Curriculum

The Curriculum

Our preschool curriculum consists of age appropriate activities that will help the students develop spiritually, intellectually, socially, emotionally, and physically. The curriculum incorporates monthly themes and exposes students to academic subject matter aligned with the California standards for preschool. Our diverse program will help instill an interest in learning and encourage the children to maintain their curiosity and learn through exploring as we prepare them for their school experience. It is through play that a child learns important social and problem solving skills.

At Good Shepherd we have Schoolwide Learning Expectations (SLE’s). These are desirable outcomes for every student to achieve by the time they graduate from eighth grade. At an early age we begin to reflect on what we need to do in our daily activities that will help us be: a faith filled Catholic, an active learner, a self-aware individual, and a person of character. The SLE’s are listed in the school handbook, on a poster in our classroom, and on the school website, http://www.goodshepherdbeverlyhills.com.

Another important component to our school is the Character Counts! program involving the six pillars of character. Each month throughout the school year, we focus on one pillar and find ways to live that pillar in our daily activities. The pillars are: trustworthiness, respect, fairness, caring, responsibility, and citizenship.

September	October	November
Theme: From Home to School   Topics: Colors: Red, Green, Blue, Yellow Shape: Circle Numbers: 1, 2 Letters: A, B, C Character Education: Friendship Opposites: Stop/Go Community Helper: Police Officer Home and Family New Friends Classroom Rules & Routines, Playground Safety Special Events: Johnny Appleseed’s Birthday, Autumn	Theme: Fall Festival   Topics: Colors: Orange, Pink, Purple Shape: Triangle Numbers: 3, 4 Letters: D,E, F Character Education: Taking Turns Opposites: Full/ Empty Community Helper: Firefighter Fall Harvest Farm Animals Carnival Rides and Games Exhibits and Ribbons Weather Special Events: Halloween, Fire Prevention Week Character Counts! Week	Theme: In The Woods   Topics: Colors: Brown, Black, White Shape: Square Numbers: 5, 6 Letters: G, H, I Character Education: Respect for the Environment Opposites: High/Low Community Helper: Forest Ranger Forest Trees and Plants Camping Special Events: Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Benefit

December	January
Theme: Stories From Around the World Topics: Colors: Review Shape: Diamond Number: 7 Letters: J, K Character Education: Accepting Others Opposites: Beginning/End Community Helper: Librarian Fairy Tales Folktales and legends Favorite Stories and Books Special Events: Advent, Christmas, Winter	Theme: Get in Shape   Topics: Colors: Review Shapes: Rectangle Number:  8 Letters: L, M, N Character Education: Working Hard Opposites: Fast/Slow Community Helper: Nurse Exercise Indoor and Outdoor Games Beanbags, Balls and More! Healthy Habits Special Events: Chinese New Year, Martin Luther King Jr. Day

February	March
Theme: All Around Town Topics: Colors: Review Shapes: Heart Number: 9 Letters: O, P, Q Character Education: Helping Opposites: Fast/Slow Community Helper: Mail Carrier Jobs People Do Stores and Businesses Special Events: Catholic School’s Week Presidents’ Day Valentine’s Day Dental Health Month	Theme: Busy Bugs Topics: Colors: Review Shapes: Diamond Number: 10 Letters: R, S, T Character Education: Patience Opposites: Tall/Short Community Helper: Farmer Seeds and Flowers Insects and Other Garden Creatures Special Events: Lent, St. Patrick’s Day , Spring Poison Prevention Week

April	May	June
Theme: Sense-a-tional Spring Topics: Colors: Review Shapes: Oval Number: 11 Letters: U, V, W Character Education: Following Directions Opposites: Under/ Over Community Helper: Cook Five Senses Kitchen Science and Cooking Fun Special Events: Earth Day National Library Week (April 11-17),  Easter	Theme: Way Out West Topics: Colors: Review Shapes: Review Numbers: 12, 0 Letters: X, Y, Z Character Education: Kindness Opposites: Wet/ Dry Community Helper: Cowhand Desert Plants and Animals Rodeos Special Events: Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, Children’s Book Week, School Spring Festival	Theme: We Dig Dinosaurs Topics: Colors: Review Shapes: Review Numbers: 0-12 Letters: Review A-Z Character Education: Responsibility Opposites: Long/Short Community Helper: Construction Worker Fossils Dinosaurs Prehistoric Life Special Events: Flag Day

Activity Centers: Sensory/Manipulative: Sand Box, Water table, Play dough Dramatic Play Physical Education, fine and gross motor skills Music and Movement Blocks Science Art: drawing, painting, collage, mixed media, clay

Daily Circle Time: Attendance, Calendar, Days of the Week, Weather Counting, Pattern Skills, Shapes, Colors Prayer, Religion Small-group language, literacy and math instruction

Religious Education in pre-kindergarten includes prayers, songs and expressions of Catholic identity woven throughout the school day. “Seeds” is the Pflaum Gospel Weeklies Faith Formation Program for preschool. The program’s content is based on the Sunday Gospels of the liturgical year.  The doctrinal content includes the Profession of Faith, Sacraments and Liturgy, Christian Life, and Christian Prayer. The Seeds lessons we complete in class will go home with students every Friday from September 24, 2010 through May 6, 2011.

Special Enrichment Dance and Exercise with Ruddy, two times a week Spanish with Senorita Hernandez, two times a week Music with Mr. Joseph, once a week