Preschool Curricula You Can Use at Home

The Joy Makin' Mamas have helped to compile the following list of information about where to get a preschool "curriculum" online. We all know you can't stop kids from learning and that chances are, they'll pick up whatever they need to know without an "organized" course of learning, but it's often helpful to us adults to feel like we have a course charted. 99.9% of the time you won't follow your "plan" exactly, but at least if you KNOW there's a road to come back to, you don't have to feel like you're wandering in the wilderness!

Ian doing his "homework."

Some of these are materials available for purchase, but a great many are free resources, so be sure to browse before you shell out any $$$!

Curricula links

http://www.kidsparkz.com/index.html

This one offers sample pages so you can evaluate the curriculum before you buy. They also have smaller packages of activities each month for ages 2-5 for about 8 bucks.

http://www.preschoolcurriculum.com/

This one has kits you can order that include all the supplies and are ready to go. You can order a single child or a group kit.

http://chubbiecubbie.com/

This one also offers kits and some free printables.

http://www.preschoolcorner.com/

This one has kits or just the curriculum, some $.99 downloads, and says it's for ages 3-5.

http://www.first-school.ws/

First-School features free fun preschool lesson plans, educational early childhood activities, printable crafts, worksheets, calendar of events and other resources for children of preschool age. The preschool crafts, lesson plans and activities are appropriate and adaptable for toddlers, preschoolers and kindergarten level (ages 2 to 6).

same as above, but in Spanish:

http://www.primeraescuela.com/

http://www.valuesparenting.com/joyschool

This is a paid curriculum but has a very inclusive package, with music. I haven't seen it or heard it, but what I can see of their website looks like a really great approach.

http://www.mothergoosetime.com/

this one was recommended by a coop group in another state. Apparently they love it, and it takes a lot of the work out of the planning for them. It comes with all the materials you need for the lessons and seems to be geared mostly toward 3 & ups.

This one has free five day a week plans for several age groups:

http://www.letteroftheweek.com/

Free online Math curriculum: http://ceure.buffalostate.edu/~csmp/

Free online school curriculum : http://www.amblesideonline.org/index2.shtml

Another place to get fun preschool stuff online: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/Home.html

This article lists the top 100 educational websites.

http://www.homeschool.com/articles/top100-2009/default.asp

This site is maintained by a teacher and has lots of free goodies.

http://www.freewebs.com/momofallboys/

http://www.everythingpreschool.com/lessonplans/

has some sample 6-day weekly lesson plans and lots of activities organized by theme.

Tips for introducing the Spanish alphabet (page is in English):

http://www.drlemon.net/Grammar/alphabet.html

Lillian Jones' Curriculum

Excerpt:
"If you've been raising a child up to the age of "pre-school" or "kindergarten," you've already begun homeschooling. In those early years, the most appropriate homeschooling activities are things that gently introduce a child into the wonders of his immediate world and the imagination. As Einstein said, "Imagination is more important than knowledge" - and those early years are the perfect time to provide an atmosphere where the child can freely dream and play and explore and grow in both body and imagination.

These are lots of things a parent can do to help a child develop a love of learning and searching - things that will carry through as a foundation for a life of joyful and successful learning. Most of these are things a parent does at one time or other anyway. A bonus is that your child will be getting a good foundation for later studies, even picking up some elements of reading, writing, and math!"

Sophie creating a masterpiece.

http://www.besthomeschooling.org/articles/lillian_jones_ps_kdgtn.html

http://www.homeschool-your-boys.com/homeschool-preschool-curriculum.html

Full of hands-on activities you can do with materials you have around the house. Says it's for boys but equally appropriate for girls.

http://www.universalpreschool.com/how-to/teach/cognitive_development.asp

Starts out by explaining objectives and continues to detailed descriptions of activities to accomplish them.