Welcome to the Basic 2 Year Curriculum

For children ages 24-36 months, this easy-to-use, comprehensive curriculum is FREE for immediate family, in-home use.  For curriculum use in a preschool, church, or daycare, please proceed to the Complete 2 Year Curriculum. 

Each Lesson Plan includes:

  • Supply List
  • Objectives for the Week
  • Links to Print Worksheets
  • Suggested Activities for each Objective

Choose objectives and activities that are appropriate for your child and situation, and then incorporate them into the child's normal activities

 

Want to use an updated curriculum which requires less work and includes additional ideas and teaching tips?  Take a look at the Complete 2 Year Curriculum, 2nd Edition. 

Green Handprint Handprints designate items only included in the Complete 2 Year Curriculum.  The online Basic 2 Year Curriculum and the Complete 2 Year Curriculum are not compatible.

 

Items Needed

Below a list of suggested items needed for the objectives in the Lesson Plan.  Substitute these items as needed. 

Worksheets:

Books: 

Activities: 

ORDER SUPPLIES Quickly order supplies in the ABCJLM Amazon Shop.

 

Objectives:

The objectives are goals for your child’s learning in a given week. I suggest using the Introduce, Practice, Identify teaching strategy to be successful in helping a child reach those goals.  Remember that the 2 Year Curriculum focuses on the introduction of new concepts.  Choose the objectives that you want to cover.  Not all objectives need to be covered each day; feel free to spread throughout the week.

Bible Theme: God Made the World Around Me
Lesson: Day, Night, Water, Sky

Bible Story:  Creation Days 1-2
Scripture:  Genesis 1
Read & Share Toddler Bible
ABCJLM Interactive Bible Stories

Verse:  Genesis 1:1 - In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
Tune:  Are You Sleeping
In the beginning, (2x)
God created (2x)
The heavens and the earth (2x)
Genesis 1:1 (2x)

Bible Song: This Little Light of Mine (Traditional)
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine (repeat 2x)
Let it shine, Let it shine, Let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel? No!  I'm gonna let it shine (repeat 2x)
Let it shine, Let it shine, Let it shine.

Optional verse:
Don't let Satan blow it out…
Let it shine 'til Jesus comes…
Let it shine all over our (home, state, car church, etc)…

Poem: Pat-a-Cake (Traditional)
Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker's man.
Bake me a cake as fast as you can;
Roll it, pat it, and mark it with a B,
Put it in the oven for baby and me
Change the "B" to the first letter of the child's name and the word "baby" to the child's name.

Color: Red
Shape: Circle
Letters: A-G
(One letter per week is covered in the Complete Curriculum.)

Number: 1
Information: First Name
Self-care and Manners: Sitting Quietly

Book of the Week:
Llama Llama Red Pajama Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney

Fine Motor Skill:  Color on Vertical Surface
Gross Motor Skill:  Play "Put the Fire Out"

 

Suggested Activities:

Busy lives make it difficult to think of activities that pair well with learning objectives. Below, I’ve listed suggestions to help you teach the week’s objectives.  Choose activities that your child would enjoy and that fit into your schedule. As often as possible, achieve the learning from books, play time, craft time, and current activities

Bible:

Read & Share Toddler Bible The goal of the 2 Year Curriculum is to introduce the child to stories in the Bible.  I suggest the Read & Share Toddler Bible, but you may use any children’s Bible.  For variety, consider reading the same story from several Bibles.  Be sure to read the Scripture for yourself to make sure you know the important story elements.  Not all Bible stories are available in toddler Bibles. 

ABCJLM Interactive Bible StoriesGreen Handprint  Complete Curriculum Addition:  Another way to further Bible learning is through interactive storytelling.  The ABCJLM Interactive Bible Stories provide you with an age-appropriate script to actively include the child in the story.  All interactive stories are available to order as a digital download and include optional flannelgraph suggestions.  Download for free the Week 1 story.  


ABCJLM Video:  Using Flannelgraph to Teach the Bible



- My Creation Book  For the first nine weeks, the child learns about Creation.  Collect all of the Creation activities and crafts to create a "My Creation Book."  At the end of the Creation study (Week 9), use the provided cover worksheet and bind all the pages together. 

- Day and Night Creation Book Day 1 - Use a piece of black construction paper as the background.  Cut a piece of white construction paper in half.  Glue the white half-sheet vertically on the black sheet.  Write "Day" on the white piece and "Night" on the black.  Add the number "1" to the page.

- Creation Day 2 Craft Day 2 - Use a piece of blue construction paper.  Add cotton balls in the sky for clouds.  Make waves with shaving cream and blue paint at the bottom.  Add the number "2" to the page.

- World Coffee Filter Creation Craft Coffee Filter Earth - Using washable markers, color on a coffee filter with green and blue.   Spray water on the coffee filter to watch the colors run together.

- As you read the story, have the child give a thumbs up every time God says, "It is good!"

- Creation Fingerplay
On Day 1 (On numbers - put corresponding fingers in the air)
God created light (close fists and then quickly open in the air and bring down to side creating arches)
On Day 2
God created the sky (wave arms in the air) and water (make waves with hands)

- Click to view additional Creation craft and activity ideas.

Memory Verse:

Each week includes a simple memory verse.  Help the child memorize at least the key words.

- Memory Verse Cards Green Handprint Complete Curriculum Addition:  Memory Verse Cards are a wonderful tool to learn the memory verses.  Each card contains the verse, reference, a corresponding picture, and a piggyback song or CD to sing the verse.  Also listed is the week the verse is used in the ABCJLM Lesson Plans (i.e. 2 Year Week 6).  Cut out and glue both the front and back of each card to cardstock for extra durability.   Rubber band together or hole punch and combine with a c-ring.  Keep in the car, by the child's bed, or near the dinner table for quick reference and review for the whole family.  Click to order this printable found in the 2 Year Workbook.

Bible Song:

The songs chosen are old "Sunday School" favorites and are added to enrich the curriculum.  I included those songs that are familiar to most, but if unfamiliar, use any Bible song.  Find most songs on YouTube, Spotify, or Amazon.  Before teaching the song to your child, teach it to yourself.  Then, teach the child the song slowly in small sections.  Use the recording once the song is learned.

2 Year Bible Song Cards Green Handprint Complete Curriculum Addition:
Available as a digital download, the 2 Year Bible Song Cards consists of 16 cards containing lyrics from the Bible Songs used in the 2 Year Curriculum.  Also included are 4 extra cards to custom create your own.  Print, hole punch, and bind together for easy access and mobility.

Poem:

Traditional poems and nursery rhymes help children develop rhyme, fine motor skills, and rhythm, as well as beginning reading.  At first, quote the poems very slowly to help the children correctly learn the words.  Also, assist the child in performing actions with the poems.  Quote them throughout the day (e.g. while driving, in the bathtub, while washing hands).

2 Year Poem Cards Green HandprintComplete Curriculum Addition:   Available as a digital download, the 2 Year Poem Cards printable is made up of 17 cards containing the poems used in the 2 Year Curriculum.  Also included are 3 extra cards to create your own.  

Color:

This curriculum introduces the child to nine colors individually, at first, and then gradually combined with the other colors. Keep the objectives simple, using only the color(s) of the week during craft or drawing time since the goals are to give the child sufficient time to work with specific color(s) and to improve his fine motor skills. 

- Red Balloon Worksheet Color one of the ABCJLM Red Worksheet with a red jumbo crayon. 

- Eat red food:  Apple, strawberry, raspberry, red licorice, lollipop, cranberry juice, watermelon, radish, beets, red popsicle, strawberry or raspberry Jello

- Do a Color Walk:  Walk around the house or neighborhood looking for the color red.  Take a red flashcard or crayon with you to remind the child of the color.  (Color Flashcards are available to print if needed.)


Shape:

- Red Circle Worksheet Color, paint, or draw on the Circle worksheet with the color red.

- Circle Song - (make big circles in the air as you walk and sing)
Tune: Up on the Housetop
Circle, circle big and round
Where it ends can not be found
Tires, balls, the earth, and sun
Making circles is so much fun.

- Do a Shape Walk:  Walk around the house or neighborhood looking for circles.  Take a circle flashcard or poster with you to remind the child of the shape. (Shape Flashcards are available to print if needed.)

Letters:

The 2 Year Curriculum does not focus heavily on letters.  The objective is for the child to learn to say the letters of the alphabet correctly.  The letters are divided into seven groups according to the "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" alphabet song.  Point out letters throughout the day and help the child say each letter (especially in the tough L-M-N-O-P section of the song).  (Understand that, even in this learning, the letters probably have no meaning yet.)  This week, begin with letters A-G.

Number:

Apple Tree Number Posters Create an Apple Tree Number Book to introduce the child to several art mediums and counting.  First, decorating using the suggested medium, add then add the appropriate number of apple stickers.  This week, use a red jumbo crayon to color the Apple Tree #1 worksheet and then add one apple to the tree. Thank you, Teresa, for sharing this idea with us.

Information:

Throughout the curriculum, there is a focus on various "Information" ideas.  For the first four weeks, the focus is on the child's first name.  Teach the child to pronouncing her first name.  Teach the child to look the other person in the eyes when introducing herself.

Self-Care and Manners:

While the attention span is very short for a toddler, it is still important to teach the child self-control and how to sit quietly for short periods.  Teach the child to sit with "criss-cross" legs and hands resting in his/her lap.  Discuss how there are times when a child listens while an adult speaks.  Start with very short time intervals and gradually increase until the child is able to sit through the entire Bible lesson. 

Begin each listening time with a saying, such as:
My legs are crossed,
Together my hands go,
My mouth is quiet,
I'm ready to learn and grow!

ABCJLM Video: Ideas to Teach a Child to Sit Quietly During Learning Time

Book of the Week:

- Red Shirt Worksheet Color the Red Shirt, worksheet with a red jumbo crayon.
- Have a Pajama Day and wear your pajamas all day.
- Find circles in the book, especially look for the red circles.  (eyes, Mama's necklace, bed accents, corner circles)

"I am Learning..." Objective Poster:

2 Year Curriculum Objective Poster Green Handprint  Complete Curriculum Addition: The “I am Learning…“ Objective Poster is one of the best tools for helping you track what objectives the curriculum introduces to your child and when to incorporate the objectives into daily activities and play.  Transfer the weekly objectives to the poster and hang it in a prominent place to remember the objectives.  By placing the poster in a dry erase pocket or a picture frame and using a dry or wet erase marker, the sheet is reusable each week.   Click to order this printable found in the 2 Year Workbook.  

First Day of 2 Year Curriculum:

First Day of 2 Year Curriculum Print the First Day of Preschool poster to create a precious photo op to remember today.  Be sure to tag #ABCJLM or @ABCJesusLovesMe when you post the image on social media! 

Objective Checklist:

2 Year Objective Checklist  Use the 2 Year Objective Checklist to determine what your child knows and to check for learning progress.

Scope and Sequence:

2 Year Scope and SequenceGreen HandprintComplete Curriculum Addition: The Scope and Sequence explains what to teach and when to teach it.  This is especially helpful to see in table form exactly what the child will be introduced to and note planned review weeks.  Use the spreadsheet to plan around special events and holidays, easily switch objectives if needed, or to combine curricula with more than one child.  Click to order this printable found in the 2 Year Curriculum Guide.

 

Motor Skills:

Fine motor skills are activities that improve one’s ability to write and manipulate small objects.  Gross motor skills involve large muscle movement (e.g. running, jumping, hopping etc.). These skills are important for pencil control, balance, and coordination.  Each Lesson Plan includes an activity to improve the child’s fine and gross-motor skills.  Also, I encourage you to not use markers or pens since, unlike crayons and pencils, they do not sharpen fine and gross motor skills. 

• Fine Motor Skill:
Vertical Paper Placement Fine motor skills are those activities that allow you to better do things such as writing and manipulating small objects.  Each lesson plan includes an activity to help improve the child's fine-motor skills.  Children develop fine motor skills best when they work on a vertical surface.  When holding a writing utensil or brush against a vertical surface, extra muscles in the wrist and hand are strengthened.  These muscles are not used when writing on a horizontal surface.  For this reason, place craft, writing, and drawing projects on a vertical surface as much as is feasible. This week, color or paint with red on a vertical surface.

Most toddler's hands are not ready to hold small utensils.  For this reason use jumbo paintbrushes, crayons, and pencils when possible.  

• Gross Motor Skill:
Put the Fire Out Gross Motor Activity Gross motor skills are big motor skills that require balance and coordination (e.g. running, jumping, hopping etc.).  Each lesson plan includes an activity to help improve the child's gross motor skills.  This week, play "Put the Fire Out," a fun outside activity that involves sidewalk chalk, water, and a sponge.  Begin by drawing a ladder on cement with sidewalk chalk.  Draw a fire at the top of the ladder.  Place a bucket and a sponge at the bottom of the ladder.  Have the child wet the sponge and jump between the rungs of the ladder to get to the fire.  Once at the fire, squeeze the sponge over the fire to put it out! (Idea from YourTherapySource.com)

 

Green Handprint  Daily Schedule – Week 1

Complete Curriculum Addition:  Below is a Daily Schedule dividing the Lesson Plan into a week's time. Beyond Week 1, the Daily Schedules are not provided on the website but are available in the 2 Year Curriculum Guide.

  Day 1 Day 2 Day 3
Bible Story God Made the World Around Me: Creation Days 1,2; Creation Fingerplay
  Day 1 Day 2 Coffee Filter Earth
Verse Genesis 1:1 - In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
Song This Little Light of Mine This Little Light of Mine This Little Light of Mine
Poem & Rhyme Pat-a-Cake Pat-a-Cake Pat-a-Cake
Color ABCJLM Red Coloring Sheet Eat Red Food Color Walk
Shape Circle Song Shape Walk ABCJLM Circle Coloring Sheet
Letters, Info, Self-care A - G First Name Quiet Poem
Number Count 1 Count 1 Apple Tree Book
Book of the Week Read Pajama Day Color Red Shirt on Vertical Surface
Motor Skill Color on Vertical Surface   Play “Put the Fire Out”
Other Objective Poster, First Day of School Poster, Objective Checklist

Warning:  All information on the ABCJesusLovesMe website, on Facebook Groups under the ABCJesusLovesMe name, and on the Parenting to Impress blog is for general information purposes only. All the activities and ideas shared require adult supervision and children under the age of three should not participate in activities in which small pieces are involved.  Also, what works with one child may not work with all children. ABCJesusLovesMe, as well as Parenting to Impress, contain suggestions and all should be taken simply as suggestions. Please seek the advice of a professional when questions arise. 

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