Curriculum
Iowa Early Learning Standards for Preschool
Noah's Ark Preschool's curriculum and assessments are based on the Iowa Early Learning Standards for Preschool (3rd Edition). Within these standards, there are 8 areas of learning:
1. Social and Emotional Development
2. Physical Well-Being and Motor Development
3. Approaches to Learning
4. Social Studies
5. Science
6. Creative Arts
7. Mathematics
8. Communication, Language, and Literacy
Colors
The 3-4 year olds will learn colors using the following helpful associations:
Clifford Red
Carrot Orange
Sunshine Yellow
Grass Green
Sky Blue
Purple Grapes
Bubblegum Pink
Nighttime Black
Snow White
Elephant Gray
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
Shapes
The 3-4 year olds will learn shapes with the following characters and their corresponding songs:
Sally Circle
Olivia Oval
Sammy Square
Roger Rectangle
Tracy Triangle
Danny Diamond
Stella Star
Heather Heart
Number Recognition
The 3-4 year olds will learn numbers 0-10, and the 4-5 year olds will learn numbers 0-20 using the following rhymes and cues:
0: Superhero zero
1: Straight line down, and then you're done. That is how you make a one.
2: Around and back on the railroad track. Two, two!
3: Around the tree, around the tree. That is how you make a three.
4: Knock on the door, it's number 4.
5: Stop sign 5
6: Belly button 6
7: Heaven 7
8: Snowman 8
9: Smiley face 9 OR A circle and a line makes smiley face 9.
10: Big fat hen, it's number 10.
11: One and one make 11 in the sun.
12: One and two make 12 at the zoo. Rawr!
13: One and three makes Queen 13!
14: (usually kids get this if they cover the 1 and see the 4)
15: One and five, let's go for a drive. Fif-teen! (sounds like a horn honking)
16: (usually kids get this if they cover the 1 and see the 6)
17: (usually kids get this if they cover the 1 and see the 7)
18: (usually kids get this if they cover the 1 and see the 8)
19: (usually kids get this if they cover the 1 and see the 9)
20: Blast off! Number 20!
Learning Without Tears
The 4-5 year olds will learn letter recognition and basic handwriting skills using Learning Without Tears (Get Set for School).
Learning Without Tears uses four shapes to build Mat Man. The shapes include big line, little line, big curve, and little curve. These shapes are also used to build all the capital letters. Click the Mat Man Video to learn more.
See the Sound: Visual Phonics
The 4-5 year olds will learn letter sounds using Visual Phonics. Visual Phonics allows children to see, hear, and do the letter sounds, with corresponding hand shapes (signals) for each sound. This method appeals to visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners and engages multiple parts of the child's brain. Click the Visual Phonics Video to learn more.
Christian Education
Noah's Ark Preschool is a non-denominational Christian Preschool. Children and teachers pray several times during each preschool session. Children in the 3-4 year old class have monthly visits from the Pastor. Children in the 4-5 year old class visit the Pastor in the Chapel twice per month. They hear Bible stories during these visits. Children in the 4-5 year old class have a Bible unit on Mondays. We use The Beginners Bible for this unit. Religious instruction is also embedded within other areas of the curriculum and is openly discussed during the preschool day.