Homeschool Curriculum for Preschool

Making a Customized Preschool Home School Program

Dec 7, 2008 Lisa Russell

Private preschools, like La Petite Academy, use a preschool curriculum that is easy to duplicate at home, using free preschool activities and books for preschool learning

A systematic approach to creating lesson plans for preschool themed learning, or unit studies, is well within the reach of any homeschooling family. Taking a cue from reputable private preschool programs, parents can make homemade lesson plans to reflect each child's interests and favorite activities.

Private Preschools

Since preschools have several children to manage, their curriculum is designed to make the best use of children's waxing and waning energy levels. For example, activities that require large motor skills like playing outside are alternated throughout the day with other activities, that use fine motor skills or critical thinking or expressiveness. Also, a preschooler's natural inclination to build forts, dress up and tell stories is harnessed with activities that allow them to learn naturally.

Preschool Learning Themes

To aid in planning, and give focus, interest and variety throughout the year, a curriculum for preschool often has different themes. For example, even though number play occurs every day at 9am, some days it will mean counting dinosaur toys, when the theme is dinosaurs. When the theme is fruit, they'll be counting strawberries. Dress-up during community helpers week will involve pretending to be a firefighter, or role-playing a police officer or banker

Making a Homeschool Curriculum for Preschool

Begin with your child's interests. On a sheet of paper, list the things your child likes, like dinosaurs, robots, aliens, cooking, and ballerinas. On the other side of the page, list the playtime activities that your child often engages in.

Each theme, or unit study, will consist of literature, usually picture books shared with the child or a chapter book that you read aloud. You will also need to include mathematical play, which means counting, classifying, and ordering at the preschool level. Artistic expression is also important, as are cooperative learning experiences, community involvement, observation and exploration, verbal, musical and whole-body activities.

Split the school year into 2-4 week time periods, and plan to focus on one theme at a time. Using your child's interests and favorite activities, make sure that each area of learning is being addressed. It's not necessary to duplicate a private preschool's time schedule, which often means 2-3 hour nap and measured time in each activity. There's no reason, in a homeschooling environment, to make the child stop something he's enjoying.

Make use of free preschool activities in your community, like library and book store story times. Homeschooling is about making the world their classroom, instead of being confined to the dining room table. Free worksheets and printable activities are available online, as are websites for learning. Be resourceful, and you can create a curriculum for preschool homeschool that meets a child's learning needs and their personal needs at the same time.

The copyright of the article Homeschool Curriculum for Preschool in Homeschooling is owned by Lisa Russell. Permission to republish Homeschool Curriculum for Preschool in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.