 Wouldn’t
it be wonderful if all your five-year olds came to kindergarten
ready to succeed in school? The Success for All Foundation’s
preschool program, Curiosity Corner, is designed to
achieve that goal by engaging three- and four-year-olds
in literacy-focused, problem-solving activities. The
instructional processes are built around the same effective
instructional concepts of cooperative learning, active
teaching, and detailed supportive structure as our other
programs. One key to Curiosity Corner’s success
is the in-depth professional development provided by
the SFAF training staff to support teachers’ implementation
of the thematic units.
Curiosity Corner provides teachers
with well-structured thematic units aligned with state
and national early-learning guidelines. The program
includes detailed instructions and provides many of
the materials necessary for implementing a stimulating,
engaging program, as well as training and support for
educators implementing the program. The two separate
programs for three- and four-year-olds are based on
the same themes, with variations in books and activities
for each age group, to meet the developmental needs
of young children.
There are 38 thematic units (e.g.,
families, bread, opposites, and spring), organized into
global themes. Each unit features active, integrated
experiences that enhance children’s language and
literacy, and their cognitive, mathematical, social,
personal, creative, and physical development.
Curiosity Corner’s integrated approach is built
on a daily sequence of components. In Greetings
& Readings, each child is individually greeted
and made to feel welcome for a relaxed beginning to
the day. Children look at books and explore table-top
activities before gathering for the Daily Message.
 Each
day during Clues & Questions,
Curiosity Cat, the class mascot, introduces the concepts
for the day with an active problem-solving activity.
For example, Curiosity might bring out an object related
to the theme and give the children clues so they can
guess what the object is. The teacher stimulates the
children’s curiosity and motivates them to learn
more about the topic.
During Rhyme
Time, the children learn active rhymes and songs
related to the theme to promote their phonemic awareness.
During Learning Labs
children explore the theme through concrete, hands-on
experiences in a variety of learning centers.
Through the interactive story component,
Story Tree, children
have opportunities to expand their world and explore
the theme through books and stories. During Story Tree,
they develop their vocabulary, learn to make predictions,
and prepare for reading by learning that print communicates
ideas. Children are challenged to higher levels of thinking
in interaction with educators who model thinking and
questioning within and beyond the story.
Outside/Gross
Motor Play promotes physical, cognitive, and
social development through theme-related movement activities.
During Snack
Time, children’s health, hygiene, and interpersonal
skills are enhanced with discussion, exploration, and
guidance.
At the end of each day, Question/Reflection
has children review the experiences they had throughout
the day and reflect on what they have learned from them.
Through Home Link activities, children relate what they
have learned in school with their life at home.
Families are encouraged to be actively
engaged in their children’s learning through the
Home Link components
– home visits, the Home Link Page, a lending library,
videos, and participation in classroom activities. These
aspects of the program help keep families informed of
their children’s school experiences so that family
members can encourage their children’s learning.
Each teacher receives a Teacher’s Manual. Except
for basic equipment and supplies typical of a well-equipped
early childhood classroom and some teacher-acquired
materials, SFAF supplies the materials necessary for
implementing Curiosity Corner in monthly kits that include:
- Two Theme Guides for each weekly
unit
- Theme-related children’s
books
- Manipulatives
- Games
- Other materials to support the
theme-related activities
Each weekly theme guide is about 80
pages long and contains:
- a rationale and introduction to
the theme
- a Learning Focus - a web indicating
what learning objectives are covered in the unit
- a Peek at the Week - an overview
of the week’s activities
- a list of materials needed for
the unit
- detailed lessons for implementing
each of the components in a five-day sequence, including
the Learning Labs for the theme, thematic rhymes,
and recipes
- a Resource Corner - a bibliography
of books associated with the theme
- Home Link Pages (in English and
Spanish) to introduce the theme to families
- appendices with patterns, games,
and handouts related to various topics in early education
Use the following link(s) to browse sample lessons from
Curiosity Corner.
Curiosity
Corner - scope and sequence
Curiosity
Corner - sample lesson from Theme Guide 13
- Two days of initial training in
the program for all teachers and assistants working
with the preschool
- Additional training sessions/implementation
visits during the school year designed to meet the
particular needs of the teachers in the cluster
- Additional training provided at
the Curiosity Corner Coaches and Facilitators Conference
each fall
- A day-long refresher and four
additional training sessions/implementation visits
- Additional training for Curiosity
Corner Coaches at Experienced Sites Conferences
Do you want to learn more about Curiosity Corner? Please
call and talk to one of our staff members at 1-800-548-4998,
ext.2372, or fill out the information
request form online.
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