How We Plan Kids' Programs

 

Our kids' programs are carefully planned so they're not just fun, but educational too!  Read below to see the curriculum goals we use when planning programs for your children. 


Mathematical Curriculum Goals

General Math

  • Children will demonstrate the ability to investigate, interpret and communicate solutions to mathematical and real-world problems using patterns, functions and algebra.
  • Children will model and interpret real-world situations using the language of mathematics and appropriate technology.
  • Children will demonstrate the ability to apply probability and statistical methods for representing and interpreting data and communicating results, using technology when needed.
  • Children will collect, organize, analyze and present data. 

Problem solving

  • Children will apply problem solving strategies.
  • Children will make tables, organized lists, look for patterns, “guess and check,” draw pictures or graphs, work backwards, and/or simpler problems.
  • Children will restate a problem, brainstorm, look for another way, make a model.
  • Children will seek answers and observe that different strategies can be used to solve the same problem. 

Reasoning

  • Children will identify relationships and understand the connection between cause and effect.
  • Children will analyze problems and create solution.
  • Children will use examples to explain.
  • Children will demonstrate the effective use by making reasonable generalizations. Children will interpret data to make reasonable generalizations.
  • Children will analyze problems by identifying relationships, identifying missing information, sequencing and observing patterns. 

Communication

  • Children will discuss and talk about math.

Connections

  • Children will make connections between math and everyday activities.

 

 

Science Curriculum Goals

General

  • Children will raise questions about the world around them and be willing to seek answers to some of them by making careful observations and trying things out.
  • Children will seek information through observation, exploration and investigations.
  • Children will use tools such as thermometers, magnifiers, rulers or balances to extend their senses and gather data.
  • Children will participate in multiple experiences to verify that science investigations generally work the same way in different places.
  • Children will find answers to questions that are raised by observing objects or phenomena.
  • Children will count, identify, measure and describe things and experiences.

Earth/Space Science

  • Children will use scientific skills and processing to explain the chemical and physical interactions of the environment, earth and universe that occur over time.
  • Children will investigate objects and materials in the environment.
  • Children will observe and describe a variety of natural and man made objects found in familiar environments.
  • Children will examine and describe earth materials: rocks, soil and water.

Astronomy

  • Children will observe celestial objects that are visible in the day and night sky.
  • Children will identify the sun, moon and stars.
  • Children will describe ways in which the daytime and nighttime skies are different.

Atmosphere

  • Children will investigate and gather information about changes in weather.
  • Children will observe and describe different weather conditions using senses.
  • Children will record observations using pictures or written/oral language.
  • Children will describe qualitative changes in weather, such as temperatures, precipitation, wind, etc.

Life Science

  • Children will use scientific skills and processes to explain the dynamic nature of living things, their interactions and the results from the interactions that occur over time.
  • Children will observe a variety of familiar animals and plants to discover patterns of similarity and difference among them.
  • Children will identify and describe features of animals and plants that make some of them alike in the way they look and the things they do.
  • Children will compare features that make some animals and some plants different from one another.
  • Children will compare ideas about how these features affect what these animals are able to do.
  • Children will organize data that is collected and draw conclusions about similarities and differences among humans.
  • Children will explain ways in which humans are more like one another than like other animals.

Genetics

  • Children will observe, describe and compare the life cycles of different kinds of animals and plants.
  • Children will identify and draw pictures what show what an animals and a plant looks like at each stage of its life cycle.

Evolution

  • Children will recognize that living things are found almost everywhere in the world and that there are somewhat different kinds of living things in different places.
  • Children will observe, describe and give examples of the many kings of living things found in different places in Maryland.
  • Children will observe and be able to explain that the external features of plants and animals affect how well they thrive in different kinds of places.

Matter and Energy

  • Children will develop an awareness of the relationship of features of living things and their ability to satisfy basic needs that support their growth and survival.
  • Children will develop an awareness of the relationship of features of living things and their ability to satisfy basic needs that support their growth and survival.
  • Children will make observations of the features and behaviors of many different kinds of animals within an environment to identify and begin building a list of some of the basic needs these organisms share, such as water, air, etc.
  • Children will describe ways that people and other animals manage to bring the things they need from their environment into their bodies.
  • Children will make observations of the features of many different kinds of plants within an environment to identify and begin building a list of some of the basic needs these organisms share, such as water, light, etc.
  • Children will describe the way that most plants manage to bring water from the environment into the plant.

Ecology

  • Children will investigate a variety of familiar places where plants and animals live to describe the place and the living things found there.
  • Children will observe plants and animals from their location, activity, movement and features.
  • Children will describe ways that animals and plants found in places interact with each other and their environment.

Chemistry

  • Children will use scientific skills and processes to explain the composition, structure and interactions of matter in order to support the predictability of structure and energy transformations.
  • Children will compare the observable properties of a variety of objects and he materials they are made of using evidence from investigations.
  • Children will examine and describe various objects in terms of the materials such as clay, cloth, paper, etc from which they are made.
  • Children will describe observable properties, such as size, shape, color and texture of a variety of objects.
  • Children will identify and compare the properties of materials objects are made of and the properties of the objects.
  • Children will compare the observable properties of a variety of objects an
    the materials that they are made of using evidence from investigations.

Physics

  • Children will use scientific skills and processes to explain the interactions of matter and energy and the energy transformations that occur.
  • Children will compare the different ways objects move.
  • Children will explain that there must be a cause for changes in the motion of an object.
  • Children will observe and gather information from the explorations to describe how magnets affect some objects.
  • Children will identify aspects of the environment that are made by humans and those that are not made by humans.
  • Children will observe and describe that sound is produced by vibrating objects.

Environmental Science

  • Children will use scientific skills and processes to explain the interactions of environmental factors (living and non-living) and analyze their impact from a local to a global perspective.
  • Children will identify aspects of the environment that are made by humans and those that are not made.

 

Social Studies Curriculum Goals

Political Science

  • Children will understand the historical development and current status of the democratic principles and the development of skills and attitudes necessary to become responsible citizens.

People of the Nations and World

  • Children will understand how people in the US and around the world are alike and different.

Geography

  • Children will use geographic concepts and processes to understand location and its relationship to human activities

Economics

  • Children will identify the economic principles and processes that are helpful to producers and consumers when making good decisions.

History

  • Children will use historical thinking skills to understand how individuals and events have changed society over time.