Adapted by:Paula DavenportMiranda LeicklyBeth Sigurdson
“The paradoxical goal of raising children is that we hold them close so that they have the
confidence to move away from us.”
- Dr. Jef van Kuyk
About Pyramid
• Created by Dr. Jef van Kuyk in the Netherlands in 1994
• Holistic and balanced• Helps teachers:
– Understand short and long term cycles of learning
– Plan– Be more effective in
broadening and deepening children’s learning
Pyramid in Action
• Educational method for children between the ages of three to six
• Schedule:– Three-year-olds:
• At least four mornings or afternoons of preschool a week
– Four to six year olds:• Five days a week
• Favorable teacher-child ratio (1:12)– Tutor available as preventative
measure• Strong parental involvement– Parents engage in similar
activities at home as children do in school
Interactive Storytelling
Step One – Orientation
Interactive Storytelling
Step Two – Demonstration
Interactive Storytelling
Step Three – Broadening
Interactive Storytelling
Step Four – Deepening
Philosophy• Education is the responsibility of
the adult – Adult tends to and protects the
child on course toward self-determination
• The adult:– Remains close to the vulnerable
child who is unable to perform daily tasks on his or her own
– Simultaneously encourages the child to move away from the adult • Risk-taking to explore the world
around them
Four Cornerstones
Method Content
1. Emotional Intelligence2. Physical Intelligence3. Cognitive Intelligence
Pyramid Programs
• Play program• Projects– Orientation– Demonstration– Broadening– Deepening
• Tutoring program• Parent program
ProjectsPyramid projects offer children a structured environment– Each project book contains 12
projects– Projects last about 3-4 weeks– Books follow a sequential
developmental line– Projects contain the following
sections: • Learning framework• Optimizing children’s development
through their own initiative and the teacher’s initiative
• Promoting parent partnerships through authentic involvement
• Planning• Resources• Proactive tutoring
References• Pyramid Post. (2006). In D. Neubauer-van Dijk (Ed.), Cito USA. Retrieved
March 20, 2009, from http://www.cito.com• Roopnarine, J. L., & Johnson, J. E. (2005). Approached to early childhood
education (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill Prentice Hall.• Smith, C. G. (2008). Inspired cognition: A revolutionary four-step process.
Interactive storytelling. Symposium conducted at the NESA Winter Training Institute. Retrieved from www.nesacenter.org/storage/content-pages/conferences/wti-2008/Interactive_Storytelling.doc
• van Kuyk, J. (2001, June 1). Pyramid Educational Method for 3 to 6-Year-Old Children: Theory and Research. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED455005) Retrieved March 25, 2009, from ERIC database.
• van Kuyk, J., & Centraal Inst. voor Toetsonwikkeling, A. (1997, September 1). The Pyramid Project. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED420369) Retrieved March 24, 2009, from ERIC database.