This is the beginning of my new preschool ABC curriculum. According to Charlotte Mason (from whom I cull most of my educational philosophy) preschoolers and those up to age six should be spending the bulk of their time playing creatively indoors with open-ended toys (no lights, buttons or sounds) and outdoors with any and everything to be found, except what might be too dangerous of course! It is very simple, to be done at leisure as your child desires and prompts. I started working on this curriculum 7 or 8 years ago while "tutoring" the little boy across the street before we even had children. I did something a little more complicated with Wesley (see here) two years ago but found that doing this instead is easier and simpler for me (especially now that I'm doing first grade with Wes) and sufficient enough for preschool. There are some things that I have carried over from what I did with Wesley. Honestly, if you just read a variety of good books, talk about letters, do some fun crafts (or not!), get out in nature and sing children's songs your child will have a rich feast spread before him or her to absorb and learn from. I hope this will be beneficial for all!
Books I am using the whole year through in addition to a multitude of home and public library books!
The A-Z Picture by Gyo Fugikawa
Rhyme Time by Tomi De Paola
Read Aloud Rhymes for the Very Young
Tommy De Paola's Favorite Nursery Tales
What Do People Do All Day by Richard Scarry
Things People Do - Anne Civardi
Songs for Saplings (Scripture memory songs on CD By Dana Dirksen)
Wee Sing Children's Songs and Finger Plays
Rod and Staff Preschool Workbooks A, C-F
Five in a Row and Before Five in a Row (we may or may not do this - sometimes we come across a FIAR book and might do a few activities, sometimes not).
Beatrix Potter: The Complete Tales (a really lovely book!)
Let's Read and Find Out About Science Level 1 Tons of titles about science in picture book form.
Science Play
I also use these books with Wes and David together for art, music and French, every other week.
Artistic Pursuits
My First Classical Music Book
French for Children (One unit every couple months or more, at your children's pace - my kids have loved it so far! They are wanting to know how to say everything in French and we've only done the first few pages!)
Here's letter A for starters to show I incorporate all these books! Just do an activity or two per day or just pick a few per week. I usually do the first six items listed below per week, do the letter craft, the art and music (listed above) and a bit from the Rod and staff books (as fast or as slow as David wants). He asks me how to spell things all the time so I don't worry about handwriting much, and that is included in the Rod and Staff books. If I get to other things great, if not, that's fine too. Don't think you have to read and do all of this!!! I'll add some pictures or graphics soon!
Letter A
Letter The A-Z Picture Book by Gyo Fugikawa - Read letter A pages and what sounds the letter A makes.
Poetry - Read The Alligator Escalator in Rhyme Time by Tomie De Paola, or pick an A poem in your favorite Poem book
Literature - Read a story from Tomie De Paola's Favorite Nursery Tales
Bible Read the story of Creation including Adam and Eve in your Bible or Bible Story Book of choice. I either use The Jesus Storybook Bible or The Look And See ESV Bible for children.
Scripture Memory - "Make Me As the Apple of Your Eye" from Songs for Saplings.
Picture Books - Read books about Apples and Alligators or Ants or Anteaters, or all!
We read these:
* Apple Farmer Annie by Monica Wellington
* Ten Apples Up on Top by P.D Eastman
* The Lady with the Alligator Purse illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
* Air is All Around by Franklin N. Branley
Other picture book suggestions:
* All in A Day by Mitsumasa Anno
* I am An Artist
* Angus Lost by Marjorie Flack
Activities (we only did the ones in bold, though I had plans for more)
* Eat Apples, Apple Sauce, Apple Pie, dried apples
* Make Apple sauce, dried apples, Apple Pie, Apple Cake (recipe in Apple Farmer Annie)
* Take a field trip to an apple farm and do some apple picking
* Taste Test apples and find your favorite
* Visit the Alligators at the zoo
* Count Apple Seeds
* Count Letter A's on a page in a favorite book.
* Make Letter A crafts from here. Alligator or Apple
* Make Letter A's out of Playdoh or with any and everything - list coming soon.
* Do other activities from this site or from Alphabet Art
* Make an ant farm
Skills Do a few pages in Rod and Staff Preschool Books A, C, D, E, or F. and/or Wipe Clean: Early Learning Activity Book
Children's Songs and Fingerplays
* All Day, All Night
* Amazing Grace
* The ABC Song
Science
* Ant Cities
* Air is All Around
* What's Alive
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