1. Maryland State Department of Education Division of Early Childhood Education Office of Child Care, Licensing Branch Resource Guide 1

2. What is Curriculum? ………………………………………….3 Program Requirements ……………………………………...6 Language and Literacy ……………………………………….7 Mathematics…………………………………………………... 9 Science……………………………………………………………11 Social Studies ………………….……………………………….13 Arts…………………………………………………………….....16 Room Arrangement …………………………………………..18 Resources………………………………………………………..23 2

3. A curriculum is a plan for your program. It is a framework for what actually happens in a planned environment when children interact with materials, with other children, and with adults. 3 THE CREATIVE CURRICULUM FOR FAMILY CHILD CARE

4.  Is well-planned, prepared, and implemented.  Helps achieve goals for children’s learning.  Is developmentally appropriate.  Allows for individualized activities.  Plans for adult-led activities as well as child- led activities. 4

5.  Choose a topic of interest to the children in care to plan activities around.  Themes typically last from one to two weeks or up to a month depending on the children’s continuing interest.  Children can help choose the themes. 5 Today’s theme: CAMPING Activities could include:  Cooking smores or making no bake smores;  Creating a camp site in dramatic play;  Reading books about camping;  Making campfire pictures by blowing red and yellow paint through a straw; and  Taking a nature walk to observe animals and collect collage materials.

6. 1. Activities Each child in care shall be provided with indoor and outdoor activities that are appropriate to the age, needs, and capabilities of the child. 2. Materials and Equipment A. Activity materials shall: (1) Be developmentally appropriate, in good repair, clean, nontoxic, and free from hazards including lead paint; and (2) Support learning in: (a) Language and literacy; (b) Mathematics; (c) Science; (d) Social studies; and (e) The arts. B. The variety and quantity of materials and equipment for indoor and outdoor activities shall be adequate to implement activities. 6

7.  Increase children’s vocabulary by reading a variety of books to them and naming objects in the environment.  Encourage print awareness by pointing out and reading words throughout the children’s environment. Toys and materials can be labeled in the family child care setting.  Help children increase their narrative skills by allowing time for them to tell you a story and asking questions while reading a story to them.  Children can learn letter knowledge by drawing letters and pointing out letters in their environment. Make the letter sounds so that children can differentiate between letters. 7 Preschool language and literacy is gaining the skills to become successful readers.

8. Books Book props Puppets Books on tape Flannel board stories Labeled items Letter recognition activities Writing activities 8 Singing Beginning letter sounds activities Alphabet puzzles Creating “books” Matching games Dry erase boards

9.  Numbers: counting objects, reciting nursery rhymes with numbers, reading counting books  Geometry and Spatial Relations: constructing shapes, recognizing shapes in the environment  Measurement: comparing sizes, measuring unconventionally (feet, yarn, blocks)  Patterns: recognizing patterns of different colors and sizes, reproducing and copying patterns  Analyzing Data: recording data on graphs and charts, comparing data results 9 Preschool math is hands-on activities, not sitting at desks with worksheets or memorizing.

10. Blocks of all different types Counting songs Books about counting, sorting, patterning, shapes, etc. Counting, patterning, sorting, sequencing, stacking activities Bucket balance for comparing weights of things Number recognition activities Measuring (cups, spoons, rulers) Money activities (cash register, play money) Shape activities Puzzles Dominoes Bead stringing Children’s calculators Peg boards 10

11.  Science activities will encourage adventure and curiosity, help children become problem solvers, and develop an understanding of the natural world.  Some examples of science activities could include planting and growing seeds, watching the life cycle of frogs or butterflies, and experimenting with objects that float or sink. 11 Preschool science is also hands-on activities that will require minimal adult explanation.

12. Books related to science themes (colors, life cycles, growing, senses, weather, animals, insects) Color activities Sink/float Senses activities (sound cylinders, smell bottles) Magnets Magnifying glass Toy animals and insects Bug viewers Binoculars Nutrition activities (food pyramid, cooking) Growing plants Pictures of animals, weather, etc. Puzzles of life cycles, animals, etc. Water/sand table Musical instruments Live animals (fish, hamsters, rabbits, butterflies, worms) Nature items (leaves, pine cones, shells, deserted nests, rocks) X-rays Cooking activities 12

13.  In a group setting: Children learn routines. They interact with other children of different races/ethnicities. Conflict resolution begins to emerge as well as a sense of personal responsibility.  In the neighborhood: Children begin to observe their surroundings (home, bank, restaurants, fire station, etc.) as well as the stores in the area (grocery, book stores, barber shops, etc.). They begin to learn why each place is important.  On field trips: Children can discuss what was observed and act out the things learned on trips to local restaurants, banks, fire houses, etc.  During holidays: Children can learn about cultural history and different cultural traditions. Children can also learn to respect the traditions of other religions and ethnicities.  Having special visitors: Family members as well as community helpers can share information with the children. 13 Preschool social studies helps children gain an understanding of community outside of their home. Children begin to make friends and decisions in a group setting.

14. Books about community helpers, other countries, transportation, celebrations Pictures of families, differently-able people, places, community helpers, businesses Flannel boards of different people and community helpers Map puzzles Globe Transportation toys and rugs Feelings activities Personal identity activities Dramatic play supplies Housekeeping toys Multicultural dolls and accessories Doll house with accessories Different culture toys, clothing, food, and musical instruments 14

15. A prop box is simply a box filled with objects that can be used by children to play out a particular theme. (The Creative Curriculum) 15 Examples:  Office: pads of paper, stapler, paper clips, old typewriter, adding machine or calculator, telephone, pencils, stamp pad and stamps, briefcase  Painter: buckets, paintbrushes and rollers, painter’s caps, drop cloth, paint stirrers, old shirts  Supermarket: cash register, empty food containers, plastic fruits and vegetables, paper bags, scale, baskets to hold food, play money

16. 16 Visual Arts (drawing, painting, creating with clay, etc.) Children’s creativity is encouraged through open-ended art activities. Art activities can improve fine motor skills. Hand-eye coordination also benefits from preschool art activities. Art provides children with another way to express themselves. A variety of supplies should be available so children can access them during free play and create their own masterpiece. Music and Movement (singing, dancing, playing instruments, etc.) Singing/chanting can aid in transitions and routine activities. Music can help with mood. Play soft music at naptime or fast music for clean-up time. It can be used as a social activity. Benefits of music and movement are: group participation, increased social skills, boosts creativity and imagination, develops both small and large motor skills, improves balance and coordination, helps express emotions, and betters listening skills.

17. Easel (used indoors or outdoors) Variety of paints and brushes Variety of types of paper Crayons and markers Sponge stamps Playdough and tools Children’s scissors Collage materials Glue Stickers Pictures of famous paintings Cassette players/headphones Musical instruments 17 The use of coloring books, dittos, and pre-cut models should be limited. They are not art experiences and limit children’s creativity. PROCESS vs. PRODUCT

18.  Label items with pictures and words for easy clean up.  Display toys so that children can see what the choices are and return the materials when done. Toy boxes are not recommended.  Offer a manageable selection of toys. Too many toys can be overwhelming and too little can cause arguments between children.  Rotate the toy selection on a regular basis. 18

19. 19 DRAMATIC PLAY LIBRARY/QUIET AREA MANIPULATIVES (BLOCKS, PUZZLES, TRANSPORTATION)

20. 20 LIBRARY AREA CHILD SIZE FURNITURE ACCESSIBLE TOYS

21. 21 ORGANIZED TOY STORAGE WITH LABELS

22. 22 BLOCK STORAGE OPEN FLOOR SPACE GOOD SELECTION OF TOYS

23. Visit your local resource and referral office or contact your local school system to get additional information and materials to help you plan your program. 23