Preschool The Gingerbread House Preschool curriculum includes study of language, math, the Bible, social studies, science, art, physical education and music. The goal of the Preschool is to meet each child at his/her individual level and help him/her develop to his/her full potential. Reading Readiness: For three year olds, the curriculum of the classroom is visual perception (matching shapes and objects), visual thinking skills (classification of things belonging together, parts of a whole, reading picture stories, identifying main ideas), children's literature (stories, poems, etc.), eye-hand development, arm-hand development and pre-writing skills. For four year olds, the curriculum is centered on the alphabet, where the teaching order is determined by where the letters start and how they are made when printed. Along with the alphabet, the course outline includes concepts about print, phonetic strategies, comprehension of text, writing for a variety of purposes, development of handwriting skills, and the development of listening and speaking skills. Math: The mathematics part of the curriculum will be done in the Reading Readiness Room. We will be manipulating concrete objects and materials in order to develop the concepts of shapes, spatial relationships, sets and groupings, number symbols, patterns and additional concepts. Four year olds will experience receive a more in-depth experience by adding comparisons, graphing, measurement, time, money, and one-to-one correspondence along with the traditional math skills of ocunting, set development, addition, and subtraction. Bible: Biblical stories are used to teach children about God. The curriculum also addresses character-building lessons such as being obedient, being honest, sharing with others, getting along with others, and taking turns. Social Studies: The three year old preschool social studies curriculum provides an opportunity for the children to learn they are an important person to the family, they will become aware of local community, and homes around the world, they will be able to identify a map, and will develop and understanding that rules and laws help people to live together. Four year olds will learn about their country, both past and present, learn about the job of the President, and the ability to locate land and water on a globe and map. They will also have the opportunity to identify safety signs, and role play safety regarding strangers and fires. Science: The science curriculum introduces basic science concepts through units about the weather, plants, dinosaurs, farms, and insects. Children will learn about proper hygiene and staying healthy. Four year olds will also learn to recognize a calendar and understand the use of a thermometer. Art: The art room's focus is on creativity using many different mediums and art centers. The letter of week is often reinforced through an artistic activity. Physical Education: The goal of this class is to provide a number of developmentally appropriate activities during each class and then to repeat those activities frequently during the school year. The structure for the preschool fitness class is that of beginning with a space awareness activity, then moving to a manipulative activity (working on throwing, catching striking, or kicking), a non-manipulative activity (such as balancing, stretching, jumping), and concluding with some type of rhythm activity. Music: The curriculum of this room is exposure to music and musical instruments and learning about pitch, rhythm, and musical notation. The children will develop their listening skills as well as be exposed to different cultural styles. Activities to stimulate large motor development are also provided. The Three Year Old Preschool Program at The Gingerbread House has one session which meets on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9:00-11:30 a.m. Children must be three years old by December 1st in order to be eligible for this program. The Four Year Old Preschool Program at The Gingerbread House offers a three-day session (Monday/Wednesday/Friday) and a five day session (Monday through Friday) and meets from 9:00-11:30 a.m. Children must be four years old by December 1st in order to be eligible for this program. The Gingerbread House Preschool also offers extended hours before and after Preschool each day, from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.