Preschool

Welcome to Old Fashioned Education's FREE online curriculum.
Before you begin, please read the introduction and license agreement.

​Directions: 

1. Gather materials with Preschool Booklist (below) for what to teach.
2. Print Preschool 36-Week Schedule PDF for when to teach it.
3. Order Preschool Teaching Guide with lesson plans, worksheets, tests, and answer key for how to teach or plan your own lessons with FREE Homeschool Planner.​

Key:  *Free online   ❶ Our Pick!   ❷ Affiliate

Preschool Booklist

For Ages 2 to 4
​Family and Community
Notes: Books are Level 0 unless otherwise noted

King James Bible

• King James Bible* ($1 at Dollar Tree) | All Levels

Bible Study

Choose 1.

• Easy-to-read bible story books from the library. Figure on 1 a week or
• Bible Stories to Read and Bible Pictures to Color** by Martha Rohrer ❶ ($14) | Level 0 
• Prayers for Children by Wilkin ❷ ($5) or Little Folded Hands* | Level 0
• Copybook Primer for morning time with recitation work | Level 0

Language Arts

Level A: Learn the alphabet using a systematic approach to learn letters & phonic sounds. (Age 2-3)
   Reader: A Child's First Book of Letters: Phonics Level A | Level 0
   Workbook: My First Writing Book: Level A* | Level 0
​
Level B: Alphabet review and learn to read phonic sounds & words. (Age 4)
   Reader: A Child's First Book of Letters: Phonics Level B | Level 0
   Workbook: My First Writing Book: Level B* | Level 0
​
More Resources | Level 0

• Letter Activities: Playdough & Magnetic Letters
• ​A Apple Pie by Kate Greenaway* plus other alphabet books from your library
• The Nursery Lesson Book*​

Arithmetic

Choose 1:

• Learn numbers (counting 1 to 10), shapes, and colors* or
• Brain Quest Preschool Workbook, $9 (Age 3-4) or **** | Level 0
• Counting With Numbers, $4 (Age 3-4) ❶ | Level 0

Literature (Storytime)

• All the best Easy-to-Read books from the library, 1 per week (see Read Aloud below)
• The Infant's Delight*- poetry, verses, and stories around the seasons (book) | Level 0
• The Real Mother Goose* or Richard Scarry's Mother Goose | Level 0 ❶ Our Pick! 
• The Tale of Peter Rabbit* by Beatrix Potter (audio) | Level 0
• Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne * | Level 0
• A Treasury of 5-Minute Stories for classic tales | Level 0​

Library Skills

• Go to the library once a week; learn to be quiet and find a favorite book. If you go on Fridays, you can check out the books you'll need for the following week.

Enrichment Studies

Choose 1 or more per week and rotate as desired.

• ​Art:  Animal Friends Reading and Craft Book ^ | Level 0
• Music: Listen to Classicsforkids.com* | Level 0-2
• Singing: Twin Sister's Sunday School Songs or A Year of Preschool Songs* | Level 0-1
• Picture Study: Picture Study of choice
• ​French: Illustrated French Primer by Henri Bué *, 1 or 2 words per week
• Habits: Work on 1 new habit per month (brush hair, brush teeth, set table, etc.)
• Outdoor play daily. ​
• Nature Notebook ($1 Dollar Tree), take a nature walk, 1 per week

Social Studies

• Make a family car with family members.
• Make a community floor map.

Read Alouds ​| Level 0

(FREE at library or build your library - 1 picture book per week)*** 
WE ARE REVISING THIS LIST

Term 1 (Weeks 1-12)

1. A: ABC: Amazing Alphabet Book! by Dr. Seuss*
2. B: ​​Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? by Dr. Seuss*
3. C: The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle*
4. Jesus Is With Me by Joni Walker (Christian)
5. D: Big Dog … Little Dog by P. D. Eastman*
6. E: Polite Elephant by Richard Scarry
7. F: Around the Farm by Eric Carle (with sound)
8. My First Counting Book by Lilian Moore*
9. G: Goodnight, Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann*
10. H: Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb by Al Perkins*
11. I: Inch by Inch by Leo Lionni*
12. ​​My Very First Book of Shapes by Eric Carle*
13. ​​God Loves Me by Leora Zimmerman (Christian & Health)

Term 2 (Weeks 13-24)

1. J: Jesus Hears Me by Joni Walker (Christian)
2. K: Curious George Flies a Kite by H. A. Rey and Margret Rey*
3. L: ​Little Fur Family by Margaret Wise Brown*​
4. ​The Animals' Christmas Eve by Gale Wiersum*
5. ​​M: Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown*
6. N: Bunny's Noisy Book by Margaret Wise Brown*
7. O: 1 is One by Tasha Tudor*
8. Numbers, Colors, Shapes Priddy Books
9. P: The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter*
10. Q:
11. R:  The Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown*​
12. God’s Wonderful Trees by Mary Landis (S)

Term 3 (Weeks 25-36)

1. S: The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle*
2. T: Scuffy the Tugboat by Gertrude Crampton* (S)
3. U:
4. Jesus Knows Me by Joni Walker (Christian)
   
5. V:
6. W:
7. Revieiw
8. X:
9. Y: Fuzzy Yellow Ducklings by Matthew Van Fleet*
10. Z: Put me in the Zoo by Robert Lopshire*
11. Richard Scarry's Cars and Trucks from A to Z
    


12. ABC Book of God’s Creatures by Mary Landis (S)
13. ​


14. God Gives Us Work by Sharon See (SS)


15. From Head to Toe by Eric Carle*


16. God’s Happy Family by Edith Witmer (SS)
17. Helping Mother by Mary M. Landis (SS and Christian)
18. God’s Wonderful Water by Mary Landis (S)

Need additional picture books?  Little Jewel Books (Christian) and Letter-of-the-Week Booklist (Classic)

Preschool Overview

• Schedule
• Syllabus
• Tips

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Day 1	Day 2	Day 3
Prayer Recitation & ​Bible Story	Prayer Recitation & Picture Book	Prayer Recitation & Classic Tales/Poetry
Reading ​(ABC's)	Writing ​(ABC's)	Arithmetic ​Numbers, Shapes, Colors+
Activity ​Habits & Outdoor Play	Activity ​Habits & Outdoor Play	Activity ​Habits & Outdoor Play

1. Reading. Spend time each week learning the letters of the alphabet. Sing the alphabet song while pointing to each letter. Learn the letters in order. Say both the name and phonic sound. Say the word that starts with the letter.
2. ​Writing. Spend time each week writing the letter. Show how to trace each line and tell what you are doing. Give the child practice time.
3. Arithmetic. Spend time each week counting numbers from 1 to 10. Write the numbers too. Learn the basic shapes and colors in rainbow order.
4. ​Storytime, Habits, and Play. Spend time each day reading a storybook rotating with Bible, Picture Books, Classic Tales, and Poetry. Teach children about Prayer and Habits. Spend time each day in play either outdoors or other activities.

1. ​Fill your home with living books, both Christian and Classic. You can begin to build your own Living Book Library with our booklist (above).
2. Turn-off screens [1] as a 30-minute show like Mr. Rodger's Neighborhood per day is more than enough. Instead, enjoy story-time and outdoor play [2].  
3. For Preschool, we recommend a 30-minute learning time, 3 times per week with a focus on building a foundation in the 3 R's - Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic.

Teaching Guide.  The preschool lesson plans can be used for 1 or 2 years. Students are ready to move on when they know both the ABC names and phonic sounds. Here's our recommended sequence:

• If student is Age 2 - Complete all activities (except optional) with a focus on learning the ABC names. Year 2 will complete all activities (including optional) with a focus on learning the ABC phonic sounds.
• If student is Age 3 - Complete all activities (including optional) with a focus on learning both the ABC names and phonic sounds.

Have preschool questions or comments?  See FAQ's

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Notes
*Indicates free online or at library
**Optional for Age 2 as they can look at and point to the pictures; Age 3 will be more ready to use the resource
***Preschool Reading List includes Christian, Classic, Science, Social Study. We loved and used many of the board books from the preschool read aloud selections at Memoria Press.
****Math: I have not previewed the newly revised Brain Quest Preschool Workbook to ensure it has Christian content; the teacher guide includes references to the former Brain Quest Preschool Workbook. Tip! A workbook is optional for teaching math at this level.
^Consumable books less than 10%