CURRICULUM, LESSON PLANS OR WHAT DO WE DO ALL DAY?
Curriculum, or lesson plans, is what we are doing, at any given moment during the day. It may be planned, or not. Sometimes it means taking the time to explore what has captured our interest. Many times this is where our ideas and activities come from. What do we know? What do we want to know? What did we learn?
Lesson plans must remain flexible to be able to adapt and follow the needs and interests of the children. This is especially important when working with a mixed age group. Topics or themes are developed over a week or two, sometimes longer. This allows the children time to explore and integrate the ideas into their work and play.
The following is a sample of things included in our curriculum:
Language to use – vocabulary, phrases
Songs, chants, finger plays
Books – to read, have out, and make
Sensory exploration – play dough, dried beans
Gross motor activities, creative movement, and yoga
Fine motor activities – squeezing play dough, cutting with scissors, stacking blocks
Games – matching, sorting, hide and seek
Pretend play – housekeeping and dramatic play
Outdoor play – backyard, neighborhood walks, playground
Health, safety – ways to emphasize staying healthy and safe
Anti-bias – ways to develop, understand and appreciate diversity