Final answer:
Friedrich Froebel's curriculum consisted of play-based learning encapsulated by the use of Froebel Gifts, creative activities like singing and dancing, and a focus on nurturing children's holistic development.
Step-by-step explanation:
Friedrich Froebel is best known as the creator of the concept of the kindergarten, and his curriculum was revolutionary in early childhood education. Froebel's curriculum emphasized the importance of play and nurturing children's emotional and spiritual needs along with their intellectual growth. Integral to his method were the Froebel Gifts, a series of educational play materials, including geometric building blocks and pattern activity forms, designed to teach children about forms and concepts in nature and the human-made world. These were supplemented by occupations that included activities such as sewing, weaving, and modeling with clay that mirrored Froebel's understanding of how children learn.
Froebel's approach also included singing, dancing, and gardening, encouraging both self-expression and an appreciation for the interconnectedness of all life. Storytelling and games rounded out the curriculum, as these activities were seen to build social skills as well as intellectual faculties. Important, too, were the roles of the teachers or facilitators, whom Froebel called 'gardeners'. They were charged with guiding, rather than directing, the children to learn through their natural curiosity and active engagement with the environment.
In summary, Froebel's curriculum constituted a holistic approach to early childhood education, seeking to support the harmonious development of a child’s physical, emotional, social, and intellectual capabilities.