The preschool edition is divided into the sections of poems, songs, stories, history, science, and art. 'Poems' includes 48 of your favorite childhood poems and rhymes with oldies like Pat-a-Cake, One Potato Two Potato, and 5 Little Monkeys. Thirty children's songs are just fun to teach to your children like Wheels on the Bus, and Pop Goes the Weasel. The 'Stories' section includes the whole stories of Goldilocks, Gingerbread Man, Little Red Hen, 3 Little Pigs, How Turtles Got Their Shells, Why Flies Buzz, The Lion and the Mouse, and City Mouse & Country Mouse. In the margins of the stories new words are listed along with questions to ask your child about story content and discussion of the colorful illustrations. The 'History' and 'Science' sections are non-fiction and fiction read-alouds with discussion questions and new words printed in the margins. 'History' stories include First Americans, George Washington, Betsy Ross, Abraham Lincoln, and Martin Luther King, Jr. 'Science' covers the topics of animals, habitats, humans, plants, water, light, and air. There are no activities included in the science since the goal is simply to read to children and expose them to the topic. Be aware that this book presents humans as special animals, not their own species. 'Art' includes 12 copies of famous pieces of art along with information about the artist and the art. Some suggestions for art activities along with discussion questions are included.
The last section of this book covers what parents need to know about their preschooler, and the importance of the preschool years. There are suggestions for how to choose a preschool and preparation for kindergarten. Checklists are included for the areas of math, literacy, language, social & emotional development, work habits, health, and general knowledge. Tips are included on reading aloud and enjoying music with your child along with a resource list of books and music for preschoolers. This book provides plenty of information and resources to start your little ones on a smooth road toward elementary learning. - Donna
Designed for parents to enjoy with children, filled with opportunities for reading aloud and fostering curiosity, this beautifully illustrated anthology offers preschoolers the fundamentals they need to prepare for a happy, productive time in school—and for the rest of their lives. Hundreds of thousands of children have benefited from the acclaimed Core Knowledge Series, developed in consultation with parents, educators, and the most distinguished developmental psychologists. In addition to valuable advice for parents, such as what it means for a child to be ready for kindergarten, special sidebars throughout the book help parents make reading aloud fun and interactive, suggesting questions to ask, connections to make, and games to play to enrich their preschooler's learning experience. Inside you will discover
• Favorite poems and rhymes—all beautifully illustrated, to be read and recited together, from Robert Louis Stevenson's "At the Seaside" to limericks by Edward Lear and tongue twisters by Jack Prelutsky, plus fun "clap along!" and "fingerplay" verses that parents and children can act out together
• Beloved stories and fables—stories such as "The Three Little Pigs" and the African folktale "Why Flies Buzz" will open whole new worlds of learning and discovery
• Visual arts—beautiful full-color reproductions of classic works that foster early appreciation of art history while igniting discussions about shapes, colors, and different styles and media
• Music—dozens of songs to sing and dance to, including such "move around" songs as "Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes" and "The Wheels on the Bus"
• History—a delightful introduction to American history, from the first Thanksgiving to Martin Luther King, Jr., with activities and stories parents and children can enjoy together
• Science—from exploring the wonder of animals to the physical properties of light, air, and water—fun activities that will let children observe, experience, and enjoy the natural world
4 year old planning to homeschool