Early Childhood Education History Timeline "Morrison, George S. "Chapter 3: History and Theories: Foundations for Teaching and Learning." Fundamentals of Early Childhood Education. 7th ed. Upper Saddle River: Pearson, 2013. 70-107. Print."

Martin Luther (1483-1546)

Mar 16, 1483

Martin Luther emphasized the need to establish schools to teach children how to read. Luther believed that the scriptures in the Bible would help liberate people. This would require that people would have to learn how to read the Bible in their own language. He translated the Bible to German, which peaked the teaching and learning in peoples native languages.

John Comenius (1592-1670)

Mar 16, 1592

Comenius wrote Orbis Pictus, which was the first picture book for children He believed that early experiences shaped how a child would be. John Comenius believed that sensory education forms basis for all learning and everything should be taught through senses.

Johann Pestalozzi (1746-1827)

Mar 16, 1746

Johann Pestalozzi believed that education should follow the course of nature. Pestalozzi also believed that education is based on sensory impressions and that through natural experiences, children can achieve their natural potential. Pestalozzi came up with "object lessons" which encouraged activities such as counting, measuring, feeling, and touching.

Robert Owen (1771-1858)

Mar 16, 1771

Robert Owen believed children's environments contribute to their beliefs, behavior, and achievements. He supported that individuals and society can use environments to shape children's character. In 1816, Owen opened up an infant school in New Lanark, Scotland which was to provide care for about a hundred children ages eighteen months to ten years.

Friedrich Froebel (1782-1852)

Mar 16, 1782

Friedrich Frobel is known as the "father of kindergarten". Froebel's concept of learning is based on part of the idea of unfolding. Froebel compared the child to a seed that is planted, germinates, brings a new shoot and grows from a young plant, to a plant that is fruit-producing. In addition, he compared the role of a teacher to a gardener. Froebel believed that development occured through self-activity and play.

Maria Montessori (1870-1982)

Mar 16, 1870

Maria Montessori became interested in educational solutions for problems such as deafness, paralysis, mental retardation. Montessori believed that knoweledge comes from sensory experiences and that prepared learning environments are important for learning. Montessori also presumed that respect for children is the foundation for teaching.

Urie Bronfenbrenner (1917-2005)

Mar 16, 1917

Bronfenbrenner came up with an ecological theory that looks at children's development within the context of the systems of relationships that creates their enviornments. The environmental systems include microsystem, mesosytem, exosystem, macrosystem and chronosystem. Each of these systems influences one another.

Erik Erikson (1902-1994)

Mar 16, 1994

Erikson believed that cognitive development occurs with conjunction to social development which was known as the Theory of psychosocial development. He also believed that the way parents and teacher interact with children and care for them would help with their cognitive and emotional development.