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