Curriculum
The curriculum of Fairfax United Methodist Church Preschool has been developed around the following overall themes:
a. Children in relation to themselves - developing a positive self-concept and an awareness and understanding of physical and emotional uniqueness and growth;
b. Children in relation to others - family, peers, the Church, and their home community;
c. Children in relation to the physical world - developing a sense of wonder and appreciation for the beauty and variety in the natural world, including animals, habitats, and natural systems;
d. Children in relation to God - building awareness that we are children of God
who respect, care and love all children in God's creation.
These themes are addressed throughout the year by providing a variety of active learning experiences with literature, music, art, science, health, mathematics, and physical education appropriate to the children’s development levels. At least six activity or learning centers are maintained within each classroom, and children may move freely from one center to another. Children will have opportunities to participate in large groups, small groups, self-selected groups, and individually. In this way, the children encounter many opportunities to gain in language skills, to expand their knowledge, to grow in curiosity, to problem-solve and create, and to improve physical skills.
Activities offered include:
• Group time (stories, books, poems, filmstrips)
• Creative art activities and craft projects (painting, clay, collage, crayons, scissors, paste, etc.)
• Music (finger plays, singing, instruments, records, creative movement)
• Outdoor play (fenced playground with wheel toys, climbing equipment, sandbox, easels)
• Indoor movement center (for inclement weather days)
• Field trips
• Science and nature studies (walks, gardening, animal care, study of weather and seasons, etc.)
• Snack (food preparations, cooking, nutrition)
• Play equipment and creative materials for independent or guided learning in math (blocks, puzzles, games, educational materials, toys, etc.)
• Writing center (paper, markers, scissors, glue, dictation, support of dramatic play)