Four Year Old Curriculum / Goals
When you walk into our classroom, you'll immediately see see that our students want to learn, and want to experiment because that is how the minds of children are formed and because that is what our environment and teachers nurture everyday. The children do not view school as a chore, or hard work to be avoided. They look at school as a place where their questions will be answered, where their ideas will be valued, where they can have fun and learn all at the same time.
Our curriculum is developed through teacher observation and evaluation of each child. Concepts and skills are introduced which are appropriate to each child's development, and which reinforce social, emotional, physical, and intellectual growth. Concrete, hands-on-approach activities and experiences are planned according to a calendar of themes and units which are relevant to the children, providing meaningful learning.
Whether it is block building, growing butterflies, or exploring the world around them, they are learning in a way that is meaningful, and therefore, likely to be remembered far beyond the school's door.
Here is an overview of the four-year-old curriculum and goals that is taught in a fun and meaningful approach:
Reading Readiness Skills:
- Enjoys listening to stories and poems for longer periods of time.
- Recalling basics facts about stories.
- Introduction to the letters and sounds of the alphabet.
- Learn to print own first name.
- Understands that words are written using letters.
- Understands that print communicates information.
- Drawing (will help children to write more easily, effectively,
- and more confidently later on).
- Counting
- Recognizing numerals 1-10.
- Comparing things-More or less, same or different, biggest or smallest, longest or shortest.
- Matching like objects.
- Sequencing
- Grouping objects that are alike.
- Recognizing shapes and colors.
- Understanding of time (yesterday, today, tomorrow, and days of the week.)
- Observing or discussing living organisms such insects, animals, and plant life.
- Growing butterflies and plants.
- Studying the Solar System.
- Weather
- Observing nature.
- Communicates needs, and feelings verbally.
- Follows simple directions.
- Listens to stories being read.
- Answers simple questions about the story.
- Makes up pretend stories.
- Places story events in correct order.
- Recognizing rhyming words.
Social Skills:
- Becoming confident enough to explore and try new things.
- Plays and gets along with other children.
- Learning to work with others.
- Learning to take part in group activities.
- Learning to share and take turns.
- Learning to sit quietly and pay attention.
- Glues things on paper.
- Molds with play dough.
- Opens and closes buttons, snaps, and zippers.
- Stacks and builds with blocks.
- Puts together puzzles.
- Draws with a pencil, colors with a crayon, and paints with a brush.
- Copies letters and cuts with a scissors.
- Runs, skip and jump.
- Throws, catches, bounces and kicks a ball.
- Climbs on big toys.
- Pedals a bike.
- Walks up and down stairs.