The Carden method is a highly individualized, teacher directed curriculum that focuses on the development of the whole child. It provides an excellent education with an emphasis on building character and teaching moral values. We have high expectations for each child yet respect each child’s individual development. The Carden method believes that if the child is not learning, the teacher is not teaching. The curriculum includes Language Arts, Arithmetic, Science, Foreign Language, Fine Arts, and Social Studies and emphasizes interrelationship of the content of subjects presented. It is thematically oriented and has projects that encompass each special theme. Planning acknowledges that learning is playful, interactive, interdisciplinary, and connected. It also recognizes and provides for a balance between individual and group needs, between active and quiet times, and between teacher-directed and child-selected activities. Teachers influence what children learn by preparing the learning environment and providing an array of materials and equipment students may use to explore, investigate, solve problems, and find answers to their questions.
Our curriculum also includes a daily Bible reading and the application of Bible virtues and Bible memory verses.
Preschool
Tentative Year at a Glance
September
SCHOOL BELLS RING
Welcome back to school/getting acquainted with friends, schedule and rules.
ME AND MY FRIENDS
Children experience the joy of discovering more about those around them while encouraging sharing and being helpful and kind.
LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION
Children will explore as though they were discovering new country. They will learn the history of the great Louis and Clark, follow maps, travel through forests, over streams, and accomplish things they never knew existed.
APPLES
Its time to pick the apples. Where do they come from? What are they used for?
Red & Tan
Triangle
October
TERRIFIC TREES
Large and small, leaves or needles. From seed to tree to lumber to…
JUNGLES & RAINFORESTS
They are big and full of life, what an adventure to explore them! There are animals of every size, maybe we can even be the first to discover a species.
PUMPKINS, HARVEST & MORE
What’s inside a pumpkin? What is harvest? How do you harvest fruits and vegetables?
Orange & Black
Rectangle
November
OCEANS/DOWN BY THE SEASHORE
What lives under the sea?
ZOO CREW
This unit is as good as a trip to the zoo. It’s a study of zoo animals and their homes and habitats.
HIBERNATION, FUR, TRAPPERS
Who hibernates? Where do they go? Why? Why do animals have fur? What is a trapper?
THANKSGIVING
Why do we celebrate thanksgiving and what does it mean?
Brown & Copper
Circle
December.
FUN WITH OPPOSITES
From shapes to colors to tastes to feels.
FUN WITH MOTHER GOOSE
Children love reciting rhyme and will delight in the specially designed activities and charming presentations of those familiar Mother Goose characters.
TIS THE SEASON
What fun it is during the holidays, traditions, and the true meaning.
Green & Peach
Star
January
DINOSAURS
Everything about dinosaurs! Carnivores, herbivores & omnivores.
COMMUNITY WORKERS/TRANSPORTATION
Where do you work? How can we get from here to there? What makes a community?
BUILDING A BAKERY
What does it really take to be a baker? There’s so much measuring, mixing, and different sizes and shapes. Best of all–taste testing!!!
5 SENSES, HEALTH, GERMS, MANNERS
We’ll be learning about our amazing bodies. Lets keep them healthy! We will also be demonstrating our good manners.
White & Turquoise
Diamond
February
STARS AND SPACE
Look up, what do you see?
ST VALENTINE / HEARTS / CUPID / LOVE
WOW!! A week of pink and red; the whole bit about Valentines Day.
DENTAL HEALTH
How do we keep our teeth healthy? Why do we need strong teeth?
PRESIDENTS/AMERICA/WORLD/CULTURE
American history, way before we were born, lifestyle differences then and now.
gray & pink
Heart
March
FUN WITH DR SEUSS
Lots of stories and rhymes to be read and games to be played. Birthday fun and lots, lots more.
OUR CHANGING WEATHER
Weather changes–sun, rain, snow, thunder, and clouds. There’s so much to learn about our great weather!
A RAINBOW OF COLOR
We will cover color recognition and emphasize appreciation and understanding. A creative approach to color fun.
FAMILY PETS
Children love animals and family pets often play a big part in their lives. This unit explores a variety of pets, their special characteristics and what it takes to be a responsible pet owner.
Purple & Gold
Square
April
A BIRDS EYE VIEW
Though not all birds fly, their feathers, wings and beaks serve a large purpose in their daily lives. We will discover many different types of birds and each individual habitat this week.
POND LIFE
There is so much to explore and discover in the pond. Studying plants, bugs, animals and water is so much fun–the children hardly know that they’re learning!
AMAZING INSECTS
Where they live, what they do, their different colors, shapes and sizes.
SPRING TIME FUN
As the snow melts we discover all the wonderful surprises of Spring. Seeds, plants and lots of mud.
Yellow & Lavender
Octagon
May
FARM ANIMALS
Life cycles from baby to adulthood, classification of animals & experience farm living.
CAMPING
How to make first aid kits, fire safety, survival skills and gearing up for summer!
SCRUBBING BUBBLES
Who knew cleaning could be so much fun?! With lots of bubbles the preschoolers will giggle in delight as they wash, pop and scrub with bubbles.
GRADUATION
Prepare for graduation. What happens after you graduate?
Blue & Silver
Oval