Mother Goose Time Curriculum

Experience Early Learning
Preschool Curriculum • Since 1984
Get Started
with your
Mother Goose Time Curriculum
Tips for setting up and planning your curriculum experience.
Welcome to Mother Goose Time!
This booklet will help you understand the features of your Mother Goose Time curriculum.
It will suggest ways to set up your environment, plan your day, and use the many materials
included in your monthly kits.
Mother Goose Time is a comprehensive curriculum that is research-based and supports the
physical, social-emotional and cognitive development of your children. A skill continuum is listed
in the back of each lesson plan book for your reference. For more information on the skills your
children learn with Mother Goose Time visit our website at www.mothergoosetime.com.
Mother Goose Time
Skill Web
Communication
Emergent
Reading
Listening
Emergent
Writing
Self
Direction
Fine Motor
Language
Arts
Self
Concept
sory • th
lti-sen
em
mu
e
critical thin
kin
g
Gross Motor
•
n experie
nds-o
nc
ha
es
Technology
•
sed
ba
Physical
Development
•
Social
Relationships
Socio-Emotional
Development
Health
& Safety
•
rning through p
lay
lea
Science
Numbers
Mathematics
Shapes
Physical
Science
Creative
Development
Earth
Science
Patterns
Logic
Life Science
Dramatic
Play
Music &
Dance
Visual Arts
We believe children
learn through authentic
experiences. As they
play, they construct
knowledge across
multiple domains.
We are here to support you as you teach and inspire your children to be curious and joyful in their learning.
In Your Curriculum Box
Open a box of discovery! Each theme-based curriculum box
includes two different types of bags: a Teacher Resource
Bag and 20+ Day Bags. The first kit you order each school
year will also include a Welcome Kit.
Welcome Kit
Use throughout the year.
These special materials help you set up your
learning space. You will use and add to
these displays throughout the year.
Teacher Tool Bag
Use throughout the month.
This bag is filled with important teacher
reference materials such as: Lesson Plan
Book, Planning Calendar, Skills Chart,
Monthly Music CD, and Gathering List.
Day Bags
Use on a daily basis.
Match the number listed on your Daily Topic Poster to the day
number in your Lesson Plan Book. Inside the Day Bag are the
materials you will need to successfully facilitate the suggested
activities for that day. Some materials are classroom materials,
others are for each child to manipulate, create, color and cut.
Have a question? Call 800-523-6933 | Or email us info@mothergoosetime.com
Welcome Kit
Weather
•Use the Weather Sticks and Weather
Wheel to record the weather each day.
•Create Weather buckets to track the
weather each week.
Little Helper
•Set up a Little Helper station with the
included labels.
•Assign children or ask them to
choose a job each day to encourage
responsibility.
Calendar
•Month labels are included in your
Welcome Kit to use with the monthly
calendar found in your Teacher Tool
Bag. Display them on a wall.
•Use the Calendar Pieces found in your
Teacher Tool Bag during circle time.
Shape Set
•Display the poster in your circle time
or math area.
•Use the monthly Photo Cube to reveal
the Shape of the Month found in your
Teacher Tool Bag.
•Collect all 9 shapes throughout
the year.
World Map
•Hang the map where children can
easily see it.
•Together, find the featured country
each month.
•Collect flags from around the world to
display in your room.
Number Line
•Post the entire Number Line or cut it
apart and add on number tiles one at
a time.
•Use the number line to identify
numbers, count, add and subtract
throughout the year.
Alphabet Strip
•Display the Alphabet Strip
at children’s eye level.
•Each month features
three letters that are also
reinforced with a Phonic
Set and Hands-On Letters.
Activity Area Signs
•Create special places for
your children to go and
discover learning on their
own. Post the activity signs
near these special places.
Circle Time Music CD
•Begin and close each day with music.
•Use the Mother Goose Time Greeting
Song to start your day.
•Sing fun new lyrics that reinforce the
theme concepts to the tune of
old familiar songs.
Healthy Plate
•Post this placemat in your
circle time or eating area.
•Each month collect another
Food Group Piece as you
learn about healthy habits.
Color Display
•Each month find two Color Wands
in Day Bags.
•Collect the Wands each month
and display them to reinforce ten
basic colors.
Friendship Nest
•Place this poster in your
circle time area.
•Collect Goslings each
month with featured
character traits.
Sign Language Poster
•Hang this poster of commonly used
signs on a wall at child’s eye level.
•Use signs throughout the day.
•Collect additional sign language
card in monthly Day Bags to add
to the poster.
Teacher Resource Bag
Lesson Plan Book
Available in English or Spanish
•Every day features an opening and
closing circle. Four+ activities with
extensions and a new idea for setting
up an activity area for open discovery.
Theme Web
•Each month features a broad theme.
Each week explores the theme from
a new perspective. Each daily
topic connects back to the
weekly exploration.
•Post the Theme Web for parents to
see all of the exciting topics you will
explore with the children.
Skills Chart
•All suggested activities reinforce
a combination of the 33 key
skills needed to prepare children
for kindergarten.
•Reference this chart to view the skill
objectives for each activity listed in your
Lesson Plan Book.
•If your state requires an alignment
between their state standards and
our Skill Continuum, please contact
info@mothergoosetime.com for an
alignment document.
Calendar and Calendar Pieces
•Use this calendar to keep track of
today’s date.
•Children learn number recognition,
patterning and counting.
Monthly Concept Tools
Hands-On Numbers & Letters, Shape
of the Month and Friendship Gosling
•Use these tools to reinforce key
concepts throughout the month.
•Save them all to have a complete set of
letters, numbers (1-20), friendship traits
and shapes.
Monthly Music CD
•This amazing children’s music CD
introduces your children to different
music genres and instruments
each month.
•Some songs are for singing, some
for dancing and others for listening
and relaxing.
•We believe music and art inspire the
heart, mind and body.
Teacher Newsletter
Including Planning Calendar
•A newsletter with information
just for you!
•The Planning Calendar summarizes the
recommended activities each day.
Scope and Sequence Flyer
•Reference this flyer to see the sequence
of themes for the school year and to
see which basic skills (letters, numbers,
shapes, etc.) are featured each month.
Gathering List
•Check this list for quick reference
to any supplies that are not included
in your kit.
Day Bags
Classroom Materials
Rebus Reader
Shape Cube
Rhyme Time Poster
Sorting Set
Matching Cards
Foam Shapes
Treasure Chest Riddles
Story Sequence Cards
Letter Sets (3 per Month)
Size It Up
Charting Choices
Photo Puzzle
Little Theatre
Sight Word Circles
Discover Science (2 per Month)
Word Family Cards
Feel Bag Item
Logic Game
Every month you receive a new set of these materials.
Brain and Body Box
Daily Topic Posters (1 per day)
World Discovery Card
Color Wands (2 per month)
Book of the Month
Counting Cards (2 per Month)
Food Group Piece
Look and Find Glasses with Poster
Recipe Cards (2 per Month)
Five Little Bumblebees
Folder Game
Participation Story and Pieces
Five little bumblebees, hiding in their hive.
Out comes the sun,
out come 1-2-3-4-5.
They’re on the way, looking for pollen on a bright sunny day.
Bee Finger Puppets
Photo Cards
Pattern Guide and Cards
Turn the page
to see the Day
Bag, per child
materials!
ASL Card
Shape Design Mat
© 2011 Mother Goose Time, Inc.
Day Bags
Five Little Bumblebees
Five little bumblebees, hiding in their hive.
Out comes the sun,
out come 1-2-3-4-5.
They’re on the way, looking for pollen on a bright sunny day.
© 2011 Mother Goose Time, Inc.
E
D
Z
B
D
F
C
A
G
Bee Finger Puppets
P
D
E
A
Per Child Materials
C
Z
G
B
F
12+ Art
Projects
Moensetohthleyr p!er
Plus th
rces.
child resou
Nametags
My Little Journal
Friendship Feather
Eco Kids Badge
Bilingual Book
I Can Write
I Can Read
Play Money
Postcard
Little Learning Cards
Children have something to make and take home every day!
2013/14 Themes
Scope and Sequence
and
Discover these exciting themes
ek.
explore a new question each we
Week 1
Experience
Month and Theme
September
Me and My Family
October
Down on the Farm
November
Community Helpers
December
Winter in the Woods
January
Baby Animals
February
Nursery Rhymes
March
Explore the Pond
April
Birds and Eggs
May
Bugs and Crawly Things
June
Treasure Island
Week 2
Experience
Week 3
Experience
Week 4
Experience
Letters &
Numbers
Shapes
Colors
Green &
Yellow
Who is in
your family?
What are
your feelings?
Who are your
friends?
What pets do
you have?
M, T & A
1, 10, 11
Circle
What animals
live on a farm?
What is in the barn?
What food grows
on a farm?
What do farmers do?
C, X & U
2, 12, 20
Triangle
Who keeps us safe?
Who helps us
learn and grow?
What places do we
go to in town?
Who entertains us?
D, Z & V
3, 13
Star
What animals live
in the woods?
How does the forest
change in the winter?
What do you wear
in the winter?
What does
your family do
in the winter?
W, O & H
4, 14
Square
White &
Red
How are baby
animals born?
How are
babies carried?
How do baby
animals stay safe?
How do babies
grow and change?
Q, G & Y
5, 15
Octagon
Brown &
Green
What number
rhymes do you know?
Who are your
favorite nursery
rhyme characters?
What food
rhymes do you know?
Which rhymes use
the word “little”?
I, R & J
6, 16
Heart
Pink &
Purple
What animals live
around the pond?
What plants grow
in the pond?
What insects live
around the pond?
What lives
in the pond?
F, P & K
7, 17
Diamond
Purple &
Blue
What can you find
in a bird’s nest?
What are the parts
of a bird?
What birds live in
your backyard?
How are bird
feathers different?
E, B & N
8, 18
Oval
Blue &
White
Where do bugs
build their homes?
What are the parts
of an insect?
How does
camouflage
protect a bug?
Which crawly things
live underground?
S, B & L
9, 19
Rectangle
Black &
Orange
What does a captain
need to sail a boat?
What can you find
on a beach?
What lives
inside a cave?
How do people have
fun on an island?
A-Z
1 - 20
All Shapes
Red &
Brown
Yellow &
Orange
Rainbow
Colors
We’re always coming up with new ideas, content subject to change.
Join us for our special summer camp editions:
July’s Let’s Be Superheroes and August’s Let’s Go Camping!
What do children learn about themselves, their community, nature and the world?
Our mission is to help children know who they are, love others, make healthy life choices and
to think critically when faced with the unknown. Children construct knowledge through everyday
experiences. We help you expose children to a wide range of experiences so that they can
better understand their relationships to other people, places and the world. Each month we send
you a new themed box filled with activity ideas, art project materials, music and books.
Save money with a curriculum subscription!
Set up Your Subscription Today, Call 800-523-6933 | Or email us info@mothergoosetime.com
Set up Your Environment
Set up Your Room
This room layout is only one suggested arrangement. Given your unique space, consider organizing your room layout to best
fit the needs and traffic patterns of your children. Place together louder, more active learning areas. On the opposite side of
the room, locate the quieter play or reading areas. Large group or circle time space can be an extension of larger activity
areas such as dramatic play or block area. Remember to decorate walls or hang child’s artwork at the children’s eye level.
By designing spaces for children’s height, interests and activity levels, you communicate to the children that they belong.
Active
(Lou der)
WET
Art
Studio
Pa
int
Pa
int
Circle Time &
Dramatic Play
Pa
int
Glue
Blocks
Science
Lab
San d
Table
Book Case
Reading
Corner
Passive
(Quieter)
Storage Shelving
Math
Zone
DRY
See more room set up ideas on Facebook: www.facebook.com/MotherGooseTime
Set up Your Activity Areas
Depending on your space, you may only have room to set up two or three activity areas at a time. Be creative with your
space. Outdoors can make a fascinating science lab. Tables can be art studios or even become underwater caves. Most
importantly, create tidy and cozy places where children want to visit and explore their imaginations during free-play time.
Put a few props in each area to encourage play. Be careful to not over-clutter these places.
Sensory
•Books
•Puppets
•Paper
•Envelopes
•Photos
•Stuffed animals
•Paper
•Child scissors
•Crayons and paint
•Easel
•Child-size table
and chairs
•Aprons
•Pattern blocks
•Sorting pieces
•Sorting buckets, cups
and trays
•Rulers
•Objects that sink
or float
•Sand, oats
and water
•Sand and water toys
Manipulative
•Found objects
from nature
(pinecones, rocks)
•Large magnets
•Rulers and
simple scale
•Bowls and plastic
eyedroppers
•Plants
•Mailbox
•Envelopes
•Paper
•Pencils
•Crayons
•Scissors
•Toy oven and sink
•Table settings
•Dress-up clothes
and costumes
•Dolls (multicultural)
•Telephone and
phone book
•Vacuum, mop,
broom and dustpan
•Cookbook and dishes
•Blocks
•Wheel toys
•Cardboard pieces
•Toy animals
and people
•Puzzles
•Books
•Pillows
•Individual
play toys
•Pegs and pegboard
•Building bricks
•Puzzles
•Tweezers
•Sandpaper blocks
•Bells and shakers
•Rhythm sticks
•CDs and player
•Scarves and ribbon
Each month add theme-related play materials to keep the
areas fresh and exciting. Need theme-related toys? We
feature educational thematic toys at our online store. Buy
the toys individually or purchase a complete thematic
Toy Box each month.
Toy Boxes include a labeled tote, toys from all areas of
learning, and activity cards for one low price.
Plan Your Day
Daily Routine
A daily routine will create an environment where children can experience a variety of planned and unplanned
(yet intentional) activities. Children thrive under a balance of active and quiet times. Offer children a variety of learning
experiences that include individual, small and large group settings. Within each of these settings, invite children to
determine how long you explore each activity and in what ways the activity evolves.
Mother Goose Time activities offer approximately three hours each day of intended instruction. We suggest many extensions
and activities to carry you through the free play and extended day schedules. Our recommended schedule is for a full day,
but please adapt as necessary to fit your time and children.
Full Day
Arrival – 8:30 a.m.
Meet and Greet
8:30 - 9:00 a.m.
Circle Time
9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
Free Play
10:00 - 10:15 a.m.
Snack
10:15 - 11:30 a.m.
Small Group
11:30 - 12:00 p.m.
Outside Play
12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Lunch
1:00 - 1:15 p.m.
Stor y Time
1:15 - 2:00 p.m.
Rest Time
2:00 - 3:15 p.m.
Disco very Time
3:15 - 3:30 p.m.
Snack
3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Outside Play
4:30 - 5:00 p.m.
Music Closing Time
of activity areas.
Welco me each child. Encourage free exploration
question of the day. Children explore the
Children sit in a large group and discuss the
song.
weather, calen dar, and learn a new rhyme or
sted transition activity in the Lesson
Transition from circle time to free play with sugge
build with blocks, sand/water, make art,
Plan Book. Children explore activity areas and
re.
play dress-up, or choose books to explo
ing, serving and clean-up.
Children participate in snack prep, hand wash
with you from the Lesson Plan Book,
While a few children participate in the activities
for their turn.
g
waitin
others play freely in activity areas while
e natural playscapes which allow
Children participate in active play outdo ors. Creat
and nature.
children to interact with bugs, plants, water, trees
serving and clean-up. Family style meals
Children participate in food prep, hand washing,
mathematics, and language skills.
skills,
social
to
are a great way to expose children
. Use your own books or the included
Explore books, letters, rhymes and storytelling
and activity in the Lesson Plan Book.
Mother Goose materials, suggested language
, low lights, books or indivi dual toys that
Provide quiet activities such as soothing music
relate a restful ambiance.
while teacher uses this time to focus on
Children play with materials in activity areas
one-to-one activities with each child.
serving and clean-up.
Children participate in food prep, hand washing,
experience nature in play. Bring “indo or”
Children participate in outdo or activities and
ience.
materials out to blend the indoor/outdoor exper
t on the day’s activities.
Children participate in the closing song and reflec
Self-Help Routines
Mealtime Routines
Be sure to include time in your routines for children
to help themselves. Offer more time for clean-up,
bathroom breaks, getting ready to play outside, etc.
Children develop social, emotional, communication and
reasoning skills as they use self-help skills. This is an
important and natural time for young children to learn
and apply skills.
Use the “teachable moments” that naturally arise during
eating times to expand children’s learning and thinking.
Engage children in the planning, prep, serving and
clean-up of meals. Encourage children to take the lead
on the topic of conversation as they sit and eat with
you or their peers. Be responsive to their inquiries.
Encourage social skills and promote manners.
Half Day
routine
a half- day program; simply follow the Full Day
Mother Goose Time is easy to adapt if you run
and decide
er Goose Time activities in the Lesson Plan Book
up to lunch time. Review the suggested Moth
time.
play
e
play, snack, small group or even during outsid
which activities to do during circle time, free
have in
activities that best meet the learning goals you
Rearrange the activities as neede d to fit in the
them
send
to
try
If you cannot get to all of the activities,
mind and match the interests of the children.
home weekly as family extension ideas.
2-3 Day Programs
days
easily adapted for programs that run only 2-3
The Mother Goose Time Curriculum can also be
ing
learn
decide which activities will best meet the
a week. Review the activities for the week and
, use
monthly theme is broken into four main topics
goals and interests of your children. Since each
learn
can
the extra materials for families, so they
those main topics as a weekly lesson. Send home
or any
include the My Little Journal, I Can Read book
at home. Tools that make great family projects
of the art projects.
Over 60 Great Ideas
Create excitement with
calendar and weather time.
Coupon Code: Circle
99
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Curriculum for 1-5 year-olds
Mother Goose Time is uniquely designed to support the growth and development of your children from age one
through age six. By partnering the core curriculum kit with the use of the simplified and advanced supplements, you
can run a multi-age program that unites all children around a common theme experience. Parents find this especially
rewarding during evening discussions when both their 2 year-old and 4 year-old share in a conversation.
rs
Preschoole
Advanced
Learners
Does your child
need more challenge?
Mother Goose Time Core Kit +
More Math and More Reading
Mother Goose Time Core Kit
The supplies and materials are designed for multi-age
groups. However, the included Lesson Plan Book is
written for 3-5 year-olds.
Toddlers
Does your child
need simplified activities?
If you find your children are ready for more
advanced activities in reading and math, we
offer the “More Math and More Reading” activity
books. These workbooks offer additional activities
for your children to independently practice more
advanced reading, writing and math skills.
It connects to the PreK – 1st grade level on
our skill continuum. Purchase one activity
book set per child.
More
Free-Play
Does your child love
the theme and want
to extend it into play?
Mother Goose Time Core Kit + Little Goose
Mother Goose Time Kit +
Theme-based Toybox
If you have children younger than three, we recommend
you purchase the Little Goose supplement. The Little
Goose Lesson Plan Book shows you how to transform
your kit supplies and materials into a program that is
developmentally appropriate for 1-2 year-olds. Purchase
one lesson plan supplement per teacher.
If you find your children want to play all day,
let them, it’s fine. Use our teacher-designed Toy
Boxes to add high-quality, educational toys to
your environment. Each Toy Box is labeled by
theme and comes with indoor and outdoor play
ideas that are skill-based for included toys.
Assessment
How do I determine my child’s developmental level?
All children develop at their own rate, therefore age is not always an indicator of developmental level. By
monitoring your child’s progress over time on the Experience Early Learning Skill Continuum, you will best know
how to tailor your lessons to challenge and support each child.
Every activity in the Mother Goose Time Lesson Plan Book features a primary skill. As you watch your child
participate in the activities, note their use of this skill. Look for benchmark indicators according to the developmental
continuum listed in the back of each lesson plan book.
You will notice that every activity in the Mother Goose Time curriculum has at least three featured skills. Skills
connect to social-emotional, physical, and cognitive development. We intentionally plan our activities to
simultaneously stimulate all areas of child development: the heart, the body and the mind.
We offer several convenient ways for you to assess, record and
monitor your child’s learning progress:
Child Report for Parents
Research Foundation
The Child Report is a friendly tool to record the
assessment information you gather throughout
the learning process. It offers parents a snapshot
of the growth and development of their child.
This manual explains the research behind
the Experience Early Learning Skills reinforced
throughout the Mother Goose Time Curriculum.
Experience Early Learning Skill Continuum
The Experience Early Learning Skill Continuum consists of 33 research-based skills organized within seven skill
sets. There are one to three learning goals for each skill. This poster maps benchmarks from birth through age
eight. Also available in three stages: Infant/Toddler, Preschool, and PreK.
To order these assessment tools visit www.mothergoosetime.com
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•Learn more about our curriculum framework.
•Share ideas.
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•Download alignments to your state standards.
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© 2013 Mother Goose Time, Inc.
800.523.6933 | 231.276.6302 | www.mothergoosetime.com