Curriculum

Children will be introduced to the names of different dinosaurs and their meanings. They will understand that the size of dinosaurs ranged from very small to very large. This will help children understand the differences between dinosaurs and other animals.

Children will use and share their observations of local weather conditions to describe patterns over time. They will learn to observe and talk about different types of weather, such as sunny, cloudy, rainy, and warm days. For example, children will count the number of sunny days, windy days, and rainy days in a month.

Children will construct an argument supported by evidence for how plants and animals (including humans) can change the environment to meet their needs. They will learn about examples such as a squirrel digging in the ground to hide its food, or tree roots breaking concrete.

Children will use a model to represent the relationship between the needs of different plants and animals (including humans) and the places they live. They will learn that different plants and animals need specific things to survive and how these needs are met by their habitats. For example, children will understand that deer eat buds and leaves, so they usually live in forests, and that grasses need sunlight, so they often grow in meadows.

Children will learn to directly compare two objects that share a measurable attribute, determining which has "more of" or "less of" that attribute, and describe the difference. For instance, they can compare the heights of two children and identify one as taller or shorter.

Children will develop the ability to hold and manipulate information over short periods, applying it to different tasks.

Children will be able to create their own patterns or methods for classifying objects. Foster their thinking about patterns by asking questions like, “What would come next?” “What happens repeatedly?” “Do you see a pattern?” and “Is this a pattern? Why do you think so?” This approach promotes critical thinking and helps children understand the concepts of order and repetition.

Children will be able to think and reason logically, apply mathematical knowledge in a variety of problem-solving situations, and devise novel solutions.

Children will learn to correctly identify and name shapes, regardless of their orientations or overall sizes.

Children will identify shapes as two-dimensional (lying in a plane, “flat”) or three- dimensional (“solid”). (Squares, Circles, Triangles, Rectangles, Hexagons, Cubes, Cones, Cylinders, And Spheres).