Overview

The preschool curriculum is taught thematically. Each week, there is a certain topic or theme about which the children learn. Incorporated into each theme are lessons pertaining to each of the following areas: Religion, Language Arts (including handwriting), Math, Music, Physical Education, Science, and Social Studies.

Curriculum 

Religion: 
The CPH curriculum, One in Christ, is used for daily Jesus Time. Jesus Time consists of a weekly Bible story that is enriched with puppets, songs of praise to God, finger plays, and prayers. The children learn to pray for their classmates who are sick, and they branch out to include others in their prayers. They learn to know God the Father as their Creator who will always love them and who sent His Son, Jesus, to die and rise from the dead to take away their sin. The preschoolers are taught to show God’s love to one another and to the world.

Language Arts: 
Literacy is supported in our preschool classrooms by exposing the children to oral and written language. Learning opportunities are provided for the children to increase their listening abilities and their ability to follow simple directions. Children participate in finger plays, rhymes, and songs.

• Oral language experiences are provided throughout the day as teacher and children engage in conversations. Dramatic play activities are set up to encourage experiences with oral language such as puppets in the puppet theater, housekeeping center, block center, etc.
• Written language is supported as children are read to daily using books, charts, magazines, etc. The reading center offers books for individual reading experiences in the classroom. Preschoolers will dictate real experiences and stories for their teacher as whole group experiences, as well as through journaling as they begin to make connections through their written word and pictures.
• Handwriting Without Tears curriculum for preschool is called Get Set for School. It provides multisensory lessons and activities in coloring, drawing, singing, writing the uppercase alphabet, and school readiness.

Math: 
Children participate in hands-on activities in both whole and small groups that include patterning, sorting, matching, geometry, numeral recognition, counting skills, measurement, and spatial relations.

Science: 
Children use their senses and their natural curiosity to make predictions and learn about their world through various themes.

Social Studies: 
The Christian classroom environment encourages each child to have a healthy sense of self and positive self-esteem. (God made us and loves us unconditionally.) Social skills are fostered as they guide the children into self-regulation of their emotions and behaviors. Effective communication is modeled and encouraged. Through various themes, children will learn about themselves, their friends, families, and holidays.

Art: 
Preschoolers have the opportunity to work with a variety of media: crayons, markers, paints, different kinds of paper, scissors, glue, etc. Art is used as a learning tool for fine-motor control and for teaching color, line, shape, form, and texture.

Music: 
Music is incorporated into nearly every aspect of our day. Children are given opportunities to sing, dance, and listen to music pertaining to preschool.

Physical Education: 
Children take part in daily activities that promote gross- and fine-motor development.

• Gross-motor activities including running, jumping, throwing, catching, walking, hopping, galloping, marching, and balancing.
• Fine motor activities include lacing, stringing, drawing, painting, working with play dough, constructing with manipulatives, and cutting. Children refine these skills with various manipulatives.