Preschool Objectives

To spiritually, socially, emotionally, physically, and cognitively prepare children and their families for the coming years of formal schooling.

Spiritual

Understand that God is a loving God

• understand that Jesus is God’s Son
• know that Jesus wants to initiate a personal relationship with each person

Understand that the Bible is a special book

• understand that the Bible is God’s Word
• know that the Bible is truth (stories that are fact, not fantasy)
• comprehend that Bible truths share character lessons

Use prayer to express their thoughts and needs to God

• understand that prayer is talking to God
• know they can request His help to take care of them
• know they can ask for His help in being kind and thoughtful to others

Freely share about God, Jesus, and the Bible with others

• talk about spiritual things as “real”
• speak spontaneously about spiritual things

Know God created the world

• have enjoyed direct experiences with nature
• know that God wants each person to care for the world

Enjoy the process of moving from curiosity to satisfaction in a project because God delights in their work

• take pride in their own work
• have positive attitudes about involvement in projects

Social/Emotional

Enjoy and initiate friendships with a variety of individuals

• develop friendships with those who may not be the same gender, race, or age, or have the same ability
• benefit from the inclusiveness of the emotional culture of the classroom, which celebrates the gifts and talents of all members

Begin to learn the art of sharing

• share their own ideas with friends and family
• share toys or other items with friends and family

Begin showing empathy and kindness

• show empathy to family members
• express empathy to friends
• value familial relationships and understand the importance of obeying parents and teachers

Use language to express self, developing positive conflict resolution

• express both positive and negative emotions
• observe teachers who model and scaffold to this end

Develop self-confidence in self-initiated activities

• gain competence through age-appropriate activities
• have opportunities to share their new skills with others
• master new skills through encouragement and direction from the teacher

Begin to exhibit self-control

• begin to understand and control their emotions
• begin to act appropriately, whether or not they are directly interacting with an adult

Be comfortable participating in group discussions

• enjoy and participate in child-to-child and childto-adult interactions
• communicate effectively using their words
• be able to attend to other’s comments

Physical

Acquire and refine the fundamental movements of balance, movement, touch, and coordination

• enjoy rhythm and movement
• explore these fundamental movements through time, activities, and equipment that is made available to them
• actively pursue gross motor activity

Acquire and develop fine motor skills by becoming acquainted with and having time to use the appropriate equipment and materials that aid in this development

Recognize that their body is created by God, will take special responsibility to care for it

• be introduced to health and nutrition
• make good food and activity choices

Cognitive

General:

Be able to engage with others in learning activities, including the ability to explore, create, experiment, observe, plan, analyze, reason, investigate, and question

Initiate investigation as a result of carefully observing their surroundings

Enjoy creative expression

• be encouraged to express creativity within their own multiple intelligences and are provided the materials for this expression
• be free to work with mediums that uniquely express the creative element for process art
• write songs and stories
• use imagination in dramatic center play
• find creative solutions to problems that arise during center play

Numeracy:

Understand math vocabulary, concepts, and directed activities

• have appropriate counting, sorting, and comparing skills
• work well with manipulatives to achieve an appropriate transition into formal schooling

Language and Literacy:

Understand the importance and use of language in the environment

• be able to participate in receptive language activities using literature as the foundational tool
• have a desire to look at books with text and illustrations
• engage in expressive language experiences that foster growth in language proficiency

Have cultivated prewriting skills in the context of emergent literacy

• be able to write their own name and some alphabet letters
• spontaneously choose to use writing implements
• understand that print carries meaning

Be aware of different letter sounds

• possibly begin to hear rhyming sounds in prominent words
• become phonemically aware through classroom activities designed for that purpose