Curriculum & Activities

“Curriculum” is a term used to describe all of the components or elements used in our early education programs.  The City of Dublin’s Preschool curriculum encompasses the following foundations:

Social/Emotional Development

  • Building relationships
  • Community
  • Conflict resolution
  • Cooperative play
  • Emotions
  • Empathy
  • Moral development
  • Self-identity
  • Sense of competence

Language, Literacy & Communication

  • Alphabetic knowledge
  • Book knowledge
  • Comprehension
  • Concepts about print
  • English language learning
  • Phonological awareness
  • Reading
  • Speaking
  • Vocabulary
  • Writing

Mathematics

  • Counting
  • Data analysis
  • Measuring
  • Number words and symbols
  • Part-whole relationships
  • Patterns
  • Shapes
  • Spatial awareness
  • Unit
Science & Technology
  • Classifying
  • Communicating ideas
  • Drawing conclusions
  • Experimenting
  • Natural and physical world
  • Observing
  • Predicting
  • Tools and technology
Creative Arts
  • Appreciating the arts
  • Art
  • Learning creative expression
  • Movement
  • Music
  • Pretend play
Physical Development & Health
  • Body awareness
  • Fine-motor skills
  • Gross-motor skills
  • Healthy behavior
  • Personal care
Class activities for both programs are centered on developing these described foundations within a core of play-based scheduled activities:
  • Arts and crafts
  • Circle time
  • Free play (inside and outside)
  • Games
  • Music
  • Sharing
Our typical day begins with the freedom to explore and build on social development. We also gather in small groups for activities that provide the opportunity for individual attention. These group activities include:
  • Science and sensory area - Enhances sensory awareness and development through developmentally appropriate science activities
  • Free arts and crafts area - Complements freedom of expression and our thematic learning component with specific focus on developing fine motor skills
  • Academic area - Focusing on specific symbols, English language comprehension, and concept skills
  • Block area - Building and engineering, experimenting, developing mathematical and analytical skills
  • Dramatic play - Promoting creativity and social development
  • Manipulative area - Strengthens cognitive development, alpha and number words and symbols, counting, part-whole relationships, shapes, spatial awareness, measuring, unit, patterns, data analysis, and so much more!
We encourage all students to participate in craft and academic activities.  Daily, we gather together on the carpet for thematically-based lessons, stories, songs, and finger plays, which continue to build on our theme for the week.  One large group activity is included to help prepare children for the elementary classroom environment.  The children also enjoy snack time and outdoor recess every day.