January Guidelines for Preschool Learning Experience

Guidelines for Preschool Learning Experiences
Month: January Theme: Exploring Jane Brett


English Language Arts
Practice actively in discussions, listen to others, and ask and answer relevant questions. Communicate personal experiences or interests. Listen to a wide variety of age appropriate literature read aloud. Listen to several books by the same author or using the same illustrator. Relate themes and information in books to personal experiences. Use emergent writing skills to make letters in many settings and for many purposes.
Mathematics
Use positional language and ordinal numbers (first, second, third) in everyday activities. Sort, categorize, or classify objects by more than one attributes. Use estimation in meaningful ways and follow up by verifying the accuracy of the estimations. Organize and draw conclusions from facts they have collected.
Science and Technology Engineering
Record observations and share ideas through simple forms of representation such as drawings. Identify the characteristics of local weather based on first hand observations. (now, sleet, ice) Observe the seasonal changes in plants, animals and their personal lives. Explore, describe and compare the properties of liquids and solids found in children’s daily environments (water changing to ice, snow changing to water) Demonstrate and explain the safe and proper use of tools and materials.
History and Social Science
Discuss and identify the order of daily routines. (Pre-K schedule, line leader chart) Discus examples of rules, fairness, personal experiences and authority in their own experiences and stories read to them. Discuss classroom responsibilities in daily activities. Discuss rules and responsibilities of family or community members who promote the welfare and safety of children and adults. Observe some U.S. national holidays and discuss how and why we celebrate them. (Martin Luther King day)


Health Education
Build awareness of directionality and position in space. Strengthen hand grasp flexibility. Use thumb/forefinger in pincer grasp. Use a variety of tools and materials to build grasp-and release skill. Build finger dexterity. (scissors, hole punchers) Practice personal hygiene and safety measures. (Washing hands to prevent the spread of germs and sickness.) Practice independence and self help skills. Discuss strategies to prevent injury and illness, control the spread of disease, and promote cleanliness. Talk about basic ways they can keep their environment clean and take care of it.
Arts
Express themselves freely through movement. Develop audience skills by observing performances or artists at work in various aspects of art. (Puppet shows, putting on ballet shows) Sing expressively. Play instruments using different beats, tempos, dynamics and interpretations. Listen to storytellers and watch puppet shows. Observe the safe and appropriate use and care of art materials. Explore concepts of pattern and symmetry in the environment and artwork.