Preschool Curriculum
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The preschool has a play-based curriculum that develops important readiness skills while nurturing the child and encouraging cognitive, physical, social and emotional growth. This curriculum enables the children to gain essential life skills through dozens of role-playing experiences focused on kindness, empathy, taking turns, responsibility, sharing, paying attention and patience. All materials are hands-on and support developmentally appropriate practice for three and four-year-olds.
Because the preschool is an integral part of Our Lady of Peace School the students have the opportunity of taking classes from specialists in the areas of art, music, Spanish, technology, library and physical education on a weekly basis.
Curriculum Goals -Physical Development Goal
To provide many opportunities for children to use and develop their gross and fine motor skills through the use of:
- outdoor large muscle equipment which includes a slide, climbing apparatus, grassy area, and fresh air
- indoor large muscle equipment including a rocking boat, slides, tunnel, mats, and a parachute
- organized group games that involve moving muscles
- art activities which include using scissors, glue, paint, crayons, markers, pencils, and paper to use at all times
Intellectual Development Goal
To provide many opportunities for children to use language, math, science and social studies skills through the use of:
- math manipulatives such as puzzles, calendar, matching objects, stringing beads, scale, numbered pegs, and matching cards
- globes, maps, books portraying our culture and others, books with multi-cultural characters, dolls from different cultures
- books (read daily), flannel board stories, flannel board letters, sand paper letters
- discussion time, show and tell, language-rich room with labels on most objects and areas, sing songs, finger plays, poems and prayers
Social Development Goal
To provide opportunities for children to interact with each other and adults by:- creating an environment with open spaces and learning centers to provide constant movement and a variety of contacts
- giving children the opportunity to make choices about their learning
- greeting children daily at arrival and departure
- providing free-play time
- providing good role models to children in words and actions
- guiding behavior in a problem-solving way
Emotional Development Goal
To promote a healthy self-image in each child by:- showing respect for each child through words and actions
- choosing a child helper each day
- using puppets, pictures, and songs to show emotions
- providing dramatic play equipment including kitchen set and dishes, dress-up clothes, tool set, dolls, grocery cart, mirror, stuffed animals, puppets, table and chair
- promoting Catholic values through prayer, songs, books and posters