Early Learning

A Glance at UCiC’s Preschool Program

3 year olds and those turning 4 have pre-school classes with the above activities to help them learn colors, shapes and spatial relationships. Their program contains a range of learning experiences to help them gain self-esteem, self-awareness, self-control, and decision making abilities. They also learn about nutrition, health, community helpers and personal safety.

Spiritual Development

• Basic Bible stories, songs and concepts

• Monthly character traits and their meanings

• A portion of a Bible verse for each trait

• Applying the traits in school with classmates and teachers

Social / Emotional Development

• Group skills as cooperating, sharing, taking turns and negotiating

• Showing Jesus’ love and respect to everyone

• Developing self-esteem and learning that each child is special

General Cognitive Development

• Recognizing likeness and differences

• Matching colors, sizes and shapes, and then categorizing

• Developing logical thinking skills

• Follow two part directions (such as “Put your toys away and come to the table”)

• Spatial concepts and opposites (such as; up/down, in/out, over/under)

Language Development

• Using imagination (storytelling by “reading” a book, puppets, dramatic play)

• Talking clearly in front of a group and sharing personal experiences

• Learning new words in vocabulary and memory games

• Learning songs, finger plays, and rhymes

• Making relevant verbal contributions in small group discussion

• Expression using art materials

Numbers Development

• Match and sort objects

• Rote count to ten, then count ten objects

Science/Health/Social Studies

• Simple concepts about such themes as: dinosaurs, plants, shadows, healthy habits, animals, community helpers, international customs.

• Learning about holidays

A Glance at UCiC’s Pre-Kindergarten Program

Children in the Pre-Kindergarten program will be given opportunities to learn the following. Since children learn in different ways, and at their own pace not all children will master all areas:

Bible & Music

• Learn basic Bible stories & familiar and new songs.

• Understand the month’s character quality and how to apply it.

• Memorize 1 or 2 verses each month.

• Begin to talk to God in their own words.

• Know Jesus loves us and desires our love and obedience.

Numbers

• Learn to rote count to 100.

• Learn concepts of numbers to 20.

• Count 30 objects accurately.

• Recognize the numerals 0-30.

• Sort, compare, order, pattern, and graph objects.

Phonics

• Learn the names of all letters.

• Learn 1 sound for each letter. (Many will learn both short and long vowel sounds.)

• Blend a consonant and a vowel-m a (as map starts).

• Blend short phonetic words and sentences. (A few may begin to sound out “Jack and Jill went up the hill.”)

Writing

• Learn to use pencils and crayons effectively.

• Learn to properly print first name.

• Print capital and small letters-in the air, on a path, with a model, then (hopefully) alone.

• Begin forming numerals 0-20.

Science, Health & Social Studies

• Learn simple concepts for units studied such as insects, magnets, fire safety, food groups, plants, seasons, weather, and personal safety & 9-1-1.

• Enjoy collections, experiments and making discoveries.

• Begin to learn about other people, places and times.

• Become aware of current events-primarily thru children’s newspapers.

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Show & Tell

• Learn to talk clearly (& loud enough) in front of a group.

• Develop care of own property, respect for others’ things.

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Motor Skills

• Improve large muscle skills, hand/eye coordination, strength and balance.

• Develop listening and cooperation.

Art

• Enjoy a variety of art experiences

• Extend coloring, cutting, pasting and painting skills