The activities in this collection are designed for children aged 18 months to 4 years. The themes have been divided into 5 chapters. Each activity explains the curriculum area of learning, an objective of the activity followed by material and the procedure to implement the activity. The evaluation can be found at the bottom of the lesson to help you with outcomes for a positive learning experience. The themes are listed in the table of contents.

The objectives of the activities are to promote socialization and to encourage children to explore the world around them. Word repetition enhances language skills. The activites will help to make the children aware of spatial relation and their recognition of living things and objects. In each lesson they will use their senses and develop gross and fine motor skills. We will promote the use of classification, grouping and matching skills. My intent with these experiences is to enhance each child's creativity.

The compiling of these activities can be a great resource for Pre-school Teachers. In my experience, I have found that there are too few activities designed for our very young children. I was inspired to write this book after spending several months observing a daycare setting. My intent is to provide a rich learning environment for children and the hope that Educators and Parents will benefit in using my activities to help teach young children to develop both intellectually and physically.

Acknowledgements

This collection of activities is dedicated to my late mother, Stella, whose enthusiasm and advice have been invaluable. Her zest for life and her kindness has inspired me. I would also like to thank my husband Jake, for his help, ideas and unwavering support that gave me courage to continue this endeavor. A special thanks to my children Christi-Lee and Dane for their patience and willingness to be "readers." I would also like to acknowledge Kim Taylor Horeck for her steadfast support.

This contemporary early childhood education method intertwines research-based theory, educational best practices, a dose of common sense, and a positive school environment to guide children three months old through second grade. The Visone Method—a behaviorist philosophy that builds self-esteem—considers the whole child. It balances music, drama, and motor skill activities with high-level academic learning in a fun environment.

The Visone Method fosters an active love of learning by providing experiences that enable all students to achieve a strong foundation during early childhood. It treats every day as a celebration of life and learning because what a growing child learns today will be with them for a lifetime.

This contemporary early childhood education method intertwines research-based theory, educational best practices, a dose of common sense, and a positive school environment to guide children three months old through second grade. The Visone Method—a behaviorist philosophy that builds self-esteem—considers the whole child. It balances music, drama, and motor skill activities with high-level academic learning in a fun environment.

The Visone Method fosters an active love of learning by providing experiences that enable all students to achieve a strong foundation during early childhood. It treats every day as a celebration of life and learning because what a growing child learns today will be with them for a lifetime.

Peace education can provide children with the tools necessary to deal with change and adversity throughout their lives. In today’s fast-paced, technology-rich world, it can be tempting to join the race and work to an end result at breakneck speeds. However, without slowing down and showing children what the world has to offer, children will not know the beauty the world holds, that which is worth protecting, nor will they be inclined to see the beauty and spirit of those around them. Peace education can be a lesson in the art of simplicity. It can also be a lesson in turning inward to find calm in the midst of chaos. Peace education, when presented in a well thought-out manner, can inspire children to be the future peacemakers of our world and ultimately lead this future generation toward the development of a peaceful planet.

Humankind has been working for and promoting peace since the beginning of history, and during this time many have agreed that the most effective and promising way to promote peace in the world is to begin with a child. In Pathways to Peace, author Kimberly Paquette presents a peace-based curriculum to provide children with the tools to construct and build a peaceful tomorrow through exposure to peaceful symbols, practices, and language.

Combining Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence Theory and Montessori education, Pathways to Peace promotes peace and its practice in the classroom. Geared for three- to six-year-old students, this guide includes both theory and a curriculum where teachers can incorporate peace in all aspects of the classroom. The guide encompasses lessons for each of the multiple intelligences and can be adapted for use in schools, religious education programs, after-school programs, summer camps, and other areas.

Pathways to Peace presents a curriculum to allow peace to manifest itself in the hearts of children, who are the earth’s salvation. The mission of peace education is to show children the path that would lead the world toward true peace.

Children today have a tremendous responsibility, as they become leaders of tomorrow. Learning to live in peace, in a global community, will be their destiny. To help facilitate this process, this peace guide creatively interacts art projects and activities that can develop awareness and inspire new generations in creating a planet committed to peace.

Peace ing Together One Family is a unique way for all those who work with children to incorporate peace solving strategies into a child’s everyday life. Each of the twelve units contains five art projects and two activities, which are designed for ages two to nine years.

The young children will, with the proper guidance and approach, develop such qualities of self-respect, admiration in others, consultation; as well as an understanding of concepts such as equality, unity in diversity, appreciation, humility, discipline and self-control. In addition, these projects can be incorporated into any academic subject area and the materials required to complete them are inexpensive and can be found in any home, hardware or local store.

Children today have a tremendous responsibility, as they become leaders of tomorrow. Learning to live in peace, in a global community, will be their destiny. To help facilitate this process, this peace guide creatively interacts art projects and activities that can develop awareness and inspire new generations in creating a planet committed to peace.

Peace ing Together One Family is a unique way for all those who work with children to incorporate peace solving strategies into a child’s everyday life. Each of the twelve units contains five art projects and two activities, which are designed for ages two to nine years.

The young children will, with the proper guidance and approach, develop such qualities of self-respect, admiration in others, consultation; as well as an understanding of concepts such as equality, unity in diversity, appreciation, humility, discipline and self-control. In addition, these projects can be incorporated into any academic subject area and the materials required to complete them are inexpensive and can be found in any home, hardware or local store.

As we were getting drinks one day, a little girl said, “Mrs. Noser, when this fountain runs out of water, can you fill it with Kool-Aid?”

It is no secret that a group of five-year-olds have the ability to provide an interesting and entertaining perspective on life. Just ask Carol Porter Noser, a veteran kindergarten teacher who for thirty years listened in on the amusing and endearing comments made by her students.

Noser considers teaching young children to be one of the best jobs in the world. After one of her students asked her one day, “Do you have a job?” and another asked her, “Do you work?” she soon realized that they all instinctively knew she loved to teach. From early on, Noser jotted down the silly, sad, and funny comments her students made, eventually compiling a collection after she retired. As she shares one witty anecdote after another, she provides a glimpse into the very active and imaginative minds of five-year-olds who never let anyone forget how smart they really are about what is important in life.

From rather open discussions about their family, to the misuse of words, to questions about God, the children profiled in Kindergarten Conversations share their innocent and honest views of the world.

As we were getting drinks one day, a little girl said, “Mrs. Noser, when this fountain runs out of water, can you fill it with Kool-Aid?”

It is no secret that a group of five-year-olds have the ability to provide an interesting and entertaining perspective on life. Just ask Carol Porter Noser, a veteran kindergarten teacher who for thirty years listened in on the amusing and endearing comments made by her students.

Noser considers teaching young children to be one of the best jobs in the world. After one of her students asked her one day, “Do you have a job?” and another asked her, “Do you work?” she soon realized that they all instinctively knew she loved to teach. From early on, Noser jotted down the silly, sad, and funny comments her students made, eventually compiling a collection after she retired. As she shares one witty anecdote after another, she provides a glimpse into the very active and imaginative minds of five-year-olds who never let anyone forget how smart they really are about what is important in life.

From rather open discussions about their family, to the misuse of words, to questions about God, the children profiled in Kindergarten Conversations share their innocent and honest views of the world.