Jesus Time

Daily Bible lessons for the young child center on Jesus as our Savior and stress that God loves and cares for us. Teachers use Voyages, an age appropriate, Bible-based preschool religion curriculum. Songs, prayers, fingerplays, flannel graphs, videos, cassettes, CD’s, puppets, and other aids are used daily in classroom instruction.

Art

Through process art children experience textures, colors, patterns, and natural properties which develop visual sensory capabilities and motor skills. Art activities include cutting, gluing, coloring, painting, collaging, play dough, and more.

Music/Movement

Children experience the joy of music both in listening and moving. Experiences with body movement activities such as rhythm and creative movement will develop self expression and an awareness of themselves and others. Songs, singing, playing instruments, and singing games are an integral part of the curriculum.

Science

Children become aware of the wonders of God’s great creation through exploration, questioning and using the basics of the scientific method to observe, identify, test, and predict. All experiences are hands-on learning.

Math

Children experience simple number concepts, learn sequences of numbers, begin to develop an understanding of measurement as comparisons of weight, size, quantity, time and space, and recognize simple geometric shapes. Blocks, puzzles, toys, and learning games are used daily.

Dramatic Play

Acting out feelings and emotions through role playing help develop social and language skills as the children interact with others. Dress up clothes and dramatic play toys enhance play with peers.

Motor Development

Large motor activities such as climbing, running, ball play, jumping, skipping, and parachute play, etc. will help develop coordination and strength in muscles along with self confidence. Table toys and activities that encourage sorting, cutting with scissors, matching, coloring, drawing,

and decision-making tasks will strengthen fine motor skills and confidence in the child’s ability.

Story and Circle Time

Children experience a broad spectrum of genre during story time while developing listening skills and an appreciation for varied literary styles. Activities at circle time include routine, “helper chart” duties, finger plays, songs, and various theme-related events. Children learn to

develop their attention span and to participate in a group setting.

Technology



Use of Mini-ipads:

- Discovery

-Task Endurance

-Connections

-Articulation of Strategies

-Collaboration

-Guided Purposeful Instruction

Specific application objectives

1. Students respond to a reading selection read by the teacher, by drawing a picture, and
   then recording their thoughts. They play back the recording while looking at their drawing.

2.  Students match parts of a whole while completing a word of three syllables. Students check their responses by listening to their entry.

3.  When presented four items, students discern which one doesn’t belong and articulates
a reason why it doesn’t belong.

 4.  Students match sounds with letters, and lower case letters with upper case letters.

 5.  Students are presented with items to compare “same” and “different”.

 6.  Students put letters together purposefully and articulate why they choose each letter.
They are encouraged to build endurance of progressive task challenges.



Reasons for COOKING each week:

a. Literacy
Cooking experiences provide a natural way for children to learn new vocabulary– as you talk together about the ingredients you are using, cooking processes and changes observed, they are being introduced to new words and their meanings. Reading the recipe aloud to the children and referring back to it as you cook teaches the children about one of the important purposes of literacy –to provide instruction or information.

b. Food knowledge
Cooking together provides a wonderful opportunity to talk informally with the children about types and origins of food, food production and nutrition. Being involved in food preparation, talking about and handling food can also bewonderful for encouraging a child to be more adventurous when it comes to trying new foods

c. Brain development
Sensory experiences are wonderful for brain development and cooking with the children engages all of their senses – seeing, hearing, smelling, touching, and (most fabulously)
tasting!



d. Motor skills
Stirring, whisking, chopping, peeling, beating, kneading, tenderising – all of these cooking processes provide the opportunity to develop physical skills –both fine (fingers, hands and co-ordination) and gross (arm and body) motor skills.





e. Mathematical concepts
Cooking experiences provide a hands-on, contextual way to introduce mathematical concepts to children and being actively involved within a meaningful context is important when it comes to early learning. Especially with abstract concepts such as those related to measurement, number and sequencing.





f. Self esteem
Children feel a real sense of achievement when they have the opportunity to serve food they have helped to prepare to family and friends.



g. Developing life skills
Cooking is such a useful life skill and involving them in the kitchen regularly from a young age is a big step towards developing future independence.

h. It’s fun!
Need I say more