CurriculumbartPreK

PRE K

Ages 4 To 5 years

Below are the program goals for children in our Preschool
Program. Generally by the end of this stage, children may be
able To do the following:

Emotional Development

•   Dress and undress self with assistance in some areas,
    such as tying, snapping and buttoning
•   Care for own possessions and those belonging To the
    group most of the time
•   Place some toys, materials, etc., in their proper
    places without constant reminders
•   Learn and accept new routines and changes
•   Deal with emotions in a developmentally appropriate
    way, most of the time
•   Respond To redirection from staff in a constructive
    way, most of the time

Social Development & Living

•   Understand and participate as a cooperative
    member of a small group, most of the time
•   Share toys and equipment, most of the time
•   Make the choice between working alone and in
    groups and be able To do both at different times
•   Cooperate in some group activities and projects
•   Categorize people, places, events and objects in
    terms of whether they belong at child care or home
•   Identify various kinds of transportation
•   Understand and participate in the celebration of
    some national holidays

Physical Development / Gross Motor

•   Perform motor skills including sliding, leaping,
    stopping and running
•   Walk a balance beam
•   Catch a small ball (e.g. softball, tennis ball, etc.)
•   Perform physical fitness exercises such as bending,
    stretching, reaching, relaxing and breathing, etc
•   Talk about why exercise is important and helps us
    grow (e.g. muscles, bones, etc.)
•   Use large muscle equipment (e.g. tricycle, slides, etc.)

Fine Motor

•   Use scissors and cut simple patterns
•   Use small paint brushes and narrow line markers
•   Glue or paste small objects in simple patterns
•   Copy a triangle
•   Assemble an 8-11 piece puzzle

Cognitive Development / Concept Development

•   Recognize basic colors: red, blue, yellow, green,
    orange, purple, white, brown and black
•   Identify similarities and differences of common
    objects on the basis of color
•   In addition To identifying a circle, square and
    triangle, identify a rectangle
•   Determine relative size of three objects in terms of
    big, bigger, biggest and small, smaller, smallest
•   Identify similarities and differences of common
    objects according To their size and shape (e.g.
    tall/short tree, big/little dog, etc.)
•   Develop an awareness of our five senses
•   Follow a sequence of at least three directions

Verbal and Written Language

•   Recognize and say personal information such as
    home address and telephone number
•   Give simple directions
•   Make up a story
•   Tell a version of a familiar story (e.g. The Three
    Bears, etc.)
•   Speak in complete sentences
•   Follow simple instructions
•   Ask for help when needed
•   Incorporate new words learned into everyday
    vocabulary (e.g. from curriculum and daily living,
    etc.)
•   Name basic objects and ideas that are important To
    daily routine (e.g. bathroom, front door, etc.)

Reading Readiness & Literature

•   Name some letters of the alphabet (e.g. upper and
    lower case)
•   Recognize some sight words in environment (e.g.
    stop, exit, etc.)
•   Listen and enjoy being read To
•   Answer basic content questions about stories a
    child has heard
•   Relate the endings of familiar stories (e.g. Peter
    Rabbit, etc.)
•   Name and tell about characters in stories
•   Recite one or two simple poems or rhymes
•   Relate basic cause and effect from a story child has
    heard

Science

•   Participate in planting seeds and caring for growing
    plants
•   Learn about some basic changes, such as ice melting,
    water boiling
•   Construct simple structures using blocks and other
    building materials
•   Experience and talk about weather changes in a
    simple way (e.g. clouds and rain, cold and snow, etc.)
•   Practice basic habits for good health (e.g. wash
    hands, brush teeth, blow nose, etc.)
•   Help prepare and tell about healthy foods

Premath Skills

•   Rote count from 1-20
•   Recognize most numerals from 1-10
•   Set enough snacks or other objects on a table for at
    least eight children
•   Identify sets of 0 To 5 objects
•   Identify objects in terms of relative size (e.g. bigger
    than, smaller than or same size as)
•   Match a number of objects To corresponding items

Art, Music & Movement

•   Use and care for various art materials, including
    crayons, paste, chalk, clay, finger paints, paint and
    pencils
•   Use additional art techniques, including drawing,
    collage, painting, printmaking and simple
    construction
•   Use simple art forms To entertain self and others
   (e.g. movement, painting, drama, etc.)
•   Identify simple songs and instruments
•   Talk about how various songs make him/her feel
   (e.g. sad, happy, etc.)
•   Participate in a variety of music activities
•   Use free-form movement and/or exercise in response
    To music