Bannockburn Nursery School

Curriculum Goals

The three-year-olds entering the 5x3 class enjoy the variety of toys in the classroom. They attend school Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. until 12 noon. They develop a greater sense of confidence in themselves as they work on their interpersonal skills within teams. The children work on projects that emphasize general concepts such as friendship and personal hygiene and are guided into discussions about the alphabet for pre-reading skill-building and different cultures for an enhanced understanding of the world around them. Friendships are made as the trust builds and the children share common likes and dislikes. Frequent bathroom breaks are provided to minimize accidents and plenty of exercise helps to calm the energetic bodies. The children are exposed to regular coursework involving science, social studies, movement, language arts, math and art.

September

• Review colors by recreating the Brown Bear Brown Bear book
• Review of shapes
• Learn about home, school, and outside safety
• Develop cooking skills working with the season's apples
• Getting acquainted with science
• Explore friendship through games and songs

October

• Examine Fall activities, nature, squirrels, leaves
• Study the body
• Celebrate Halloween by creating seasonal art
• Familiarize oneself with movement
• Develop cooking skills working with the season's pumpkins

November

• Study one's family
• Delve into nutrition to keep the body strong
• Celebrate Thanksgiving with seasonal activities
• Learn how to tell a story
• Develop cooking skills working with the season's cranberries
• Continue movement exercises for fine motor development

December

• Explore one's community and neighborhood
• Celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanza by learning about these holidays
• Develop cooking skills while making a feast
• Continue movement exercises for large motor development

January

• Learn about seasons, winter activities,  snow, animals, birds, and snowmen
• Identify and use the five senses
• Refine mathmatical skills through games and puzzles
• Develop cooking skills by entering the sweet side (making cookies)
• Use movement with indoor gymnastic equipment when the weather prohibits outdoor play

February

• Study the alphabet by introducing three letters a week
• Sorting, count, and use puzzles
• Continue the work with the five senses
• Celebrate Valentine’s and President’s Day with appropriate artwork
• Use movement with indoor gymnastic equipment when the weather prohibits outdoor play
• Snacks are streamlined to correspond to the letters studied each week

March

• Continue the study of the alphabet
• Pair matching units together and make sets by counting
• Learn about the wind and shadows
• Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with artwork
• Use movement as a form of expression
• Snacks are streamlined to correspond to the letters studied each week

April

• Recognize letters of the alphabet in regular vocabulary
• Work on number recognition, learning numerals, matching sets with numbers
• Use the spring weather to examine the outdoors flora and fauna
• Learn about the state of Maryland and the U.S.
• Exercise one's body with rain dances
• Learn about traditional American foods

May

• Explore cultures around the world with
  • a South American fiesta
  • European castles, knights, princesses and fairies
  • Asian fans
  • African animals
  • Australian animals

• Understand number relationships
• Learn about the natural world
• Continue movement exercises for large motor development
• Taste and sample foods from each continent

June

• Look for insects, birds, flowers
• Examine the beach environment
• Identify foods that commonly enjoyed during the summer