Designed for children ages 48-60 months, this easy-to-use, comprehensive curriculum is FREE for immediate family and in-home use. If you intend to use the curriculum in a preschool, church, or daycare setting, please refer to the Complete 4 Year Curriculum.
Each Online Lesson Plan includes:
To get started, choose objectives and activities that suit your child's needs and situation. Please know that the Week 1 Lesson Plan is significantly longer to help you begin. Incorporate them into your child's daily routines to create a seamless and enjoyable learning experience. This flexible approach allows you to customize the curriculum to fit your unique situation, ensuring a solid foundation for your child's growth and development.
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Objectives| The 4 Year Curriculum prepares the child for kindergarten-level work and the objectives are the learning goals that you introduce to the child over one week. Don’t feel the need to cover all the focused objectives each day. Instead, spread them throughout the week. As much as possible, pull the learning from the play and activities that the child is doing. |
Character Trait: Faith & Trust
Definition: Believing God will do what He says, believing in something that you cannot see
Opposite: Disbelief, not trusting, hopeless
Bible Story: Jesus Walks on Water
Objective: Keep your eyes on Jesus.
Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33
The New Bible in Pictures for Little Eyes: pg 296-297
The Beginner's Bible: pg 364-370
Verse: Proverbs 3:5 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
Steve Green – Hide 'Em In Your Heart, Vol 1 - #16
Bible Song: Deep and Wide Traditional
Deep and wide (put arms vertically, then horizontally),
Deep and wide
There’s a fountain (rain down with fingers)
Flowing (play piano with fingers)
Deep and wide
(Repeat)
Optional – each time substitute the below words and say “hmmm” instead
1st Time - Deep
2nd Time - Deep, wide
3rd Time - Deep, wide, fountain
4th Time - Deep, wide, fountain, flowing
1st Time Example:
Hmmm and wide
Hmmm and wide
There's a fountain
Flowing
Hmmm and wide
(Repeat)
Books of the Bible: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
Math - Colors: Black, White, Blue, Brown, Green, Yellow, Orange, Red, Purple
Letters : l, i, T, t, I
l - body
i - down and dot
T - body and roof
t - down and cross
I - body, roof, floor
Number: 1
Straight down and then you’re done. That’s the way to make a one!
Information: First name - Trace the letters using tactile letters.
Book of the Week:
Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin
Fine Motor Skill: Draw "My Family"
Gross Motor Skill: Put the Fire Out
Visual Perception Skill: Color Tracking Worksheets
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Suggested Activities| Because busy lives make it difficult to think of activities that pair well with learning objectives, I’ve provided 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. |
The goal of the 4 Year Curriculum is to take Bible stories to a deeper level. Unique to the 4 Year Curriculum, the child is introduced to character traits through the support of Bible stories. Activities are provided for both the Bible story and character. The Objective section includes page numbers to The New Bible in Pictures for Little Eyes and The Beginner's Bible (when available), but any quality age-appropriate children’s Bible may be used. For variety, you may desire to read the same story from several Bibles. Always read the Scripture for yourself to make sure you know the facts of the story.
Character Trait: Faith and Trust
Using this week's Bible story, discuss how Peter walked on the water when he trusted God. But as soon as he became afraid, he sank into the water.
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Do You Have Faith?
Give the child an apple. Ask the child, "What is inside the apple?" (seeds, the white part of the apple, juice) "I have a secret...there is really a star in the apple!" The child will probably doubt this statement. "How can we find out if there really is a star inside?" (cut open the apple) "Do you trust me that there is a star inside without us cutting it open?" (cut the apple from side to side through the seed part) Show the child how the seeds in the apple and the area around the seeds look like a star. Explain that just as the child had to have faith that you were correct about the star, we have faith that Jesus is real even though we can't see Him.
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I Have Faith Apple Prints
Extend the "Do You Have Faith?" activity by doing apple prints. Have the child write "I Have Faith" at the top of a piece of construction paper. Dab the apple several times onto a cloth to remove excess moisture. Place paint into a shallow tray. Have the child dip the apple into the paint (or paint the apple) and then stamp it on the paper.
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Big Thoughts for Little People: ABC's to Help You Grow is a book that I highly suggest you use throughout the curriculum to learn about Jesus and discuss character traits, as well as ABC's and phonetic sounds. Find suggested pages under the Character Trait Objectives; however some weeks, like this one, do not contain one.
Bible Activities: Jesus Walks on Water
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I am Looking at Jesus
Use the I am Looking at Jesus worksheet to remind the child to keep her eyes on Jesus. Have the child look in the mirror at her eyes to see the three main colors. Cut out the circles on the printable. Place the circles in order from biggest to smallest and glue on a piece of paper. Add the title “I am looking at Jesus”
- Color the first picture of Jesus and the boat on the Peter Walks to Jesus worksheet. Cut a slit along the dotted line. Color and cut out Peter on the second page. Glue the figure to a craft stick. Slide the stick into the slit and move Peter up and down in the water according to the story. Discover more Jesus Walks on the Water ideas.
- He Walked Upon the Sea Original Source Unknown
Tune: Row, Row, Row Your Boat
Row, row, row your boat,
Gently down the stream.
Jesus did not need a boat,
He walked upon the sea.
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Using Flannelgraph
While it is an investment, for toddler and preschoolers I believe flannelgraph is one of the best ways to teach Bible stories. Because of this, in each lesson plan, you will see story numbers associated to the Betty Lukens Through the Bible in Felt Teacher Manual. The Bible story, as well as a list of the needed flannelgraph scenes, characters, and props, are listed to help you tell the story. Read more about "Using Flannelgraph."
Memory Verse: Proverbs 3:5
Each week includes a simple memory verse. Help the child memorize at least the key words. Discover helpful memory verse tips. Remember to say each short phrase very slowly with the child.
Bible Song: Deep and Wide
The carefully selected Bible songs are beloved classics sung in Sunday School throughout the generations. Learning these tunes helps the child memorize verses and Bible stories while connecting them to strong theological truths. If any of these songs are unfamiliar, I've created free videos of each one, complete with actions, to help you learn them easily.
Sing this song very slowly and incorporate the actions throughout the day. Create a tradition of singing it during bath time, while driving, or as part of your bedtime routine. As you sing this song to the child repeatedly, they will gradually start to join in.
Books of the Bible: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
To study the Bible, I believe everyone should know the order of the Books of the Bible. With a little help, most preschool children can master this task. The New Testament books have been divided into small group with a new group being introduced every 3-4 weeks in the curriculum. Use a song (as shared above), motions, or simply repetition to help your child. Discover more ideas on Teaching the Book of the Bible.
Under the Math and Science objectives the child will be introduced to nine colors, eight shapes, sorting, and other learning. While not part of the online curriculum, weekly thematic learning is provided in the Complete 4 Year Curriculum.
Math: Colors
- Eat and discuss foods that represent many different colors (green beans, bananas, carrots, chocolate chip cookies, etc.)
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Create a Caterpillar
Using the Building with Colors worksheet, create a caterpillar. Use the activity as an assessment tool.
Calendar Activity
Discussing the calendar each day can be a fun activity that reinforces numbers, counting, days of the week, and months of the year. Starfall.com offers an interactive, online calendar that is a great way to start the day.
Letters & Numbers: l, i, T, t, I, 1
The 4 Year Curriculum serves as the bridge between the 3 Year Curriculum and kindergarten. Building on the tracing skills learned in the 3 Year Curriculum, this program focuses on the child learning to write the letters and numbers on lined paper using a five-step process. The letters and numbers are taught in an order based on the difficulty of their formation, starting with straight-line letters. This approach provides immediate success and builds confidence for forming more complex characters. If the child is not yet familiar with following the green/red dots and lines, it is important to start with training in this area, using the Pre-Writing Sheets from the separate Handwriting Curriculum if needed.
Important: This is considered independent work, meaning children should progress at their own developmental pace. Advancing prematurely can cause frustration, develop bad habits, and create negative associations with writing.
1. Trace the bubble letter or number with the index finger and say the formation chant.
2. Rainbow write following the yellow guide.
3. Rainbow write using the green and red dots.
4. Rainbow write using the green dot.
5. Rainbow write using the lines and the box as a guide.
The 4 Year Curriculum teaches all letters and numbers using a logical formation progression. The first four weeks focus on "straight-line letters." For this week, focus on the letters l, i, T, t, and I—characters written only with straight lines. Each formation is first reviewed with tactile letters and numbers, and then created using crafts sticks, play dough, or pipe cleaners before being placed on tracing paper. When ready, use the Straight Line Characters worksheet to show the progression of the letters l, i, T, t, I. Be sure to say the Letter Formation Chants as the child creates each character. If this level is not appropriate for your child, begin at the level at which they can be successful. If in doubt, start a level below where you think your child is ready.
Through out the curriculum, it will be suggested that a child use a broken crayon to color and write. Occupational therapists have discovered that broken crayons (under 1” in length) force a child to correctly hold a writing utensil so no bad habits develop. The end goal is that the child will hold a utensil with her thumb and index finger while supporting it on the middle finger. Especially in handwriting, the child will be instructed to "rainbow write." This means writing once with a chosen color and then writing again with a different color to create a "rainbow" effect. This allows the child to practice multiple times on the same worksheet with different colored crayons.
If you feel unsure how to teach handwriting, I greatly encourage you to purchase the Handwriting Curriculum. This updated collection of almost 100 penmanship sheets along with easy-to-follow instructions and exclusive how-to videos assist you in teaching a child to correctly and neatly form letters and numbers.
Pre-reading activities such as rhyming, phonemic awareness, phonics, and rhythm are essential for preparing children to read and spell independently. While the Basic 4 Year Curriculum does not include specific weekly activities for these skills, it's important to integrate them into your routine. Discuss the phonetic sound of each letter, find rhyming words as you read, and discuss beginning and ending sounds. If you're unsure how to do this, consider upgrading to the Complete 4 Year Curriculum, which includes weekly activities focused on pre-reading.
Each Lesson Plan includes a Book of the Week. Children should be read quality literature for at least 15 minutes a day. Each week, the child will be introduced to a best-of-the-best picture book that complements other learning and provides pre-reading exposure. Read the book multiple times throughout the week, discussing the illustrations and focusing on concepts related to this week's objectives (e.g., colors, #1, faith).
Book of the Week: Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes
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Color the I Love My Shoes worksheet and add the name of the color to the sentence. Imagine with the child the object that turned his/her shoes that color. Create several different colored shoes and write your own version of the book.
- Pete could have gotten discouraged when troubles came his way, but he continued to be joyful. Use this story to discuss faith and trust in God even through the tough stuff.
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My First Steps to Reading and Math Books
The My First Steps to Reading 
Information: First Name
In the 3 Year Curriculum the child learned to write her name in all capital letters using 3” letters. In the Basic 4 Year Curriculum, the child learns how to write on 1” lined paper her first and last name using the correct combination of capital and lowercase letters. To begin the process, review the formation of each letter in her first name using tactile letters. Lay the tactile letters in order so the child begins to think of the letters as a "word" instead of individual letters. If letters are doubled, you may need to make extra tactile letters.
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, refrain from using markers or pens in activities as they do not strengthen fine and gross motor skills as much as crayons and pencils. Be sure to look over the 4 Year Development Guide so that you are familiar with developmental milestones for your child's age.
Along with fine and gross motor activities, each Lesson Plan in the 4 and 5 Year Curricula contains visual perception activities. Visual perception is the communication between the eyes and the brain, which is imperative for reading and writing. These activities can help correct visual perception issues as well as strengthen the brain and eye communication. While one activity may be difficult for your child, another may be simple.
Fine Motor Skill: Draw My Family
Periodically throughout the curriculum, the child will be instructed to draw his family. This can be a daunted task for some children. Begin by demonstrating how to draw a person. Use simple shapes for parts and explain what you are doing as you draw. Let your child assist in the process. Later in the week, give your child a chance to try it himself. For more ideas read, "Teaching Your Child How to Draw a Person."
• Gross Motor Skill: Put the Fire Out
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
• Visual Perception Skill: Color Tracking
For the first week, use the Color Tracking Visual Perception Worksheets - Color Tracking 1-1, Color Tracking 2-1. Ask the child to color certain shapes, certain colors. Highlight the color words the correct color to help the child associate the word with the color. Use this activity to help the child search for items left to right and row by row. Another option is to assign each shape a colored candy. Ask the child to lay the correct colored candy on the corresponding shape.
For additional practice to confirm that the child's visual perception skills are ready for reading and writing, purchase the Visual Perception Workbook, 2nd Edition. Included are QR codes that grant access to exclusive videos explaining how to effectively teach each step of the Visual Perception process to your child. Additionally, enjoy watching a live demonstration of how I introduce each set of worksheets to a preschooler. Consider this workbook a captivating way to exercise both the eyes and the brain!
Family Fun:
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Create a family tradition of making homemade ice cream in a bag or in a coffee can.
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon sugar
½ cup milk, cream, or half and half
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
Place the three ingredients in a quart-sized ziptop bag or a small coffee can. Mix and seal the container very well. Because the seal may not hold through the mixing process, you may want to tape the seals closed. If possible, refrigerate this mixture for a few hours to speed up the freezing process. Place the well-sealed ziptop bag in a gallon-sized ziptop bag or the small coffee can inside a large coffee can. Place crushed ice cubes and approximately 1/2 cup rock salt inside the larger containers to surround the smaller bag or can. Seal the larger bag or coffee can very well. Then shake and roll the containers for 5-10 minutes until the mixture turns into ice cream. Carefully open the smaller container making sure that the water and salt freezing ingredients do not come in contact with the ice cream. Grab a spoon and enjoy!
First Day of 4 Year Curriculum:
Print the First Day of Preschool poster to create a precious photo op to remember today. Be sure to tag #ABCJesusLovesMe or @ABCJesusLovesMe when you post the image on social media!
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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