Follow the Calendar
When planning a preschool curriculum, most instructors like to use the calendar year and its occurrences as their basic structural component. This keeps the curriculum relevant and current which helps to further reinforce the lessons in the children’s young minds, since it wouldn’t really make much sense to learn about Halloween at Easter or vice versa.
Generally speaking, one theme or unit should last for one week or two at the most. At this young age, children respond well to repetition, which is why many instructors follow a basic template for each week with activities specific to each day of the week. As children master this system, they’ll learn how to anticipate the activities of each day, which will help to strengthen their sense of logical reasoning and deduction.
September through June
In September, many educators like to start off with the “All about Me” section, which will allows the children to not only explore themselves and their own personalities, but also a chance to meet and learn about their peers. This is also an excellent time in the curriculum to introduce a unit on family or pets.
The most celebrated holiday in the month of October is also a favorite of many children: Halloween. This is a great time to introduce units on the season of fall, nature, and healthy eating since children will be receiving large amounts of candy.
Next comes November which coincides with Thanksgiving, where children can learn a little more about the history of America and explore the good things in their lives that they have to give thanks for.
December is the beginning of winter for some, and it is also the beginning of a busy holiday season that includes Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. This is a great opportunity to incorporate a theme of multiculturalism into the preschool curriculum.
With the beginning of a New Year, the focus of the curriculum can be on change and New Year’s resolutions. Also, the theme of winter can continue to be explored through sports, the weather, and snow. An apt theme for the month of February is love, seeing as Valentine’s Day falls right in the middle of the month.
As the season change, a unit on spring can be introduced, with focus on plants and flowers. Finally, as the year draws to a close, the focus is on the season of summer, which can include a unit on plans for the summer time such as going to the beach or taking a vacation.
But what about March or May?
When there’s a lull in the calendar, it gives instructors an opportunity to be a little more creative with theirpreschool curriculum. Remember, the sky is pretty much the limit with their young minds, and the emphasis should always be on fun and play first before traditional learning. Some instructors like to take suggestions from the children on what themes they’d like to explore, which helps children feel more a part of the process.
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