• Helps children know Jesus as their Savior and friend
• Acquaints children with a preschool setting
• Gives opportunities to grow in social skills
• Works to instill manners, good habits and strong values
• Helps children develop courtesy as they learn about sharing and taking turns
• Offers a mix of large and small group activities
• Develops large and small muscle coordination through variety of movement activities
• Includes Jesus Time, singing and music activities, creative play, physical activity, math and science
• Develops and reinforces recognition of colors, shapes, numbers and letters
• Provides opportunities to work with a variety of art mediums

Preschool Curriculum Outline

The following is a brief overview of what your child will be exposed to during the preschool year.  While it does not list all of the activities we will undertake, it will give you a clear idea of what makes up the Preschool Program.
 
JESUS TIME: Part of each day is devoted to instructing the children about their Savior.  This is done through the use of Bible Stories told with pictures, objects, puppets, and flannel graphs, short hymns, devotions, and projects.  Special emphasis is given to creation, Christ’s birth, and the Easter account.  Materials used in the study have been especially written for the 3-5 year old child.
 
READING READINESS: In this part of our curriculum, your child will be formally introduced to all 26 letters of the alphabet.  Our main objective for the 3 year old class is to have them recognize the letter.  In the 4 year old class, we will work on letter recognition as well as beginning to learn the letter sounds.
 
GROSS MOTOR ACTIVITIES: During the year, we will be working on developing gross motor skills.  We will strengthen large muscles by using hoops, parachute, beanbags, balls, ropes, and other equipment.  Our activities will include balancing, hopping, running, jumping, throwing, and catching.
 
MATH READINESS: Math readiness will give the child an opportunity to explore numbers.  Included in this study will be recognizing numbers, counting, shapes, patterns, and sequencing.
 
SOCIAL STUDIES AND SCIENCE: In this area we explore many places and aspects of God’s world.  A sampling of units covered include: Family and Me, Five Senses, Safety, Holidays, Animals, Plants, Weather, Water, Magnets, And Careers.  Meeting new friends, community helpers, good manners, and concern for each others safety and well being are also included.

LANGUAGE READINESS: Language and communication are incorporated into almost all subject areas.  Basic skills which are encouraged include: retelling, questioning, positional language (e.g. high, low), reasoning, recall, repetition, and rhyming.

WRITING READINESS:  Introduction to Handwriting Without Tears: This program uses a developmental approach with hands-on manipulatives, play, and songs.  Children learn how to form letters.  It is designed to meet the wide spectrum of needs and skills of young children.
 
MUSIC EXPERIENCES: Singing, rhythm band, CD and tapes, marching, singing games, and movement activities are included.  Children will learn to use their gift of voice to sing praises to their Creator as well as learn fun songs.
 
ARTS AND CRAFTS: Art is a beneficial way to motivate learning.  A wide variety of art medias are used and may include: crayons, paint, chalk, water colors, pencil, and markers.  In addition, a wide selection of “craft type” projects are completed during the year.  Through the use of art, your child will gain practice in many basic skills such as: cutting, pasting, coloring, and drawing.
 
STORY TIME (LITERATURE) AND DRAMATICS: The purpose of this time is two-fold.  The first, of course, is for pure enjoyment.  The second is to develop a keen interest in the written and spoken word.  The interest will give your child a strong motivation to read as s/he grows older.  Storybooks, big books, listening tapes, nursery rhymes, finger plays, and puppets are used.
 
LEARNING CENTER TIME: An opportunity to work in small groups or with individual attention on a variety of activities: art, math, writing, sand table, dramatic play, blocks, etc.
 
LEARNING GAMES AND CREATIVE ACTIVITIES: This time is used to practice, explore, review, and enrich the many skills that your child is learning.  It gives him an opportunity to use the skills that he has learned in a fun and enjoyable way.  This is done primarily through the use of art times, class games, talk times, music, and free play.
 
SOCIAL SKILLS: During the Preschool year, your child will gain the skills and experience necessary to comfortably live, work, and play in a school setting.  We stress following rules, quiet work times, working well within a group, playing well with others, courtesy and sharing.  These skills are taught slowly and diligently, allowing the child to easily transfer into a school setting.

Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy as to Students

Faith Ev. Lutheran Preschool admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.  It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its admissions policies, educational policies, and school-administered programs.