The Early Childhood Curriculum at Grace Episcopal School features child-centered, hands-on activities, focusing on our students’ needs through a developmentally designed and implemented program.  Our curriculum is activity-oriented, giving children time to explore the world around them through hands-on experiences at learning centers designed to let children move at their own pace.  The school setting provides a secure and nurturing environment in which children are able to develop positive self-esteem.  Our Preschool and Junior Kindergarten classes meet 5 days a week. Our Preschool Class has older three year-olds and young fours.  Junior Kindergarten is comprised of older four year-olds and young fives. 

Our curriculum provides a balance between the development of language and math readiness, social and perceptual motor skills with dramatic play, art, music, science, and community living.  Children are given the opportunity to develop fine and gross motor dexterity, social awareness, and thinking skills through exploration and planned activities.  For outdoor play, children are provided with their own fully-equipped playground with age appropriate equipment. Library, music, and religion classes are an important part of their weekly schedule, with Spanish instruction beginning in Junior Kindergarten.

The following is a description of general areas covered within our curriculum.  Age appropriate activities are planned for children to include a variety of experiences both in and out of the classroom.  Adventures out of the classroom may be nature walks in the neighborhood, a trip to the farm, viewing a puppet show, experiencing the fun of a museum, or going to an art exhibit.  As with any good early childhood program, curriculum areas are integrated.  A number of skills may be derived from one experience.

PRESCHOOL AND JUNIOR KINDERGARTEN CURRICULUM:

Communication/Pre-reading Skills

- Interaction between staff and children leading to a development of a wide variety of concept
- Reading of stories, poems, rhymes and songs
- Fingerplays
- Dramatic play
- Alphabet blocks and games
- Class libraries
- Learning to write, beginning with scribbling and moving on developmentally
- Writing, using inventive spelling
- Language experience stories

 Math and Logical Thinking Skill

- Shapes
- Counting
- Adding and subtracting
- Graphing
- Measuring (liquid, dry) (big, small) (tall, short)

 Social Studies/Social Skills

- Learn about ourselves, our families and friends, our neighborhoods and communities
- Cultural awareness, ethnic groups, abilities and disabilities
- Fire safety
- Manners (table and oral skills)

Science

Learn about:
 - plants
 - animals
 - seasons
 - weather
 - oceans
 - outer space (planets, stars)
 - our environment

Music and Art Appreciation and Skills

- Listening to a variety of music (classical, children’s, multi-cultural)
- Singing
- Exploring the use of rhythm instruments
- Dance
- Exploration of art media (paints, playdough, clay, crayons, markers, chalk, etc.)
- Making things from paper, cardboard, wood scraps (sculpture)
- Viewing works of art (paintings, drawings, etc.)
- Attending concerts
- Visiting museums
- Plays and Puppet Shows

 Movement Education

Learning to use our bodies in a given space through:
 - Games, riding bikes, balance beam, playground equipment, creative movement
 - Throwing and catching
 - Jumping rope
 - Hopping, running, skipping, jumping, etc.

 Training in Fine and Gross Motor Skills

Gross Motor Coordination (see Movement Education)
 - large block play
 - construction

Fine Motor Coordination, using:
 - manipulatives
 - puzzles
 - pegboards
 - clay
 - small blocks and other construction materials
 - geoboards
 - various other age appropriate manipulatives

 Development of Religious and Moral Values

- Telling and hearing appropriate Bible stories
- Role modeling, creative drama and social play
- Prayers and blessing at meals
- Weekly Chapel services
- Learning to communicate and talk through problems
- Learning to care and share by example 

 Additional Academic Subjects

Preschool and Junior Kindergarten students also receive instruction in music/performing arts, religion, and library with special curriculum teachers.  Junior Kindergarten students also receive Spanish instruction.  These subjects are detailed later in this publication.

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