Preschool Curriculum
Your children learn life’s most valuable lessons through play. With this understanding, we have supplemented your child’s curriculum with hands-on materials which the children manipulate themselves. With the teacher’s supervision, children are learning concepts as patterning and measuring, estimation, counting, number words, beginning and ending, sounds, more and less, comparisons and much, much more. The materials which the children are using to learn these concepts are bright, colorful and age-appropriate. At Los Altos United Methodist Preschool our curriculum is theme based with focus on the following areas:
Circle Time:Circle time is a time if the day when the children gather at the carpet for a fun and special time of learning. There are several circle times each day. Activities that take place during “rug time” are: story time, topic of the week, skill development, opposites, sizes, manners, comparison, health practices, sequencing, vocabulary expansion, alphabet and number reviews. These are all teacher directed activities.
Creative Art: Paper, magazines, scissors, markers, crayons are provided every day. A teacher directed art activity is provided every day which will reflect the theme. Children also have the opportunity to create their own, individual art.
Dramatic Play: The dramatic play center is a place for imagination. The children enjoy dressing up and role playing in this center. The children have access to hats, shoes, jewelry, play money, telephones, food, dishes and baby dolls.
Language & Library: Literature is a very important part of our day. The children are read to and encouraged to take part in daily library time. Using flashcards, felt stories, ABC crafts and songs, children learn letter recognition and letter sound.
Math & Manipulatives: Numbers are introduced in age appropriate ways through class time projects and activities such as sorting, counting objects, charting and writing. Number sense is also developed through incidental learning that goes on in the classrooms.
Music & Movement: Music is explored every day in many ways. Musical instruments are found in each classroom. Songs are taught during rug time. Tapes and CD’s are often played. All styles of music are introduced and explores. Exercise is another part of music time. The children have an opportunity every day to move and work out to music.
Outside Activity: Outside time is a great time for children to work on their fine motor skills through hopping, skipping, jumping, basketball, bikes, balancing, running and other sports. Children also have access to blocks, bubbles, jump ropes and art materials.
Praise Time: Each Wednesday and Thursday the classes gather in the chapel for fun and fellowship. This special time is called “Praise time”. A member of the church clergy leads us in various songs, finger plays, stories and activities. Praise songs and prayers of thanksgiving are said before snack and lunch daily. This special time of worship and praise is an introduction to Gods’ Word.
Science & Sensory: The science center holds such items as magnifying glasses, shells, rocks, plants, classroom pets and several other items the children can explore and touch.
LAUM Preschool Curriculum
Prepared by LAUMPS Staff
September *Getting to know you February *Things To Know
Week 1. Back To School Week 1. Kitchen Capers
Week 2. Apples All Around Week 2. Love Is All Around
Week 3. Five Senses Week 3. American Heroes
Week 4. All About Me Week 4. Fun With Balls
October *Things Around Me March *Animals On Parade
Week 1. Community Helpers Week 1. At The Zoo
Week 2. Transportation Week 2. Rainforest Friends
Week 3. Safety First Week 3. Ocean Creatures
Week 4. Autumn Time Week 4. Loving Our Pets
Week 5. Halloween
November *Autumn Fun April *I Love Nature
Week 1. Large Farm Animals Week 1. Rain, Rainbows And Flowers
Week 2. Small Farm Animals Week 2. Easter
Week 3. Harvest Time Week 3. All About Our Earth
Week 4. Thanksgiving Week 4. Insects
December *Winter Wonderland May *Fun With Learning
Week 1. Winter Animals Week 1. Mixing Colors
Week 2. Cultures Around The World Week 2. Pairs And Matching
Week 3. Christmas Week 3. Opposites Attract
Week 4. Numbers And Letters
January *Helping Me Grow June *Almost Summer
Week 1. My Body Week 1. All About Summer
Week 2. Healthy Food Week 2. Frogs and Toads
Week 3. Brushing My Teeth
Week 4. Music Appreciation June, July and August is
TOADally Extreme Explorers