CURRICULUM
Monthly themes of high interest are included as part of a unit approach to The Children's Ark curriculum development. Within the unit framework, each age level can study a broad topic for one month, separated into any number of related areas or sub-themes. The flexibility within the monthly unit allows the teacher to introduce a subject and follow the children's lead and expand his or her interests. Each classroom teacher will plan developmentally - appropriate activities designed to meet the readiness of each learner.
The classroom environment is structured so teachers and children enjoy a learn/play partnership which fosters an activity-oriented, hands-on, developmental interactive approach to learning. Children are encouraged to make their own activities while the teachers help to extend them and make them richer and more meaningful.
The following subject areas are covered in The Children's Ark curriculum:
- Language Arts - Language arts activities follow a language experience approach. The children's receptive and expressive language is enhanced through the use of finger plays, nursery rhymes, creative drama play, songs, poetry discussions, and experience charts or journals. Many excellent books written specifically for children will be read on a daily basis.
Children in preschool and prekindergarten will be introduced to a reading readiness program designed for the MacIntosh computer. Stimulating experiences, along with the manipulation of objects are important teaching tools.
- Math - Opportunities are presented that allow children to learn through direct experiences such as sorting, comparing and ordering. Playful lessons develop skills in rote counting, numeral recognition and sets.
- Science - The science activities are aimed at encouraging observation, comparison, exploration, testing, inquiry, and problem solving. Within many activities, children's senses are stimulated. Teachers will help them notice cause and effect as well as keep simple records.
Nutrition/foods experience will be an important part of our science activities. Children will learn about cooperation, weights and measures, time, and change matter and form from one to another. They will develop an understanding of how to follow directions in sequence, gain pleasure from creating simple food and develop good eating habits.
- Social Studies - The social studies activities focus on learning about self, home, family, transportation in their immediate as well as global community. Several lessons are designed to encourage parents' participation and invitation of community people into the classroom to share their special talents and information.
- Art - Art for early childhood aged children is a creative process that allows for choice, exploration, and imaginative expression in a pleasant, supportive atmosphere. Opportunities for exploring color, line and form and for discovering the effects of various media on different surfaces in an open-ended fashion will allow each child to make a unique personal statement with art.
- Music - The goals of the music experiences are to develop appreciation, participation, and responsiveness, musical competencies such as listening, performance, rhythm, and creativity; and musical concepts such as pitch, volume, and contrasts. Children will be encouraged to record their own music.
- Gross Motor Games - Gross motor games contribute to positive physical and mental health by strengthening muscles and helping to free children from tension. Social development is aided when the children cooperate and learn the positions of leader and follower. Self-esteem is enhanced as youngsters acquire motor skills and feelings of success and enjoyment.
- Values - We teach the children about God's love for them and their important place in this world. This establishes a necessary and solid foundation for a healthy self esteem and an appreciation of individual differences. The Ark promotes the development of basic skills, self-confidence, respect and caring for others.
It is our hope that by providing a nurturing and safe environment that each child will become a capable, thinking and daring individual who can distinguish between right and wrong, and always put forth his or her best effort, and express feelings.
The curriculum is designed to nurture and encourage the cognitive, social and emotional growth of each child and instill a lifelong desire to learn.
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