Curriculum Goals

Our children have a lot of fun at Perinton Nursery School and make many friends.  (As parents, we do too!) In fact we are all so busy having fun that sometimes we don't even notice all the learning going on.  Our teachers shared this list with us, of all the things that they keep in mind when planning activities, projects, lessons, and field trips; when playing in centers or big room; and when selecting toys.

And then we noticed that while our little ones were having fun, they really were learning all these things too!

Language

  • Expand on vocabulary/ability to label objects
  • Develop ability to describe objects (show and tell)
  • Develop ability to use language to meet a variety of needs
  • Develop self advocacy language (e.g. ask to use bathrooms, ask for help, etc.)
  • Develop ability to ask and answer simple "wh" questions (e.g. "where are the blocks?")
  • Develop understanding of basic concepts: positions (e.g. on, under, next to, below, inside, out, etc.), size, shape, place
  • Develop ability to follow directions of increasing complexity (e.g. one step directions to three step directions)
  • Develop ability to identify and refer to teachers and students by name

Cognitive/Conceptual Skills

  • Develop ability to retell a simple story (visual and verbal sequencing skills)
  • Develop ability to listen/attend to a complete age-appropriate book
  • Develop ability to visually match like pictures/objects
  • Develop ability to group related objects (e.g. animals, food, cars, etc.)
  • Develop ability to sort objects by one or more dimensions (e.g. color, size, etc.)
  • Develop ability to identify basic shapes, colors, body parts
  • Develop ability to predict simple visual patterns
  • Develop 1:1 correspondence counting skills to five (or more)
  • Develop ability to recognize his/her own name in print
  • Develop visual and auditory memory skills
  • Develop imaginative play skills
  • Develop understanding of cause and effect
  • Acquire a lover of books
  • Demonstrate a knowledge of how to use books (page turning, holding book right side up, etc.)
  • Recognize pictures and text on a page
  • Make increasingly representational drawings
  • Persist at tasks
  • Ask and respond to questions
  • Show curiosity and a desire to learn
  • Identify roles people play in society

Gross Motor

  • Develop overall coordination and the skills to run, hop, stand on one foot, and pedal a trike
  • Develop ability to throw/toss and catch beanbag or ball
  • Develop spatial and personal space awareness
  • Develop self-control over impulses
  • Walk up and down steps, alternating feet
  • Run with increasing control over direction and speed
  • Jump over objects without falling
  • Climb up and down equipment without falling

Fine Motor

  • Develop manual dexterity (e.g. the ability to manipulate puzzle pieces, string large beads, complete peg boards, pouring juice, etc.)
  • Develop an appropriate grasp for different writing tools
  • Develop visual-motor skills & the ability to copy simple designs on paper (circle, horizontal, vertical lines, etc.)
  • Develop the ability to grasp children's scissors appropriately and make little snips
  • Use small muscles for self help skills (e.g. pouring, zipping)

Social/Emotional

  • Develop ability to separate from parents
  • Develop ability to adapt to new authority figures
  • Develop ability to engage in parallel play
  • Develop ability to participate in cooperative play and initiate interactions with others with decreasing adult support
  • Develop ability to take turns and share materials with decreasing adult assistance
  • Develop ability to demonstrate appropriate responses to adult requests, limits and redirection
  • Use verbal means to resolve a conflict with adult assistance
  • Develop ability to follow classroom routine with decreasing teacher support
  • Learn word labels for different feelings and develop ability to identify them in themselves (e.g. "I'm angry right now", or "you're hurting my feelings")
  • Will participate, or increase participation, in group activities
  • Develop independence by cleaning up after him/herself at snack time, asking to use (or ask for help with) bathroom, making choices at center time
  • Begin to develop an understanding of the consequences of their actions
  • Accept responsibility for maintaining classroom environment
  • Help others in need
  • Seek out children and adults
  • Understand and respect differences
  • Develop pragmatic skills (e.g., eye contact, turn taking, appropriate greeting, etc.)
  • Take initiative, assert themselves in socially acceptable ways

Aesthetic

  • Participate in experimentation with a variety of art mediums (e.g., clay, paint, finger paints, etc.)
  • Imitate or be encouraged to create songs or finger plays (Recall words and actions in song and finger plays)
  • Develop ability to imitate a simple sound pattern using claps or instruments
  • Develop creativity by encouraging children to design their own projects and describe/tell about it
  • Participate in the release of feeling through creative expression
  • Participate in movement during musical listening activities
  • Role-play and act out stories
  • Participate in age appropriate activities, which encourage divergent thinking skills
  • Experience various forms of artistic expression that have simple labels
  • Develop auditory and visual discrimination skills