Manchester Child Care Center based on the Creative Curriculum, adapted for two age groups—older toddlers (20-36 months) and preschoolers (37-66 months)—with an emphasis on child-centered learning and exploration. This plan covers essential areas for growth and development across literacy, math, science, and social studies through thematic, hands-on projects.

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Curriculum Overview

• Approach: Child-centered, project-based learning with age-appropriate materials and activities.

• Learning Areas: Literacy, Math, Science, Social Studies, Motor Skills, and Social-Emotional Development.

• Classes:

  • Class 1: Older Toddlers (20-36 months)

  • Class 2: Preschoolers (37-66 months)

 

Class 1: Older Toddlers (20-36 Months)

Goals for Older Toddlers:

• Foster curiosity through exploration and sensory-based activities.

• Support language development and early literacy.

• Develop basic counting and sorting skills.

• Encourage motor skill development and self-help abilities.

 

Sample Thematic Units and Activities:

1. Theme: "All About Me"

   • Literacy: Introduce picture books about families and feelings. Use interactive storytelling to build vocabulary.

   • Math: Count body parts (e.g., "two eyes, ten fingers").

   • Science: Explore mirrors, allowing children to observe and describe their reflections.

   • Social Studies: Create a family wall where children can share photos and discuss family members.

   • Motor Skills: Practice fine motor skills with playdough, allowing children to form shapes.

2. Theme: "Seasons and Weather"

   • Literacy: Read seasonal books and sing songs about weather.

   • Math: Sort objects by color to represent different seasons (e.g., green for spring, orange for autumn).

   • Science: Sensory bins with seasonal items (e.g., leaves in fall, flowers in spring).

   • Social Studies: Discuss weather changes and what clothing we wear in each season.

   • Motor Skills: Outdoor play to feel different types of weather (windy, sunny).

3. Theme: "Animals and Nature"

   • Literacy: Introduce animal-themed picture books and animal sounds.

   • Math: Basic sorting with animal figurines (e.g., by size or color).

   • Science: Observation of classroom plants, learning about caring for living things.

   • Social Studies: Simple discussions about where animals live (e.g., farms, forests).

   • Motor Skills: Gross motor play, imitating animal movements (hopping like a bunny, crawling like a bear).

 

Class 2: Preschoolers (37-66 Months)

Goals for Preschoolers:

• Advance language skills with storytelling and early writing.

• Introduce foundational math concepts like counting, sorting, and shapes.

• Encourage scientific thinking through exploration and experimentation.

• Develop social awareness through community and culture-related activities.

• Support social-emotional growth and cooperative play.

Sample Thematic Units and Activities:

1. Theme: "Community Helpers"

   • Literacy: Storybooks about different jobs (e.g., firefighter, doctor). Engage in role-playing to build vocabulary.

   • Math: Practice counting with items related to community helpers (e.g., counting toy stethoscopes, fire hats).

   • Science: Explore basic tools used by community helpers (magnifying glasses for “detectives,” toy tools for “builders”).

   • Social Studies: Set up a “neighborhood” in the classroom where children can pretend to be various helpers.

   • Motor Skills: Fine motor activities, such as sorting “mail” (letters) in a post office play setup.

2. Theme: "My Five Senses"

   • Literacy: Use descriptive books and vocabulary-building games related to the senses.

   • Math: Sort objects by textures (e.g., soft, rough) and classify them.

   • Science: Sensory exploration stations for each sense, like tasting stations or sound jars.

   • Social Studies: Discuss how senses help us understand our world and relate to each other.

   • Motor Skills: Tactile play activities to strengthen fine motor skills, like sensory bins with sand or rice.

3. Theme: "Growing Things"

   • Literacy: Read books about plants and gardening.

   • Math: Measure plant growth over time with simple counting tools (rulers).

   • Science: Plant seeds in the classroom and observe changes over weeks.

   • Social Studies: Discuss where food comes from and the role of farmers.

   • Motor Skills: Outdoor gardening activities that encourage gross motor skills.

4. Theme: "Transportation"

   • Literacy: Read about different modes of transport and introduce related vocabulary.

   • Math: Count and sort toy vehicles by type (car, bus, plane).

   • Science: Build ramps to see how cars move, exploring gravity.

   • Social Studies: Map out a simple “city” in the classroom, discussing places we go.

   • Motor Skills: Gross motor play to mimic vehicle movements (running like cars, “flying” like planes).

 

Daily Routine and Structure

Each day will include a mix of:

• Circle Time: Begin with greetings, songs, and thematic storytelling.

• Free Exploration: Stations are set up for children to engage in sensory, literacy, math, and creative activities.

• Guided Activity: Teachers introduce structured activities around the weekly theme.

• Outdoor Play: Physical activities for motor skill development.

• Quiet Time and Reflection: Opportunities for self-regulation and winding down.

 

Assessment and Family Involvement

• Observation and Documentation: Teachers will document children’s progress through observation notes and photos.

• Parent Involvement: Share weekly themes and encourage parents to reinforce topics at home through reading, discussions, or simple activities.

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