Preschools aim to prepare children for kindergarten through structured and varied lesson plans. Common themes include animals, numbers, and seasons, with opportunities for creativity and exploration. Lesson plans can be incorporated into every aspect of the preschool day.
The primary focus of many preschools is to prepare children for kindergarten. This is a good goal to keep in mind when preparing lesson plans for kindergarten. While children this age tend to learn best by exploring and using their creativity, they are usually also quick to learn how to follow a certain amount of structure. A varied lesson plan that includes opportunities for exercise, social skill development, themed projects, and free play is usually best for nurturing young minds.
Many preschools will have a fixed schedule for each day within which both the teacher and the children can be creative. For example, a typical day might include time for outdoor play, a time for snacks, a time for free play where children can explore different activity stations, and then a time to gather for stories or songs, which is often defined circle time. With a structure like this, lesson plans for kindergarten can be woven into each section of the day, or only in particular portions, depending on the teacher’s decision and, in a cooperative preschool, perhaps even the parental input.
Some common themes to use for preschool lesson plans include designs that focus on animals, numbers, letters, the seasons, and plants. Lesson plans can also include different types of materials, such as playdough, rice, water, and various types of art materials. A teacher may also want to explore different areas, including science, music, home activities, and nature. Providing opportunities for children to explore in their own way can also be helpful, such as scheduling a time where some children can read books on a particular topic while others do a hands-on project exploring the same topic.
The best lesson plans for kindergarten typically give kids the opportunity to use their creativity as they learn about a wide range of topics. This can include activities such as art projects where children combine different materials in a variety of colors or textures to create a similar object. For example, the theme could be butterflies, the general shape of which the teacher could cut out of card stock, but the children could decorate them as they please.
While most lesson plans are only incorporated into certain parts of the school day, they can be woven into every element of the preschool. A theme can be used for one or more activities during free play or incorporated into other regularly scheduled activities such as circle time songs or playground activities. Depending on how the teacher sets up the lesson plan and the complexity and flexibility of the topic, a theme can be used for a school day, a week or an entire section of the school. In some cases a preschool will specialize in one area, such as nature, art or music, and lesson plans will be more specifically geared towards those areas.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
