Curriculum
Art
Child Development Center
The Shining Star Home Away From Home curriculum is an originally designed curriculum that begins with the concept of providing a loving homelike atmosphere that promotes a love of family closeness, good friends and comfort in being yourself. Our goal is to provide the kind of care that gives children the security and trust required to be curious, independent and social. Through a combination of child centered and child led activities we provide the materials and situations that aid in opportunities to teach, explore and learn.
We focus on self help and adaptive skills to promote a child's esteem as well as their desire and ability to meet specific goals in their development.
Each classroom conducts observations that become tools for goals and activity development as well as individualization of the daily planning and room. .
Each year we start seedlings with the children and try our hand at growing a veggie and herb garden. We use what we grow in the snacks and special occasion meals we provide.
Classroom schedules vary depending on the age of the child as well as the time of year and weather. These schedules give an idea of how we pace our day although much more is included in the day specific to individual and classroom needs..
Shining Star
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Garden Fresh Ingredients
Art is a very important part of our curriculum. We feel it's a great way for young children and toddlers to express themselves, explore various mediums, get messy, be creative and feed their curiosity.
All of our teachers include art in many ways in their classrooms as a part of their daily curriculum. Our Home Away from Home curriculum includes art not only as a creative outlet but as a learning tool for many different subjects.
Being part of Maine's 5210 program has influenced the way we manage the center snacks and create our menus for the children. We serve two snacks a day, an AM breakfast snack and an afternoon pick me up snack around 3:00. We choose only the best ingriediants to prepare our snacks and include age appropriate portions and choices. Below is an example of a weekly menu at Shining Star.
Pre-School and Pre-K
6:30-8:30- Morning Drop Off/Free Play
8:30-9:00- Clean Up
9:00-9:30- Morning Snack
9:30-10:00- Circle Time
10:00-10:30- Art Activity
10:30-11:00- Outside Playtime
11:00-11:30- Clean Up
11:30-12:00- Lunch
12:00-2:00- Nap
2:00-2:30- Wake Up/Potty
2:30-3:00- Table Toys/Story Time
3:00-3:30- Afternoon Snack
3:30-4:45- Outside Play
4:15-4:45- Activity
4:45-5:15- Sensory Play
5:15-6:00- Clean Up/Pick Up
Shining Star
Daily Schedules
Music
Toddler Rooms
6:30-8:30- Morning Drop Off/Free Play
8:30-9:00- Clean Up
9:00-9:30- Morning Snack
9:30-10:00- Morning Diapers
10:00-10:30- Outside
10:30-11:00- Morning Circle
11:00-11:30- Lunch
11:30-12:00- Diapers
12:00-2:00- Nap
2:00-2:30- Diapers
2:30-3:00- Table Toys/Story time
3:00-3:30- Afternoon Snack
3:30-4:45- Outside Play
4:15-4:45- Diapers
4:45-5:15- Sensory Play
5:15-6:00- Clean Up/Pick Up
Art
4th of July Cook Out
Shining Star Menu
Through a theme based foundation, each classroom teacher uses her own individual creativity to implement the concepts set forth in the curriculum.
At Shining Star we feel music plays a big part in learning and in enjoying what you learn. That's why we make music a priority in each of our classroom curriculums. Whether it is just singing along during circle time or learning cords on the guitar with Miss Sarah, we all love to hear the children expressing themselves musically and learning how good it feels to do that.
Child Development Center
Monday
Breakfast: ½ Whole Grain English Muffin topped with apple butter, ½ sliced apple, ½ cup Yogurt
Afternoon Snack: Cheddar Cheese and Crackers, Cucumber Slices w/Ranch Dressing
Tuesday
Breakfast: ½ Whole Grain Waffle topped with a Spoonful of Yogurt and Cool Whip, Sliced Strawberries and Blueberries
Afternoon Snack: ½ Sun Butter Sandwich, Baby Carrots w/Ranch Dressing
Wednesday
Breakfast: Morning Parfait (¾ cup Whole Grain Cheerios, ½ Banana, ½ cup Strawberry Yogurt)
Afternoon Snack: 1 Mozzarella stick, ¾ cup Goldfish, Sugar Snap Peas w/Ranch Dressing
Thursday
Breakfast: ½ Whole Grain Mini Bagel w/ Strawberry Cream Cheese, ½ Orange and Blueberries
Afternoon Snack: Healthy Hummus Wrap (½ Flour Tortilla topped with Hummus, Sliced Cucumber and Red Bell Pepper)
Friday
Breakfast: 1 Cereal Bar, 1 Cup Applesauce topped with Blueberries and Cubed Cheddar Cheese
Afternoon Snack: Bean and cheese quesadilla. salsa and sour cream on the side, with Baby Carrots and Ranch Dressing