NURSERY (3-YEAR OLDS)
Overview
St. Augustine School Nursery Program provides a warm, loving environment that is designed to consider the development of each child in order to meet his/her individual needs. Emphasis is placed on Christian values and learning in a nurturing atmosphere through example and instruction. Children are given diverse choices that lead to independence, self-confidence, self-control, and a sense of responsibility. Through play and hands-on experiences, children are given the opportunity to become acquainted with all aspects of the learning and play environment.
Cognitive Skills
Literacy
By the end of the Nursery year, students will:
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actively take part in group discussions
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listen to others
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communicate personal experiences or interests
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play and experience developmental naming and sorting of wordslisten to and use formal and informal language
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listen to a variety of age-appropriate literature
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become familiar with letters and print
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listen to stories and poems that contain rhythm and rhyme
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dictate stories about their pictures
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make books with teachers
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name main body parts
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recognize their names
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sequence events in stories
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recall details
Math
By the end of the Nursery year, students will:
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sort and categorize by color and size
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recognize shapes
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listen to and name numbers
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develop an understanding of more and less
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sing songs and do finger play involving numbers
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engage in measuring and counting through cooking
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use meaningful counting to ten
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be introduced to simple patterns
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arrange objects in sequence by size
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develop visual perception
Science
By the end of the Nursery year, students will:
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conduct simple investigation of objects
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make predictions
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share scientific observations through art
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cook to experience and explore chemical changes
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discuss weather and seasons
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explore and discuss air characteristics
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compare and discuss natural materials
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observe the needs of living things
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use senses to explore the environment
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observe seasonal changes
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describe and compare familiar and unfamiliar objects
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develop and explain proper use of materials and tools
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observe and describe the way animals move and meet their needs
Religion
By the end of the Nursery year, students will:
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learn prayer before meals
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discuss God as always being present in our lives
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discuss God’s ever-present love for us
Music
By the end of the Nursery year, students will:
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sing songs with clear, easy melodies
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engage in songs with finger play
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engage in singing independently
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engage in listening to and singing songs
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engage in singing in group
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use soft and loud voices
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learn repetition
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practice songs with rhythmic and body movement
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engage in use of musical instruments
Safety and Health
By the end of the Nursery year, students will:
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identify ways to prevent injuries
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listen to age-appropriate stories about health and safety
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discuss dental hygiene
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discuss healthy food choices
Social/Emotional Development
By the end of the Nursery year, students will:
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make friends and play cooperatively
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learn to share and take turns
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develop confidence through self-satisfying activities
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separate comfortably from parents
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begin to follow simple directions
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try new things
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respect property
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sit in group for a short time
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develop observation skills
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work and play independently
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seek help when needed
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take pride in work
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complete activities
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use materials appropriately
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clean up cooperatively
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link feelings to emotions
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discuss ways to problem-solve
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talk about others’ feelings
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describe members of family and parents’ role
Physical/Gross Motor Development
By the end of the Nursery year, students will:
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push/pull
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walk or balance: slow, fast, forward, backward
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dance
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use climbing structures
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run, skip, gallop, crawl, slither, hop, jump, each in accompaniment to music and stories
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move to music at own pace
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invent original ideas through dance, movement or games
Fine Motor Development
By the end of the Nursery year, students will:
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experiment freely with art materials
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experience enjoyment through fine motor activities
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develop individuality
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use finger play with poems and music
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put together a variety of puzzles at different levels
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manipulate play dough with many different tools