part of your planning and programming in early childhood education. With the help of an individual profile sheet with a coding system this can be achieved when observing a child’s use of ICT.

Effective planning depends on a thorough analysis of the situation at the outset. In addition to using a profile sheet that would record children’s capabilities in ICT, questions that you would consider in analysing your observations:

1. What do we know about the children’s existing knowledge, skills and understanding in the subject?
2. What has been their previous experience with ICT?

 

Planning

As I discussed earlier, your planning should decide how the children will produce the evidence and as planning is cyclical in nature, you need to continually plan the next steps. Where do you begin?

Having high expectations must extend to the use of technology across various contexts. From your analyses, you can target and focus your next steps.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why is planning important in Early Childhood Education?

Effective planning is at the core of every successful curriculum, especially in early childhood education (ECE). It provides a structured approach to teaching that ensures children receive a balanced and meaningful learning experience. Through thoughtful planning, educators can create environments where children thrive, and their developmental milestones are met.

 

Planning and delivery of a learning programme in ECD (Early Childhood Development) is more than just organizing activities; it’s about strategically structuring learning experiences to foster child development. This includes ensuring that every learning activity for early childhood aligns with key developmental goals and is responsive to the needs and interests of the children in your care. This approach not only enriches children's learning but also enhances teachers' ability to meet educational standards and objectives.

 

Inside the Membership Workbook, educators follow a structured Success Path—Adoption, Adaptation, Infusion, and Transformation.
Each stage includes planning templates, milestones, and reflection activities that help teachers plan and scaffold children’s digital learning experiences. Progress is tracked using the TPACK Radar Chart (pg. 183), a visual tool that shows how your confidence and skill grow over time

 

 

In general, there are several reasons why you need to plan: (Raban, 2010, p31)

• For organisation within the setting, to ensure that you know what you are doing and have the appropriate resources available.
• To make your work visible to colleagues, families and other professionals.
• To be able to discuss clearly what you are doing, as well as how and why, with parents and other professionals.
• To make sure you are developing a wide range of experiences for children through a variety of opportunities, both indoors and outdoors.
• To enable you to respond to each child as an individual, by reflecting on what you know about the children and what you identify for your teaching through documentation.
• To promote learning and development by supporting children’s individual strengths and abilities as well as those of the group.
• To ensure you are maintaining appropriate challenges and stimulation for the children and supporting their active learning, while enabling them to experience success and achievement.
• To introduce new ideas and experiences.
• To help support any interests and strengths in children’s experiences and learning.

 

 

 

Provides evidence of Teacher Practice when applying for Accreditation

If you teach within the EYLF, providing excerpts from a planning for learning and play may demonstrate how you would:

 

• Utilise ICTs to enhance learning - This would support the standard descriptor 2.6.2.
• Show that you have selected ICT resources to engage children in meaningful learning across a wide range of contexts – this would support 3.4.2 and;
• That have created and maintained a safe learning environment with ICT – this would support standard descriptor 4.5.2

 

You could even provide evidence of planning to support your observations of children’s technology interests and abilities. All this evidence of planning would support your efforts in progressing in proficiency levels in the Australian Professional Standards for Early Childhood Teachers.

 

 

 

What is the Importance of Technology in Preschool Activities?

The importance of technology in early childhood education lies deeply within the following reasons for its use:

Reason 1

Firstly, young children are already being exposed to ICT tools and as such it already has an effect on them and on the environment and people that surround them.

ICT tools are becoming a ubiquitous component of the physical and social world. It is an important part of the private and work-life of most people, including young children.

 

Reason 2

This relates to the many opportunities and potential ICT delivers to the teaching and learning of the curriculum.

In early childhood, it can:

• Support and enhance learning and play experiences.
• Support and strengthen your professional learning as an early childhood teacher.
• Support and strengthen your relationships with parents and other people connected to your early childhood education centre.

 

Reason 3

Many curriculums are now supporting the integration of ICT across the education sector from early childhood to tertiary.

Research shows that the delayed attention to ICT in early childhood has given the sector an advantage that while in the past attention has been given towards getting ICT infrastructure into schools without pedagogical support, the reverse is now occurring.

 

Reason 4

ICT supports metacognition or ‘learning to learn’. It means knowing that you know and it provides the foundation to what an ICT capable child is.

 

REASON 5

The use of ICT in early childhood education supports many opportunities for creative development with young children. Through the use of ICT in role plays, they will employ imaginative thinking.

REASON 6

Language development is greatly enhanced when ICT is employed in learning environments. ICT tools and resources such as word processors may appear to be very basic, but remember the power of word processing is in the ease in which children can easily edit and change their writing whilst developing their language and literacy skills.

REASON 7

Children can increase their world knowledge through the use of modern technology such as the Internet.

 

REASON 8

The many features that ICT brings with it in the learning environment will in the end improve the fine and motor gross skills of children.

REASON 9

Mathematical development is also enhanced as a result of the visual images which computers can provide.

REASON 10

One of the many benefits that will come with the use of ICT in early childhood education is collaboration. This alone helps to build language with children in addition to developing their social skills.

 

 

 

Importance of Planning for Technology Integration in Early Childhood Education

When it comes to technology use in early childhood education, planned experiences are essential to build on children's home experiences and promote lasting learning progression in their technological literacy. This is why careful planning for ICT integration is critical to enhance the educational experience and ensure children develop the necessary skills to use technology purposefully.

 

As a member of the ICT in Education Teacher Academy, you’ll gain access to expert guidance and resources that help you integrate ICT into your curriculum effectively. Our done-for-you lesson plans for early childhood education are designed to support your planning process, ensuring that ICT is viewed as a tool that enhances and supports teaching and learning.

 

Why Planning for ICT Integration is Essential

Planning for ICT integration in early childhood education is important for several reasons:

• It ensures that ICT is used as a tool to support and enhance teaching. Through our membership, you will learn how to foster an understanding among young children that ICT products are tools designed to serve a specific purpose, used when required.

• It helps young children understand and identify the everyday uses of technology in their lives. The ICT in Education Teacher Academy membership offers resources and professional development to help you introduce these concepts through developmentally appropriate activities.

 

As technology continues to evolve, the need for planned educational experiences to introduce young children to ICT situations becomes increasingly important. Our membership provides you with the ongoing support and tools to adjust your teaching practices as new technologies emerge, ensuring that your ICT provision remains up to date.

 

 

Continuity and Progression in ICT Integration

Your ICT provision in early childhood education should always reflect continuity and learning progression, as noted in the EYLF. Through our workshops and lesson planning templates, you’ll learn how to maintain continuity in children’s ICT experiences across different age groups. For example, you’ll focus on significant ICT features that should be consistently introduced throughout a child’s time in your care, providing them with a stable foundation in technological literacy.

 

The ICT in Education Teacher Academy helps you structure your lessons in a way that reflects these concepts, while also focusing on the development of essential ICT skills that will serve your students for years to come. We provide the structure and resources to ensure your planning is adaptable, meeting individual learning styles and encouraging positive, hands-on experiences with technology.

 

 

Flexibility and Adaptability in Planning

As new technologies emerge, it’s essential to continually adapt your planning and ICT integration. Our membership equips you with the tools to stay flexible, ensuring your ICT curriculum evolves alongside technological advancements. This flexibility is key, as the integration of technology in early childhood education should always be viewed as a working document that evolves to meet the needs of your students.

 

One of the most significant advantages of joining the ICT in Education Teacher Academy is access to our comprehensive online workshops designed for early childhood educators. These workshops will guide you in planning for the successful use of ICT in the classroom, from interactivity and capacity to speed and automatic function. These are important pedagogical elements to consider when planning ICT experiences that meet the learning needs of each child.

 

 

 

 

 

11 Steps for the Curriculum Planning of Tech Integration

Children in preschool and kindergarten, not to mention those in Foundational education should be finding out about and identifying the uses of ICT in their everyday lives in addition to using programmable toys and computers to support their learning.

The following early childhood curriculum approaches will enable you to maximize the use of technology in early childhood education.

 

Plan for Progression in ICT capability

Progression not only occurs in the classroom with lesson-by-lesson but also from year to year and even from unit-of-work to unit-of-work.

 

Plan for the continuity of ICT capability throughout the school

This requires more than a single effort of person - it is a whole-school approach and ensures that a child's capabilities in ICT continually build upon as they move throughout their school career.

 

Plan for Outcomes

For those in Early Childhood, it means ensuring that you are using the EYLF outcomes - particularly 4 and 5 - to plan your learning outcomes. Foundational teachers that may extend to Year 2, should use the Australian Curriculum outcomes in the Learning Areas.

 

Plan for personalised learning

Individual learning plans (ILPs) helps individual children achieve specific outcomes. You need to ensure that you are clear which learning outcomes you are working towards and why. What does the child understand now? How can you extend this learning? It has also meant being connected to a child's experience of the world.

 

Plan for ICT tools and Resources

Selecting the right ICT tools and resources is just as important as matching them to the intended learning objective. Factors that you need to consider include the 8 principles outlined in our early childhood online course. How do bee bots help to achieve outcomes? 

 

Plan for the next session

Long-term and medium-term plans need to be considered. For long-term plans it is best to break into four subheadings such as resources, strategies, supporting learning, and organisation. Involve the whole staff because patterns in learning settings can inform your choices.

 

Plan appropriate ICT activities

Exposure to ICT will not develop a child's capabilities in ICT. Don't reinvent the wheel and remember, copying type finished work into a neat version is NOT an appropriate activity for them.

 

Plan the Learning Environment

The setting itself will have an impact on how you plan and also how will be able to employ your formative assessment measures in projects.

 

Plan the assessment of ICT capability

Assessments should always be planned and when determining a child's capabilities in ICT there is no exception to this rule. What method is the ideal way for you to ensure that you don’t just focus on one particular aspect of their ICT capability, mainly techniques and routines?

 

Plan to challenge a child's ICT capability

Children today are fluent with technology even more than the generations before them. As a teacher, you need to set challenges for students with ICT that will help them progress further in their capabilities.

Plan day-by-day

You mustn't forget about your short-term planning as this can change throughout the duration of the day or even hour. Don't be set in one thing that you planned earlier to ensure that continue to meet the learning needs of children in your care.

By planning for the integration of ICT across the entire early childhood curriculum you will ensure that ICT will be view as a tool to support and enhance teaching and learning, and not simply as a skill to be learned and an 'add-on' to the curriculum.

 

You can learn more about these curriculum planning in early childhood education by joining our online classes in ICT teaching strategies in early childhood.

You will learn how to optimise tech in learning and play in the early years learning environment today. 

 

The workbook includes practical tools to support all 11 steps. For example:
• Lesson Plan Modification Templates (pg. 126–129) help you revise and improve ICT-based activities.
• Challenges Log (pg. 101) lets you record what worked or didn’t.
• TPACK-Aligned Lesson Planning Framework (pg. 175) ensures a balance between pedagogy, content, and technology.”

 

 

What are the technology teaching methods in early childhood education?

• Conduct a thorough analysis of the situation - effective planning calls for this!
• Maximise formative assessment in early childhood.
• Selecting developmentally appropriate technology in early childhood education.
• Employ evidence-based technology teaching strategies in early childhood.
• Promote literacy and numeracy development with technology.
• Encourage creative uses of technology in early childhood education.
• Integrate and understand technology effectively in STEM in early childhood.
• Implement a universal framework for inclusive education in early childhood education and care.

 

Maximising the use of technology in the early learning setting is important in an ever-increasing online and digital world. With young children entering preschool and kindergarten or even early years primary with a degree of technology literacy about them, it is the opportunity of early childhood teachers such as yourself to build on these home technology experiences through effective ICT integrated curriculum planning in early childhood education.

 

 

How to Plan for Preschoolers

When planning activities for preschoolers, it’s essential to consider their developmental milestones, interests, and the broader goals of early childhood education lesson plans. Effective lesson planning in early childhood education involves creating engaging, interactive activities that support exploration and foster learning through play.

 

As a member of the ICT in Education Teacher Academy, you’ll have access to ready-to-use lesson plans for preschool teachers that are designed to engage children and align with key developmental goals. These lesson plans for early childhood education include strategies to incorporate ICT resources in ways that support play-based learning, ensuring that technology is used to enhance, rather than replace, hands-on experiences.

 

For example, when planning activities for early childhood development, members can access open-ended tasks that promote learning and support creativity. Activities like building with blocks, storytelling, or painting can easily be enhanced with simple digital tools, helping to integrate technology meaningfully into children’s daily experiences. These activities encourage social-emotional development, problem-solving skills, and self-regulation—all of which are vital for a child's overall growth.

 

Through the early years planning cycle, educators can ensure that all activities contribute to a child’s development in cognitive, emotional, and physical domains. With ICT lesson plans for preschoolers provided through our membership, you’ll find that planning becomes easier, more effective, and more adaptable to the needs of your students. Our done-for-you lesson plans offer a foundation, but you can also modify them to fit the unique dynamics and developmental needs of the children in your care.

 

By joining the ICT in Education Teacher Academy, you gain access to practical tools, professional development, and a community of educators to help you plan and deliver meaningful learning experiences for preschoolers, integrating ICT in ways that support holistic development.

 

 

Planning Documentation

The basis for any kind of programming and planning in early childhood education is the documentation that provides evidence of children’s learning. The case study below highlights the EYLF programming and planning documentation.

This list demonstrates the importance of documentation in early childhood education:

• Make learning visible.
• Engage children further in their learning process through reflecting on experiences, so clarifying and deepening their understanding.
• Stimulate children through learning from each other.
• Build on children’s sense of identity and their relationships by revisiting experiences and taking pleasure in their learning.
• Share our interest in children’s learning, showing them that their intentions, ideas and views are important to us and their families.
• Put children and their processes of learning at the centre of our understanding for planning for children’s next steps.
• Encourage the development of shared meanings and experiences between a group of children, their families and other adults and lead to further planning.

(Harriet,2009, p. 41)

 

EYLF programming and planning documentation includes:

Daily dairy including the Reflections of Our Day.

 

Learning Stories – format used to document learning. It uses ‘story telling’ to describe a child’s learning processes.

 

Observations – questions that might help you inform your observations of children using ICT include:

• Are they interested in and curious about technology? Do they enter into discussions and make comments?
• Do they experiment with ICT applications, finding things out for themselves?
• Do they show enjoyment and concentration?
• Are they able to use ICT for their own purposes?
• Do they talk about ICT tools and applications and show an understanding of their purposes?
• Are they able to find and start a program?
• Are they able to navigate a program?
• Are they beginning to experiment with tapping out letters using the keyboard?
• Are they showing an awareness of electronic forms of communication, email, Internet, and mobile texts?
• Do they know, are they able to find out, what buttons and icons do?
• Do they print or save their pictures?
• Are they able to insert a tape and press the “Play” and “Eject” buttons?
• Are they able to control a toy and make it move where they want?

 

 

Portfolios – collected information and samples.

 

The importance of documentation in early childhood education is that it informs your planning of a child development plan. View it as an important part of your work with children and families as part of a cycle of observation, analysis, implementation, and planning in early childhood education.

 

Thematic Approach in ECE

The advantages of thematic approach in preschool education are clear. By grouping related topics and subjects, educators can create early years lesson plans activities that allow children to make connections across different areas of learning. For example, a theme like "Seasons" can include science (learning about weather), art (creating weather-related crafts), and language (reading stories about different seasons).

 

Thematic planning also offers continuity and progression, helping children build on prior knowledge while engaging in rich, cross-curricular learning. This approach aligns well with early childhood development lesson plans, ensuring that children’s learning is scaffolded and continuous. Using a thematic approach lesson plan ensures that all activities are interconnected and relevant to the children’s learning experiences.

 

What is a thematic approach in early childhood education?

A thematic approach in preschool education is one of the two ways that you can plan to integrate ICT in your early learning activities. It delivers the curriculum through projects or topics and it is a teaching method that organises a subject matter around a unifying theme.

 

What are the benefits of thematic approach to learning?

The advantages of thematic approach in preschool education are many. It includes:

• Helping children make sense of the world.
• Encouraging the involvement of children in a topic that is relevant to them.
• Providing authentic real-world learning experiences.
• Exposes children to different learning styles.
• Engages the whole brain through active and hands-on involvement.

 

Studies have indicated (Varun & Venugopal, 2016) that planning for a thematic approach in early childhood education can have an impact on communication skill development in preschool.

 

 

How can you plan your thematic approach?

There are several steps that you can take to effectively embed your thematic approach in early childhood education.

 

Step 1 is to decide what theme will be developmentally appropriate. It can be integrated as with a whole ecosystem for example or based on a broad concept such as weather. The theme must always relate to children’s learning.

 

Step 2 involves designing the integrated curriculum which takes a bit of time. Ensure that the curriculum is inclusive in skill processing and boosting the knowledge learnt from the content.

 

Step 3 is all to do with making sound instructional decisions and this is especially the case with technology integration in early childhood education. A well-balanced integrated curriculum would mean incorporating field visits, and teamwork towards a particular problem-solving.

 

Step 4 is just about deciding how you would present the theme.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to put your Plans into Action?

At the heart of our online professional development plan for early childhood educators are our preschool lesson plans. The importance of lesson plans in early childhood education is as such:

• It allows you as the teacher to set challenging but achievable early learning goals.
• You can plan to observe and assess children’s ICT learning and then reflect on your practices later.
• It allows the director of the preschool or kindergarten to monitor class progress.
• A substitute teacher can use your lesson plans to ensure that learning is progressed.
• And when you post it on the wall you allow parents to see what activities the children are experiencing.

 

Short term planning Early Years

What are your short-term goals in early childhood education? Is it to provide children to grow and interact socially, to collaborate, or to learn how to self-regulate? If your answer is ‘Yes’, then participating in our Academy workshops is what you need to provide you with the expertise required to achieve goals.

 

So what is short-term planning in the early years? It IS about improving your preschool lesson plans in such as way and our preschool technology lesson plans can get you started.

 

Continuity and Progression in Lesson Planning

In 2006, I presented a conference paper that discussed why is continuity and progression important in lesson planning.

 

“Effective progression and continuity in ICT capability development in ECE is crucial for the solid foundation and development of student ICT skills. ICT capability is a 21st century skill or general capability that is embedded in the national curriculum from the Foundation Stage through to the end of Year 10 (Level 6 ICT Capability Learning Continuum). The analogy that ‘a house cannot stand without good foundations’ is symbolic of how significant it is for educators in ECE to learn how to ensure that the children in their care are progressing in their development of ICT capability. Furthermore, it is imperative that they learn how to accurately determine a child’s capabilities. By doing so, they will be setting a precedence for everyone else to follow.

 

For educators in ECE, the learning environment is different to that in primary and secondary classrooms. However, the principles of using ICT in the learning environment remain the same. Planning for the integration of ICT means that you are ensuring that ICT will be viewed as a tool for teaching and learning (Kennington & Meaton, 2009). ICT capability can be enhanced when specific skills are taught and learnt, and the appropriate knowledge has been obtained and understood by the child. When a child has mastered essential ICT skills it gives them mastery and control over the equipment, and this is how educators can help their children obtain the full benefits from ICT. As Potter et al. (2012, p.82) states “planning for ICT means developing an understanding of the ways in which young children think and learn.” Effective planning is the key to ensuring that there is progression already occurring in the early learning setting.”

 

You can read more about the importance of continuity and progression in lesson planning in early childhood education here.

 

 

Considering Educational Theories when Lesson Planning

A well-structured professional development plan for early childhood educators is grounded in educational theory. By incorporating the educational theories we provide into your lesson planning, you can create a more engaging and effective learning experience for young children. Our membership in the ICT in Education Teacher Academy is designed to guide you through this process, ensuring you understand how to apply these theories in your classroom.

 

For instance, much of the digital technology we discuss in our workshops is centered around allowing young children to construct knowledge. This approach is rooted in Constructivism, an educational theory pioneered by Papert and based on the work of Piaget, Dewey, and Montessori. By applying Constructivism in your teaching, you help children build knowledge through hands-on experiences and interactive learning.

 

Additionally, we incorporate the work of Vygotsky, who emphasized the importance of social interactions in learning. When integrating ICT in early childhood education, we focus on using technology as a tool to organize paired interactions during the problem-solving process. This helps children engage with technology in a meaningful way and fosters collaborative learning.

 

As a member of the ICT in Education Teacher Academy, you will have access to the resources and support needed to structure your lesson plans effectively, ensuring that technology is used to promote deeper, more meaningful learning outcomes. Our expert-led workshops and done-for-you lesson plans will help you integrate these educational theories into your daily teaching practices, supporting the development of key skills and knowledge in your students.

 

 

 

 

 

By continually reflecting on your practice and seeking out new educational theories and strategies, you will continue to improve your lesson plan and provide the best possible learning experience.

 

Activity plan example for early years:

Creative Development

Language and communication development

Problem-solving

 

 

Learning Activities

Planning Activities for Preschoolers

A key issue that you need to address is ‘What to consider when planning activities for preschoolers?’

When selecting learning activities for early childhood education that integrate ICT resources, it is important to ask these questions:

 

• What has the child gained in terms of knowledge, skill, or understanding?
• Have the learning activities helped them achieve something they might not have done in any way through the use of ICT?
• Will the equipment motivate the child to learn and have fun while learning?

 

In supporting the development of ICT capability, you might also like to consider:

• What is the educational purpose of the early learning activities – to develop ICT capability, to support learning in another area of the curriculum, or both?
• Will the children need to be monitored to identify opportune moments for intervention to enhance their skills?
• Does it provide children with experience in using ICT as a tool?
• Are there opportunities to observe and assess children’s ICT capabilities?

 

These are the questions that you need to ask when understanding how to plan activities for preschoolers that integrate ICT in early childhood education. We have incorporated developmentally appropriate activities and learning experiences in our lesson plans for early childhood education, available to members of the ICT in Education Teacher Academy.

 

Continuing on from the key question about ‘How to plan activities for preschoolers’ when integrating ICT, you might like to first:

• Read through your plans in advance – Whether you have created them yourself, as you would in our 10+ hour online workshop for preschool teachers, or by reviewing the preschool lesson plans from our short courses in the Academy, it’s worth the effort to look over the lesson plans and write up a supply list so that you know what you will need. Our ICT in Education Teacher Academy membership provides these ready-to-use lesson plans and resources to ensure you have everything you need to successfully integrate ICT.
• Make an inventory of the available technology in your ECE centre – Throughout all our online training for early childhood educators, we encourage the integration of the technology you already have. Make a list of them, whether they are working or non-working, toy technologies, or made technologies by the children themselves. As long as they are authentic and relevant to children’s lives today. Our membership gives you access to expert guidance on how to integrate and make the best use of the technology in your classroom.
• Gather all the materials you will need – There is nothing worse than planning to do a fun activity, telling the children about it, having them get excited about it, and then realizing you don’t have what you are after. The ICT in Education Teacher Academy offers practical resources and lesson plans that help you prepare with everything you need in advance.
• Do a pre-lesson – If it’s a new early learning activity, this is great to consider. The ICT in Education Teacher Academy ensures that you are well-prepared for any new activities through our training materials and planning resources.

 

By joining the ICT in Education Teacher Academy, you gain access to not just ready-to-use lesson plans for early childhood education, but also comprehensive professional development resources to help you integrate ICT effectively into your teaching. Our membership provides support for both your immediate lesson planning needs and long-term professional growth

 

 

 

Critically Reflecting on Learning

As with any lesson plans for preschool teachers, our resources are designed to be flexible, and we understand that they may need adaptation to fit your unique classroom dynamics. It’s essential for you to critically reflect on each lesson and continuously learn from your experiences so that every child gets the most out of their time in your care. Lesson plans for early childhood education should not only address developmental milestones but also incorporate important lessons on behavioral values, basic ethics, and social skills. While our plans are crafted with the holistic development of the child in mind, it’s up to you to adapt them to suit your specific circumstances and the individual needs of the children in your classroom—after all, you know your students best.

 

Our online professional development plan for early childhood educators supports this process by encouraging you to engage in ongoing reflection. By completing our online training and submitting a detailed reflection, you’ll have the opportunity to critically examine and discuss how you are integrating ICT resources with young children. This process not only helps you grow as an educator but also ensures that you are continually improving your practice. The ICT in Education Teacher Academy membership is specifically designed to guide you through this journey, aligning with the APST standard descriptors 2.6.2 and 3.4.2, and providing the structure you need to implement effective ICT strategies in your classroom.

 

By joining our membership, you gain access to a range of lesson plans for preschool teachers that prioritize child development and early childhood education lesson plans that support both ICT integration and your ongoing professional growth. These tools will help you foster an engaging learning environment while continuously reflecting and improving on your teaching practice.

 

 

Developing a Plan for Supporting ICT Capability in ECE

If you're looking to start or deepen the integration of ICT into the play and learning processes of children at your ECE centre, then the ICT in Education Teacher Academy membership is exactly what you need. Our professional development plan for early childhood educators is designed to support you at every step of the way. By joining, you will gain access to expertly developed lesson plans for early childhood education that are tailored to help you integrate ICT into your daily teaching practices, while enhancing your overall educational approach.

 

The professional development goals for early childhood educators embedded in our Academy’s online workshops are designed to guide you through each stage of ICT integration:

• Developing Staff Potential – We offer two educational paths: Discovery and Integrating ICT. Each path focuses on building digital literacy and utilizing available technology in the classroom. Through these paths, you will develop your ICT capabilities, gaining a strong understanding of how to use ICT to enhance young children’s learning. Additionally, you will learn practical skills to effectively implement these tools and make the most of the technology at your disposal.

• Classifying Your Position – If you are an ECE centre that has already started integrating ICT into your learning activities, you likely understand the importance of technology in early childhood education. However, if you’re looking to make the process more effective and impactful, it’s crucial to assess where you currently stand. Our professional development plan for early childhood educators will help you analyze your centre’s progress, providing insight into the key aspects of the process. This will allow you to identify areas for growth and improvement, making your ICT integration more streamlined and purposeful.

• Setting Up Your Goals and Objectives – Successful integration of ICT requires clear direction. Our membership ensures that you can set meaningful goals and objectives for your ICT journey, helping you understand not only why you want to integrate technology, but also how to effectively achieve it. You will learn to define success and track your progress, ensuring a successful transition to a more tech-integrated learning environment.

 

By joining the ICT in Education Teacher Academy, you’ll gain access to these resources and much more, equipping you with everything needed to make ICT a seamless and effective part of your ECE centre. Our membership provides ongoing support to help you reach your professional development goals, implement ICT strategies, and enhance the learning experience for both educators and students.

 

 

Professional Development: Supporting Growth in Early Childhood Education

Ongoing professional development is crucial for early childhood educators to stay current with new practices and strategies in child development. At the ICT in Education Teacher Academy, we provide educators with the tools they need to enhance their teaching through continuous professional learning. Our professional development goals for early childhood educators are embedded in everything we do, helping teachers align their personal growth with the needs of their classrooms.

 

Through our professional development plan for early childhood educators, teachers can set clear, actionable goals for their professional growth. Our ECE workbook helps educators reflect on their practice, identify areas for improvement, and develop strategies to achieve their goals. The workbook is structured to help educators track their progress and provide guidance on how to adjust their teaching strategies based on the latest research in early childhood development.

 

Our membership offers a unique opportunity for educators to engage in continuous professional development through workshops, lesson plans, and resources designed to improve both their practice and their students’ learning outcomes. The ECE workshop on planning and programming is an essential part of this, giving educators the structured support they need to design and implement effective, developmentally appropriate programs. This workshop covers everything from short term planning to long term educational goals, and is a vital resource for creating lesson plans for preschool teachers and early childhood education lesson plans that align with curriculum standards and meet children's developmental needs.

 

Done-for-You Lesson Plans for Preschool Teachers

One of the most valuable resources we offer through our membership is done-for-you lesson plans for preschool teachers. These lesson plans for early childhood education are designed to save time and support educators in delivering developmentally appropriate activities that engage children and promote learning.

 

Our lesson plans for preschool teachers are flexible, allowing educators to tailor them to meet the specific needs of their students. Each plan includes activity examples for early years, along with clear learning goals and objectives that align with educational standards. These lesson plans cover a variety of subjects, from math and literacy to arts and social skills, and are designed to help teachers foster creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills in young children.

 

These lesson plans not only save teachers time but also ensure that every activity is purposeful and aligned with curriculum goals, enhancing the overall quality of education in early childhood settings.

 

 

Educators looking for lesson plans for early childhood education, activity plan examples for early years, or activities and learning experiences in ECD programs know one thing—planning can feel overwhelming without the right structure. Downloadable PDFs and Pinterest ideas often lack intentional learning goals, differentiation, or digital integration.

 

This is where the ICT in Education Teacher Academy membership becomes essential.

Inside the membership, you don’t just receive a list of preschool lesson plan ideas—you gain access to a complete planning and reflection system. Through our workbook, done-for-you lesson plans, community collaboration, and tools like the Wisdom Tool and Observation Guides, your approach to planning becomes structured, purposeful, and professionally rewarding.

 

 

 

 

Your Ideal Professional Development Plan for Early Childhood Education

A growing number of early childhood educators are asking the important question: "What should a professional development plan for early childhood educators look like?" According to KU Children's Services, "a well-thought-out professional development plan is a key pathway to success" (source).

 

But building a plan from scratch can be overwhelming. Many educators aren’t sure where to start, what to include, or how to make it relevant to both their day-to-day practice and long-term goals.

 

The ICT in Education Teacher Academy membership solves this problem by offering a ready-to-use, structured, and meaningful alternative: the membership workbook. It acts as a built-in professional development plan that supports teachers across all levels of experience.

 

 

 

 

What Is a Professional Development Plan for Early Childhood Educators?

A professional development plan (PDP) for early childhood educators is a structured roadmap that:

• Sets professional learning goals

• Identifies areas for growth or improvement

• Outlines action steps and relevant training

• Encourages reflection and self-assessment

• Tracks evidence of learning

• Aligns with standards like EYLF and the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (APST)

According to the Guide to Effective Professional Development in Early Childhood Education (source), effective PD is sustained, evidence-based, and includes feedback and reflection mechanisms.

PDP ELEMENT	WORKBOOK FEATURE
Goal Setting	Goal-setting pages prompt educators to define clear, measurable objectives
Action Planning	Lesson Planning Templates (pg. 114) help break down goals into practical steps
Reflection	Structured Critical Reflection and Workshop Logs prompt ongoing learning
Documentation	Built-in CPD logs to track hours and professional learning outcomes
Alignment with EYLF & APST	Templates pre-aligned to learning outcomes and teaching standards
Evidence Collection	Space to include photos, lesson outcomes, and digital artefacts
Measuring Growth	TPACK radar chart tracks your growth in pedagogical, technological, and content knowledge
Community Learning & Feedback	Community forum and Wisdom Tool provide immediate support and idea-sharing

 

By integrating these elements into a single tool, the workbook becomes more than just a tracker—it becomes a living, working plan.

 

 

👉 CLICK HERE TO SEE OUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS (MEMBERSHIP WORKBOOK!)

 

Real Impact: A Professional Development Plan That Drives Change

Many educators begin their journey in the membership looking for practical ideas, like lesson plans and ICT activities. But what they discover is that these resources are part of a much larger process of transformation.

Instead of simply downloading and using a plan, members:

1. Set professional intentions using the goal-setting tools in the workbook.

2. Use the Lesson Planning Template to align with EYLF outcomes and prepare digital-rich learning experiences.

3. Implement the activity, documenting how children responded and what skills were developed.

4. Reflect using community prompts and receive ideas for differentiation, extension, or adaptation.

5. Track CPD hours and add visual or narrative evidence to the CPD tracker.

6. Monitor their growth with the TPACK radar chart, comparing where they started to where they are now.

 

This step-by-step cycle supports ongoing professional development instead of one-off workshops that lack follow-up.

 

Comparison: Traditional PD Plan vs. Membership Workbook

Aspect	PD Plan	Membership Workbook
Structure	Often vague or self-directed	Templates and tools offer step-by-step guidance
Flexibilty	May require adapting to set offerings	Designed to adapt to your classroom, your goals
Evidnece Collection	Manual, inconsistent	Photos, reflections, CPD logs all in one place
Reflection	Rarely structured	Guided reflection questions throughout the workbook
Support	External or disconnected	Real-time feedback from peers and access to the Wisdom Tool
Growth Monitoring	Difficult to visualise	TPACK radar chart shows measurable progression
Alignment with standards	Requires extra effort	Already built in (EYLF, APST, ICT Capability)

 

Why This Matters for You and Your Children

When your professional development plan is practical, flexible, and built into your teaching journey, it stops being an obligation and becomes a source of clarity and confidence. You don’t just grow as an educator—you create learning environments that are more responsive, inclusive, and tech-integrated.

With the ICT in Education Teacher Academy membership, you're not just planning for professional development. You're living it.

 

Ready to take control of your professional learning journey?

Start with a system that works for you, your students, and your future.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Using Professional Goals to Strengthen Planning in ECE

 

What Are Professional Goals in Early Childhood Education?

Professional goals in early childhood education are intentional, measurable objectives that guide an educator’s practice and growth. These include both personal goals for early childhood educators (such as improving classroom management or developing confidence with digital tools) and broader goals for ECE teachers aligned with curriculum and pedagogical frameworks.

 

Examples of early childhood education goals include:

• Enhancing ICT integration in lesson planning

• Strengthening reflective practice

• Building stronger relationships with families

• Using technology to promote creativity and learning

 

According to Storypark, setting professional goals for early childhood educators supports ongoing development and helps educators align their planning with quality standards and frameworks like the EYLF and APST (source).

 

 

 

How the Membership Workbook Supports Early Childhood Education Goals

The ICT in Education Teacher Academy workbook provides a structured approach to planning that transforms these goals from ideas into action. Inside the membership, planning isn’t just a task—it’s a professional learning process powered by:

• Clear milestone tracking

• Goal-setting tools

• Reflection prompts

• CPD logs

• Standards alignment

Whether you’re focused on curriculum delivery or personal improvement, the workbook helps you set, implement, and reflect on meaningful early childhood education goals.

 

 

Turning the Success Path into Professional Goals for ECE Teachers

The Success Path in the membership isn’t just a teaching model—it’s a professional goal-setting tool in itself. Each stage is mapped out with clear milestones and corresponding action steps that members can work toward. These are not abstract ideas. They are practical goals that support day-to-day classroom planning and provide evidence of professional growth. As members move through the stages, they don’t just complete tasks—they develop habits, transform teaching practices, and build confidence in using ICT purposefully and reflectively.

 

Success Path Milestone Area	Example of a Professional Goal & Action Step
Planning with Digital Tools	Set the goal: “Use the Lesson Planning Template to plan one ICT-integrated activity.” → Action: Implement it with children and reflect using the workbook.
Differentiation Strategies	Goal: “Apply tiered instruction for a group activity using the ICT Differentiation Chart.” → Action: Document outcomes and adjust support levels.
Pedagogical Practice	Goal: “Trial a digital resource to enhance oral language in small group learning.” → Action: Use reflection prompts to evaluate effectiveness.
Reflection and Review	Goal: “Use the Reflection Log to evaluate a tech-based lesson.” → Action: Update the plan for next week based on children’s responses.
Collaborative Learning	Goal: “Ask a planning-related question in the member community.” → Action: Implement one suggestion and share feedback.
Documentation and Evidence	Goal: “Upload one artefact to the CPD tracker each month.” → Action: Use it for evidence of growth during staff reviews or accreditation.

 

These milestones are more than checklists. They are effective goals for early childhood educators because they provide a clear pathway from planning to action, and from action to transformation. Within the ICT in Education Teacher Academy, these goals help members continuously improve their planning, reflect deeply, and ultimately build a classroom culture that embraces digital learning with confidence.

 

 

Setting TPACK-Informed Personal Goals for Early Childhood Educators

Another powerful feature of the workbook is its TPACK Growth section, which helps teachers set and track personal goals for early childhood educators related to:

• Technological Knowledge (TK)

• Pedagogical Knowledge (PK)

• Content Knowledge (CK)

TPACK Goal Examples:

• TK: Learn how to operate and apply a new digital tool in a lesson this term.

• PK: Integrate a digital literacy strategy during storytelling and monitor engagement.

• CK: Use drawing software to explore shapes as part of early numeracy learning.

These goals not only support planning but help educators grow across all dimensions of professional competence.

 

 

Aligning Early Childhood Education Goals with the APST

The workbook includes dedicated templates to help educators align their professional goals for early childhood educators with the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (APST). Here are a few examples:

 

APST Focus Area	Goal Example Using the Workbook
1.5 Differentiate Teaching	Plan and record differentiated ICT tasks using the ICT Levels of Differentiation template
2.6 Use ICT in Teaching	Implement an ICT-rich lesson and reflect on outcomes using the Observation Guide
3.6 Evaluate and Improve Practice	Complete a post-activity reflection using the workbook and adjust planning accordingly
6.2 Engage in Professional Learning	Log CPD hours and reflect on a completed workshop using the Membership Content Log
7.4 Engage with Professional Networks	Participate in community discussions and incorporate shared ideas into your planning

 

These examples highlight that your goals as a member are not only embedded in everyday practice—they’re also connected to national teaching expectations and continuous professional learning standards.

 

 

Final Thoughts: Why Planning with Goals Matters

Why is planning important in early childhood education? Because planning that is connected to professional goals empowers educators to:

• Teach with clarity and purpose

• Reflect meaningfully on their practice

• Grow professionally in a structured and supported way

 

The ICT in Education Teacher Academy makes this possible. Instead of setting vague goals, members:

• Define professional learning objectives using workbook tools

• Take action through lesson implementation

• Reflect with evidence and community support

• Align practice with national teaching standards

• Follow milestone-based goals that lead to professional transformation

 

If you're ready to turn planning into real progress, the Success Path milestones provide a clear and achievable roadmap. Each step you take brings you closer to a more intentional, confident, and ICT-integrated teaching practice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

How Our Membership Supports Early Childhood Education Planning

By becoming a member of the ICT in Education Teacher Academy, you gain access to a comprehensive set of resources designed to support both lesson planning and professional growth. Our membership includes:

• Done-for-you lesson plans that save time and support high-quality teaching.
• Professional development resources to help you set and achieve your professional development goals for early childhood educators.
• ECE workshops, including a specialized workshop on planning and programming, to provide ongoing learning opportunities for teachers to refine their skills and knowledge.
• Support for planning activities for preschoolers and implementing them in a way that aligns with developmental milestones.

Join today for just $20 AUD per month or $200 AUD per year (2 months free). Unlock the tools, lesson plans, and professional development opportunities that will help you create engaging, developmentally appropriate learning experiences for your students and enhance your teaching practice.