CURRICULUM

Once Upon a Time utilizes the Creative Curriculum in all classrooms (Infant through Preschool) (www.teachingstrategies.com).

Teachers and staff are encouraged to use various philosophies and curriculum models within their classrooms to provide the most enriching environment for children. All teachers are required to incorporate the following elements into their program:

• Open-ended discussions and questions with children
• Process-oriented and hands-on projects and activities
• Self-selected activity time (encouraging children to make their own choices and explore new areas)
• Planned time for large group, small group and one-on-one learning activities
• Building activities from the current interests of the children

Activities need to engage:

• Large muscle development
• Small muscle development
• Intellectual stimulation
• Language development
• Creative expression
• Outdoor exploration

Promoting social, emotional, intellectual and physical development is our focus. The curriculum of each classroom will be age and developmentally appropriate. Reading and the study of authors; art and the study of different art forms; music and the study of various musicians and styles will add depth to each classroom’s curriculum. Children will have a writing opportunity daily to practice and develop language and writing skills. Talents, skills, and self expression will be encouraged and recognized through performances, sharing with other classrooms, posting of children’s material on walls throughout the center, etc.

The center has no religious affiliation and provides no religious training. However, while studying diversity, social studies, geography and other cultures, activities or the curriculum may include studying holidays of various cultures. Religious holidays will not be celebrated, but may be studied.

Planning Time:

Teachers will be given paid planning time throughout each week to plan curriculum activities, ideas and plans. Teachers are required to make and post a daily schedule for their rooms. Teachers are required to have a written plan of weekly activities.

This plan should be reviewed with the Center Director to ensure that all developmental areas are being addressed adequately. This plan can then be posted in the classroom. This will provide a wonderful guide for staff to move through the educational week and will allow parents to incorporate the themes into their conversations and activities with their children. This also provides accountability to parents for the activities of the staff and the center.

Each room will include:

• Science and sensory experiences
• Housekeeping and dramatic play areas
• Blocks and building areas
• Creative art areas
• Large motor areas for music, movement and performing
• Small manipulative areas including games, puzzles, crafting supplies
• Math skills areas
• Reading areas
• Areas to support the daily routines of eating, sleeping and group time
• Areas for personal belongings

Interaction with the infant’s primary caregiver is an extremely important element of learning. One-on-one interaction between teacher and child is the focus. Teachers will interact with children while they are managing their daily needs (diapering, feeding, holding) to engage them and use that time to teach and nurture. When babies are awake, teachers will move baby’s arms and legs to encourage large muscle development; will sing and read to babies showing them pictures and colors to stimulate cognitive growth; teachers will hand babies small toys and plush items to encourage small motor development; and, teachers will place babies near one another to allow them to develop social skills. During free play times, teachers will allow infants to engage their creative side by letting them choose toys and encourage them to sing, talk and do infant art!

Toddlers will engage in play appropriate to their age. Climbing equipment, wagons, tunnels, small mats, etc. will be used to increase large muscle development. Meals and playtime will be structured so children have the opportunity to play together if they choose to develop social skills. Shape sorters, block puzzles, stringing beads, and other small manipulatives will encourage small muscle growth. Dramatic play items, art centers and block centers will encourage toddler’s to explore their creative side. Storytime, music, art, counting games, puzzles, finger plays, etc. will further develop toddlers’ cognitive skills.

Staff will work and coordinate with parents regarding infant/toddler schedules in regard to sleeping, eating, toileting, etc.

Preschool children (ages 3 – 6) will use puzzles, small manipulatives, activity boards, toys, coloring, writing and art activities to enhance small muscle development. Preschool children will engage in yoga, dance, running, jumping, climbing and other exercise on a daily basis to encourage large muscle growth. Dramatic play, author study, music, art exploration, nature study, computers and more will further develop creative, cognitive and social skills.

Children in the Morning Preschool Program will utilize puzzles, small manipulatives, activity boards, toys, art, writing and music activities to develop essential skills needed for elementary school. They will also go outside to develop large motor skills. Nature study and dramatic play will also be used to develop creative, cognitive and social skills.

School-age children will use the large playground equipment, yoga, dance and more to encourage large muscle development. Children will use computers for research and learning, writing, author and musician studies, dramatic play, to develop cognitive, creative and social skills. Working with Legos, puzzles, knitting and other arts & craft projects will encourage continued small muscle development.

The educational curriculum at Once Upon a Time will reflect cultural diversity in several ways. Teachers and staff will show respect and interest in children’s language and cultural expressions such as art, music, food and literature. Special cultural holidays, traditions and celebrations will become learning experiences for all. Each classroom will have some age appropriate multicultural dolls, materials, music and books. We will continue to add to these materials on an on-going basis and will encourage students and families to share their culture and traditions with us. Individual differences will be presented as positive learning experiences for all.

Viewing videos, DVDs or television is not a normal part of the curriculum at Once Upon a Time. However, there may be days or instances where staff finds the curriculum or a special day or program might require the use of a video, DVD or television program. Children will be supervised while watching the programming and only “G” rated movies will be shown. Programming such as educational videos or educational television (i.e., Sesame Street) may be viewed. Teachers will keep parents informed of such programming activity. Alternative activities will be available for children that do not want to watch the program.

Daily schedules vary between classrooms. Please see the “Typical Daily Schedule” section for more information.

ADDITIONAL CURRICULUM AREAS:

Art:

Art will be a part of every classroom curriculum. Students will self-select art activities as well as participate in large and small group art activities. In addition to classroom art instruction, each classroom (infant – preschool) will have an enhanced art segment taught once a week by our in-house Art Teacher.

Music:

Music will be a part of every classroom curriculum. Teachers will lead children in singing songs, writing songs, listening to music, playing instruments, studying various musicians and more. In addition to classroom music instruction, each classroom (infant – preschool) will have an enhanced music segment once a week taught by a contracted Music Educator.

Science/Environment:

Science and the study of the environment will be a part of every classroom curriculum. Teachers will lead students in the study of plants, animals, the earth and more. Students will have the opportunity to self-select activities and to engineer their own science activities.

In the summer months, the 3 year old, 4/5 year old and Schoolager classrooms will plant, maintain and harvest their own classroom gardens. This will be a very enriching and fun experience for all.

In addition to classroom science and environmental studies, each classroom (3 – 5 year olds) spends time with our environmental studies teacher who offers a more definitive curriculum on science, health, the environment and sustainable living.

Physical Fitness:

In addition to classroom large motor skills and playground activities, children will participate in yoga classes in order to develop a positive sense of self, soothing and calming skills, teamwork and to encourage life-long exercise for better health.

Gymfinity also provides programming weekly to children 3 years and older on a fee basis.