DePaul University Exploring Perspectives on Child Development: A Comparison of Piaget and Erikson

Early Childhood Theorist Compare/Contrast Assignment

You will complete an assignment comparing and contrasting TWO early childhood theorists. Please use the attached chart to complete the assignment. One of the theorists MUST be one of the following:

Piaget

OR 

Vygotsky

The other theorist can be any one of the ones mentioned in the book (Montessori, Erikson, etc.). Do NOT choose Freud as one of your theorists.

Once you have selected two theorists, complete a write-up that answers the following questions:

1. Who are the two theorists that you chose?
2. What time period did each theorist live in?
3. How did each theorist view child development/growth/education? (Do a separate bullet point for each theorist. Be specific)
4. What activities and practices in modern classrooms reflect the ideas of these theorists? (Do a separate bullet point for each theorist. Be specific.)
5. Summarize the similarities and differences of each theorist. Name at least three similarities and/or differences (Combination of both- either two differences and one similarity or two similarities and one difference).