Year at a Glance

The FCPS Early Childhood Curriculum is designed to help children construct an understanding of who they are through content that is intentionally integrated for students to investigate through hands-on authentic learning experiences.

Quarter One: Who I Am

Essential Understanding: Students will gain a sense of self within school.

• Me and Myself
• Rules and Routines
• Seasonal Changes

Quarter Two: Who I Am in my Family

Essential Understanding: Students will gain a sense of self within school and home.

• Families
• Cultures
• Seasonal Changes

Quarter Three: Who I am in the Community

Essential Understanding: Students will gain a sense of self within the community.

• Geography/Maps
• Economics
• Seasonal Changes

Quarter Four: Who I am in the World

Essential Understanding: Students will gain a sense of self within the world.

• Life Cycles
• Natural Resources
• Seasonal Changes

Learning Expectations

High expectations are held for all students. Teaching teams work together to continuously plan and instruct students in a variety of ways to foster individual growth and development.

Early Head Start: Birth - 3

Through a primary caregiver model, teaching teams create nurturing, well managed settings to provide intentional and engaging learning opportunities to foster social, emotional and cognitive development. Teaching teams monitor individual progress and support our youngest learners through Creative Curriculum resources.

Preschool Children: 2 - 5

The Early Childhood Program of Studies for children ages 2-5 is aligned with Kindergarten learning expectations. The Early Childhood program uses an integrated approach to address all content throughout daily routines and hands-on authentic learning experiences.

The eight areas of focus for learning are:

• Math - Geometry, Number Sense, Measurement, Data, Problem Solving
• Science - Inquiry and Problem Solving, Physical Properties, Life Processes and Living Systems, Seasonal Effects
• Social Studies - Families, Cultures, Geography, Communities, Rules and Routines
• Language Arts -  Listening, Speaking, Writing, Reading (e.g., Comprehension or Phonological Awareness)
• Music and Art - Tools and Forms of Creative Expressions such as singing, dancing, painting, etc.
• Health and Physical Education - Large and small motor development, safe and healthy practices and nutrition
• Approaches to Learning - Executive functions, persistence, initiative, curiosity, cooperation, attentive
• Social and Emotional Development - Talking about feelings,expressing self, managing emotions, practice positive coping skills, making friendships, appreciating others, socially engaging with peers, gaining an awareness of feelings in self and others, developing healthy relationships with peers and teachers.