Danger Zone One

Lesson Plan: Cognitive Theories of Development

Teacher: Anna Keel
Course: Psychology
Topic: Cognitive Theories of Development

Essential Question
How and why does the way we think change as we develop?

Learning Objectives
By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

• Define cognitive development and explain how it changes throughout the lifespan.
• Describe theories of cognitive development and its four stages.
• Explain sociocultural theory of cognitive development.
• Identify similarities and differences between theories.
• Apply cognitive-development theories to examples from everyday life.

Key Vocabulary

• Cognitive development
• Schema
• Assimilation
• Accommodation
• Sensorimotor stage
• Preoperational stage
• Concrete operational stage
• Formal operational stage
• Sociocultural theory
• Zone of proximal development
• Scaffolding

Lesson Sequence

1. Introduction. How people’s thinking and reasoning change over time. Think about something you learned how to do when you were younger. How did you learn it?
2. Four Stages of Development. Sensorimotor, Preoperational, Concrete operational, and Formal operational.
3. Social Interactions and Culture in Cognitive Development. Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) and Scaffolding.
4. Group Activity. Students will divide into small groups to examine several scenarios.
5. Class Discussion. Discuss scenarios as a class.
6. Conclusion. Final thoughts.

Danger Zone One. Story by Midnight. Art by Salaiix.