New Milestoneseffective Curriculum Ideas

The beginning of the new year brings a special opportunity for your children’s ministry. Kids are thinking about the new year and many will even stay up late with their families. I’ve even heard very young ones making grown-up sounding resolutions.

1. New Milestoneseffective Curriculum Ideas 4th Grade
2. New Milestoneseffective Curriculum Ideas Preschool
3. New Milestoneseffective Curriculum Ideas Middle School

What should Pre-K children learn?

1. 12 Curriculum Planning Tips For Any Grade Level Or Content Area by Terry Heick. Learning is really just a growth in awareness. From not knowing to knowing is part of it, but that’s really too simple because it misses all the degrees of knowing and not knowing.
2. Preschool Express - early childhood education site for preschool themes, curriculum ideas, and toddler activities - language, art, games, songs, crafts, printable patterns, and school supplies - written by Jean Warren for teachers and parents of preschool, day care, kindergarten, and home school to develop lesson plans, Preschool Lesson Plans, Theme Lesson Plans.

These are typical concepts that Pre-K children explore in school, but should not be required to master before entering Kindergarten. Children learn these concepts at their own pace. What is learned in Pre-K is considered a “bonus”. Children are taught with hands-on materials, songs, and games. They are assessed by observation and work samples.

Math

• Matching: objects, symbols, shapes, patterns, etc.
• Same and Different
• Sorting by various attributes: color, shape, size
• Patterns: AB, AABB, ABC, and possibly AAB, ABB
• Identify numerals 1-10 or more
• Counting objects to 10 or more
• One-to-one correspondence of objects when counting
• Sizes: small, medium, large (3 – 5 sizes)
• Shapes: square, rectangle, circle, triangle, oval, hexagon, rhombus (diamond)
• More, Less, Same
• Time: Day and Night, Sand Timer
• Weight: Example, what weighs more or less in a balance scale
• Measuring with non-standard units

Literacy

New Milestoneseffective Curriculum Ideas 4th Grade

• Exposure to alphabet: letter names and sounds
• Recognize, spell, write first name
• Hold a pencil, marker, crayon correctly
• Retell familiar stories
• Draw pictures and dictate sentences about stories and experiences
• Answer questions about stories
• Repeat simple nursery rhymes and fingerplays
• Phonological Awareness: rhyming, syllables, alliteration
• Concepts of print: left to right direction, holding a book right-side-up
• Build new vocabulary
• Build listening skills
• Strengthen visual discrimination
• Sequencing
• Develop fine motor skills: play dough, scissors, writing utensils, Legos, etc.

New Milestoneseffective Curriculum Ideas Preschool

Science

• Explore science tools: magnets, prisms, magnifying glasses, etc.
• Experience the world through nature walks, gardening, and other explorations
• Observe insect life
• Observe plant growth
• Observe weather and plant life during each season
• Measure and mix ingredients in cooking activities
• Identify basic colors and explore color mixing
• Make observational drawings and dictation
• Explore the world with the five senses
• Investigate animals, the homes they live in, the food they eat

Creative Arts

• Explore a variety of art processes: painting, drawing, sculpture, weaving, collage, etc.
• Use a variety of art materials: crayons, tempera paint, watercolor paint, colored pencils, markers, oil pastels, art chalk, clay
• Experiment with mixing paint colors
• Sing traditional songs and songs that enhance the curriculum
• Participate in movement songs and dances
• Use scarves, rhythm sticks, and bean bags to practice rhythms
• Use a variety of children’s instruments
• Participate in dramatic play
• Dramatize familiar stories
• Act out the movements and sounds of animals

Social Skills

• Practice problem-solving skills in social situations
• Work in groups or with a partner on a variety of projects
• Share classroom materials with the group
• Practice using manners: please, thank you, excuse me, table manners
• Communicate his/her needs
• Take care of his/her own basic needs: clean up, roll up nap pad, fasten clothing, use tissue as needed, etc.
• State personal information: first and last name, age, school name, city, state, country
• Explore types of work and workers
• Explore modes of transportation
• Participate in projects to help others in need

For Christian Schools only:

• Listen to Old and New Testament Bible stories
• Recognize that plants, animals, and human beings are God’s creations
• Recognize that God created families to love and take care of one another
• Learn about God’s love
• Listen to stories of the life of Jesus
• Learn Jesus’ teachings to love God and love others

New Milestoneseffective Curriculum Ideas Middle School