looking for a nature based, simple preschool curriculum

[MommyHawk]

I do childcare in my home and while I am of the unschooled mind, I'd like to find something simple that I can do that's already put together so I can just open it up, do it, put it away for tomorrow. Someone suggested Mother Goose Time and I'm looking at it now, but I'd like to see if there's a more naturally minded curriculum out there instead.

Right now I basically let the kids have child-led free time until it's time to go for a walk or read books, eat, take a nap. There's maybe one half hour spot a day that's available for me to do something, and they are all of varying ages: 3mo, 1yo, 2yo, 3yo, 4yo.... they're not going to want anything outside of songs, books, coloring. Preschool stuff. But I'd like it to be something that's not going to be tons of little pieces, aka, wasteful and unnecessary.

Looking forward to some ideas :)

Thanks!

[wirthaa]

See if you can find a copy of Trails, Tails & Tidepools in Pails by the Docents of Nursery Nature Walks. I don't know if it's still in print. I found my copy at a used book store, and see other used copies from time to time.

[deditus]

Little Acorn Learning has lovely childcare guides.

http://www.littleacornlearning.com/

[LuxPerpetua]

Little Acorn Learning!  It's kind of pricey, though.

Wee Folk Art also has some free seasonal curricula on their website.

[onyxravnos]

little acorn learning is the BEST preschool program. totally worth the  cost. i have a whole years worth from 2008 and I'm still using it. It gives you 'just enough' without being too demanding on you or the kids and is easy to make more complicated or easier for children of different ages.

they have 2 sample weeks on their website that you can download and get a good idea of how it works.

[MommyHawk]

fantastic! and perfect too since I wanted to do a Waldorf inspired curriculum. I'm totally doing the 2 week free trial period.

thanks, ladies! :)

[MommyHawk]

I just downloaded the free week for March and wow! this is perfect! Exactly what I'd put together for my kids IF I had the time. Perfect :)

 

[SpiderMum]

It's not curriculum...but I recommend the book "I Love Dirt!".  It has some great suggestions for nature activities that don't require any STUFF.  I found it at the library and it's divided into 4 sections for the different seasons.

[Mittsy]

What ages/grade levels is Little Acorn Learning appropriate for? Also, what is the difference between the monthly enrichment guides, and the childcare guides? I've been looking into Seasons of Joy for ds(4), and I really like the look of it:

*http://naturalfamily.50megs.com/index.html

Edited by Mittsy - 3/2/11 at 7:43am

[LuxPerpetua]

I have both SOJ and Little Acorn Learning.  From an unbiased POV--I know Annette Marie who wrote SOJ--I like both for different reasons.  SOJ is a great resource for poems, fingerplays, crafts, and baking for the seasons.  LAL is much more detailed since it's weekly (get the 5 day, not the 3 which is less detailed), and has picture book lists, more detailed crafts, painting stories.  The booklists alone are golden.  I think SOJ is a great an economically-priced program, but by it's nature it really can't be as detailed.  LAL is much more expensive but you don't have to do as much extra legwork.  Both programs are Waldorf-inspired and good for age 7 and under, and after age 7 just for enrichment.  LAL has information about dyeing playsilks, and other things you are still going to want to do after age 7.  The LAL enrichment guides are new and seem to me like new things she wanted to add in case you were getting bored with just the childcare weekly guides--new ideas, new crafts, new stories.