About the Program

Every week, each classroom teacher posts a preschool activity lesson plan. The activity plan is organized by the teacher and consists of five different areas of learning. The activities for each of the areas will be based a particular theme. Bright Beginnings provides each classroom with themes, numerous resources and a curriculum geared for each theme. Our highly educated staff is also encouraged to add their own experiences and resources. The areas of learning that are planned each week are as follows.

2021 Pre School Curriculum Specifics

Creative Art Enrichments

Activities using fine motor skills encourage their creative abilities, such as:

  • craft projects
  • easel and finger painting
  • cutting
  • drawing
  • process art

Literacy & Cognitive Enrichment

Activities that develop reading readiness, language and thinking skills, such as:

  • stories
  • flannel board activities
  • “telling time”
  • matching games
  • activities that require responses from the child such as, “What would you do if you were a dog?”
  • group discussions

Music & Movement Enrichment

Activities for following directions develop creativity and listening skills, such as:

  • musical instruments
  • finger plays
  • pretend play
  • exercising, dance, and movement activities
  • games using music, rhythm ribbons, and scarves

Science & Sensory Enrichment

Activities that tap into the natural curiosity. Children learn to observe, question, explore, experiment, predict, and problem solve. Examples include:

  • cooking
  • water, sand, and magnet play
  • simple science and nature experiments

Math Enrichment

Activities focusing on understanding and hands-on experiences, taking into account cognitive development to provide the groundwork and foundation for the future. Examples include:

  • one-to-one correspondence
  • patterns
  • sorting
  • counting
  • number recognition
  • shapes
  • comparisons
  • measurement
  • time
  • money
  • adding and subtracting

Learning Centers

The preschool activity plan also consists of eight specific learning centers. Learning centers are “open” during free-choice play. Children may choose to play alone or with a few friends. These learning centers have a variety of activities and experiences throughout the month.

  • Creative Art Center
  • Block/Building Center
  • Dramatic Play Center
  • Games and Fine Motor Center
  • Math or Writing Center
  • Library/Language Center
  • Listening/Music Center
  • Science/Sensory Center

Developmental Stages

3 AND 4 YEARS

We are learning to be Friends

We begin to…

  • care about others.
  • share toys and take turns.
  • settle our own arguments.

We Have Many Emotional Needs

Sometimes we need help…

  • learning to trust.
  • controlling behavior.
  • learning to be independent.
  • expressing and understanding our feelings.
  • dealing with our fears and remembering our daily routines.

We are Starting to Do Things by Ourselves

We…

  • wash and dry our hands.
  • undress and dress ourselves.
  • know when we need to use the bathroom.
  • pick up and put away our toys.

Our Arms & Leg Muscles are Growing Quickly

We are beginning to…

  • bounce, throw, and catch a ball.
  • hop, jump, and gallop.
  • climb, balance, and ride a tricycle.

We Love Stories & Books

We learn when…

  • you read us books with pictures.
  • you say rhymes and repeating words.
  • you read us the same book over and over.
  • you read us new books and we talk about the stories.
  • we talk about the stories we read and heard.

Soon We Will Be Learning to Read

We..

  • like to see our name in print.
  • can recognize certain words.
  • want to know what words say.
  • are interested in what letters look like.

We are Learning to Respect Ourselves and Others

We need to be reminded…

  • that we are special and to take turns.
  • to be kind and tell the truth.
  • to say “please” and “thank you.”

We Enjoy Lots of Different Things

We really like to …

  • play with “messy stuff” (like play-dough, mud, and glue).
  • sing and dance.
  • play with imaginary friends.
  • pretend to be grown-ups.

We are Learning to Communicate

We…

  • often talk just to talk, using lots of words.
  • can tell you what we want or need.
  • usually speak clearly enough for others to understand.
  • follow simple directions.
  • understand and ask a lot of questions.

We Can Use Our Hands for Lots of Things

We…

  • build with blocks.
  • eat with forks and spoons.
  • use crayons, markers, and scissors.
  • spread food with a knife and “dish up” our own food.

We Think We Can Write

We like to…

  • scribble and draw.
  • pretend we are “grown up” and write like you.
  • find or make letters out of sticks or pretzels.
  • write our own name.

We are Learning About Our World

We begin to…

  • learn our colors and shapes.
  • learn to count and sort objects.
  • learn about concepts like big and small, near and far, same and different.

We like to be with Others

We…

  • like to help.
  • like to play group games.
  • usually share and take turns.
  • value friends.
  • notice that everyone is not the same.

We are Developing a Conscience

We…

  • continue to learn about right and wrong.
  • see our behavior as good or bad.
  • care about others’ feelings.
  • like things to be fair.

We Like to Show You Our New Abilities

We…

  • are getting pretty good at throwing, catching, kicking, and bouncing a ball.
  • can climb, balance, run, hop, gallop, jump, and skip.
  • like doing challenging tricks, so keep an eye on us!
  • are learning to tie our shoes.
  • want to ride a bike.

We are Growing as Communicators

We…

  • can carry on a conversation.
  • can listen and pay attention for longer periods of time.
  • may surprise you with the big words we know.
  • ask questions to get more specific information.

We are Becoming Writers

We…

  • may reverse letters when writing.
  • can write some words but spell many words like they sound.
  • are learning about capital letters and sentences.
  • want to share our stories with you.

We Like to Be Creative and Share Our Creativity With Others

We are able to…

  • create realistic art with different materials.
  • make up songs and dances.
  • act out stories and “put on” shows.
  • tell jokes.

Our Bodies are Growing Fast

We..

  • need both noisy and quiet activities.
  • tire easily but get over it quickly.
  • can get tired even when we sit.
  • can control our fingers better for cutting, drawing, and writing.

Stories and Books are Important to Us

We…

  • need you to read to us every day.
  • like to make up, tell, and write our own stories.
  • often choose books because of the author or subject.

We are Learning to Read

We…

  • know that the words tell the story.
  • may point to words as we read.
  • can read simple stories (but usually use the pictures to help us).
  • know alphabet letters and the sounds they make.

We Are Learning about the World

We…

  • have a daily routine
  • need help selecting appropriate TV shows.
  • are influenced by commercials/advertising.
  • are still learning through hands-on play but can understand many things we cannot see or touch.
  • write numbers but sometimes write them backwards.
  • learn our address, phone number, and birthdate.

We Love to be Hugged and Told “I Love You!” Every Day!

 

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