Preschool Program

The Time4Learning PreSchool (eg Prekindergarten program) starts at the very beginning.
As soon as children can use a mouse, they can benefit from Time4Learning.

The initial lessons are as simple as following directions. They teach vocabulary, verbal comprehension, and mouse skills. The first exercise is simply "Point to the pencil. Good".

Here is a listing of the scope and sequence with information on the purpose and suggested follow-up on the lessons:

PreSchool Activities



The Name-It Game

The student is asked to point to a common household item such as scissors or crayons.

The activity builds skills in listening, following directions, vocabulary, and mouse handling.
It is also intended to build comfort and confidence with the system.

Parents might repeat the game by asking the child to point to items around the house.
Example: Show me the chair. Bring me the spoon.


Name a Shape

A multiple choice exercise selecting a few basic shapes:circle, square, rectangle, triangle.

This activity builds skills in listening, following directions, mouse handling, vocabulary,
and visual discrimination of geometric shapes.

Parents can draw the shapes on a piece of paper and ask the child to identify them.
A more difficult skill is to ask the child to trace these shapes.The parents can also
point to household objects, having the child identify the shapes. Example: The
picture frame is a rectangle. The clock is a circle.


Alphabet Song

The student clicks on a letter of the alphabet and hears the name of the letter. When
the alphabet is finished, the alphabet song plays.

This activity builds skills in letter recognition, sound-letter correspondence, and alphabet
sequencing.

Singing the alphabet song is a traditional and effective exercise. Parents can draw the uppercase
letters on paper and have the child sequence them. Parents can periodically check the child's
progress by scrambling the letters and having the child identify each one.


Crazy Carrots

The student is presented with three carrots with different expressions on their faces and is
asked to pick the one with a specific expression, mood, or action.

The carrot game, besides being fun and popular, teaches vocabulary and social development.

Parents can make faces and have the child identify them from a verbal set of choices.
Children will want to trade places and have the parent identify the child's expressions.
As the child advances, the parents can have the child state the expression, mood, or
action without being given choices.


Rap a Word: Fall

The student points to a number of short written expressions dealing with a fall theme and
hears them sung.

Rap a Word helps children with print concepts and with sound-written phrase correspondence.

A good follow-up activity is to ask the child if they notice that all the phrases relate to
autumn and then to initiate a discussion on this season. The parent and child can
rap the phrases together.


Naps' 123

The child clicks on each of nine balloons in the correct order of the numerals on them.
Level 2 uses the numerals 11 through 20. Levels 3 and 4 represent the numerals by using
dots, instead.

The child learns number-name correspondence, number sequencing and the use of symbols
instead of numerals to name numbers.

The parents and child can work together to sequence differing numbers of pennies in a stack.
The child can also line up, group, and sequence their stuffed animals or cans in the kitchen
pantry.


Pick a Pair

The child is shown an easel with a picture. A second easel is shown with two additional
drawings. The child chooses the drawing whose name rhymes with the original picture.

This activity teaches rhyming which helps children understand that words are made up of sounds,
a key prereading concept known generally as phonemic awareness.

The parents can state a three letter word and provide a description of a word that rhymes.
The parents can expand this to complete sentences. Example: I like to ride in a car.
In it we can go very _____. (far)


Same or Different: Food (actually Shapes)

The student chooses the one of four shapes that is different than the other three. The name of
the shape is read aloud when the child clicks on it.

The child is helped with following directions, discriminating between shapes based on only
one attribute. The child also hears, sees and learns shape names.

The parents can ask the child to draw the shapes. The parents can point to everyday objects and ask
what shapes they are built on. Example: tissue box, toast triangle, clock.


Shape Match

The student fills in a puzzle board with shapes that are the same size and color as the cutouts.

This activity builds on the previous one, Same or Different: Shapes, in that the child discriminates
between shapes based on two attributes.

The child can practice drawing shapes and coloring them based on the oral directions of the parents.
Parents can ask the child to point to something in their environment that is red and a square.


Phone a Friend

This fun game uses a telephone and a book so the child can call a character.

The skills taught are the print concept of left to right for reading sentences and recognizing
numerals on a number grid.

The parents can have the child turn the pages and follow left-right reading during
story time. The parents may also demonstrate selecting and pressing the correct
sequence of numbers on comon grids such as telephone keypads.


Naps' ABC's

This activity involves the child in choosing balloons, in order, that have both
upper- and lowercase letters. The third level has item names that the child places in
ABC order.

The student learns letter recognition, letter sequencing, and sound-letter correspondence
as prerequisites for reading.

The child may be asked for the first letter of the name of common objects, and then list the names
in ABC order. Example: book, chair, desk.


Dress Teaser

Teaser the Fox gets to wear different styles of clothing for differing activities.
The child clicks on each item of clothing to place it on Teaser.

Left-right and top-bottom directionality are taught, as well as drag-and-drop
using the mouse.

The parents may ask the child if it would work well to wear snowboots at the
beach. The child may also be asked to describe what kind of clothing is
necessary for playing hockey, baseball and football.


Color my World

This assignment requires the student to match the sound of the name of the
color to its written name on an easel.

The skills achieved through this activity are sound-whole word correspondence;
identifying the word name of each color.

Extension of these skills can be obtained by playing a spelling game. The child
names the color of an item and the parent spells the color. Example: blue shoes,
b-l-u-e. The parents may also have the child read the color name on each crayon
as the child chooses each one to use.


Bella's Cats

The tasks for this activity include clicking on the correct number of cats,
clicking on a cat with the same attribute, and clicking on the cat with a
different attribute.

Choosing more than one attribute, following directions, and comparing/contrasting
abilities are emphasized.

Vocabulary and numeric concepts can be expanded by asking the child to state
the qualities of objects. Example: My bicycle is small and red. I have a bicycle, skates
and a skateboard with wheels. Point out to the child that three of the same thing
(moving on wheels) were named.


Count to 10: Teddy Bears

The mouse needs to be clicked 10 times for 10 of the same objects to appear.

One-on-one correspondence and number names are shown in this assignment as
a prerequisite for all mathematics.

Sing-song counting games are fun to do with the child. These kind of counting songs
include "One Potato, Two Potato". The child may also count ten objects of their own.
Example: ten crayons, ten socks.


Kiwi's Balloons

This involves choosing the balloon with the correct uppercase letter.

The student identifies and sequences the next letter.

Assist the child in ordering the letters of the alphabet. First comes ___. The next one
is ____. A more difficult variation is to ask the child which letter comes first: M or G?



Count to 10: Cows ( same as Teddy Bears)


Match a Moo

The sound an animal makes is matched to a drawing of the animal.

The skills developed by this activity are sound, name and picture
identification in order to foster comprehension of pictorial
content.

Children love to imitate animal sounds. The parents may write short
animal names on paper and have the child hold up the animal name as
the child makes the correct sound. Examples: cat, dog, cow, pig.
The parents could also have the child complete sentences.
Example: I make a meow sound, I am a ____.


Naps' 123's (same as above)


Boom Box 2: Rain

The idea of this activity is to click on the Play Boom Box button
to see the word RAIN and hear a rain shower effect.

Listening comprehension and whole word recognition are used in this assignment.

Engage the child in a discussion of the sounds weather can cause. What sounds are
made by lightning and wind? Is snow noisy or quiet? Parents can have the child name
other sound effects they hear on the radio or on the television.


Naps' ABC's ( same as above)


Dress Yop

Yop the Penguin gets to wear many different costumes.

The child practices left to right and top to bottom directionality;
clothing items are compared and contrasted. These are prereading skills.

The student may be asked to tell what Yop would do while wearing specific
costumes. The parents can also describe actions and ask what costume
the character might wear.


ABC Train

Train cars are chosen in order to sequence the letters of the alphabet.

Letter recognition and alphabetizing are learned in this activity. This activity is a
prerequisite for most writing and spelling tasks.

The song 'A, my name is....' can be sung with the child. The child fills in
the proper name of a person and an object the person likes. Example:
A, my name is Albert, and I like alligators.


Rap a Word: Homes (in Spanish)

Bella presents words and phrases related to home life.

This activity makes use of listening comprehension and whole word
recognition skills.

The parents and child can sing the names of the rooms in the house together.
The child can also rap words that describe things done at home. Example:
sleep, bathe, cook.


Rap a word: Family

Descriptive words about the family are shown in this lesson.

Written and spoken language are connected by the student; details
are written and spoken. This lesson extends the child's vocabulary.

Encourage the child to utilize vocabulary effectively by asking for detail
words. Example: tall uncle, red haired Grandmother. The parents could share
a family photo album and the child could point out the pictures that illustrate the
new vocabulary.



Naps' 123's ( same as above)

Same or Different: Shapes (same as above)


Rap a Word: Numbers ( Spanish)

The student clicks on words or phrases that describe numeric concepts.

Words that convey numeric content are emphasized, such as calendars, telephone numbers
and money.

Allow the child to call out a number and the parents can spell out each number name in reply.
Parents can point out numbers on highway signs. The child can be asked to read out
telephone numbers that are shown on television.


Rap a Word: Numbers ( English) (same as above)


Counting Fish:

This is an introductory lesson that is the first presentation of number sentences.

The student begins using the + and = signs; progressive addition sentences are used to
teach the concept of arithmetic properties.

Parents may use the words 'plus' and 'equals' to discuss addition concepts. Using pieces of macaroni
or pennies, the child can say 1 plus 3 equals 4. The child may be asked to tell what
1 more than 5 equals.


Dress Teaser ( same as above)


Word Magic

This assignment requires the student to pick the correct initial consonant to complete the
pictured word.

The ability to distinguish between similar letters and choosing the correct letter to complete C-V-C
words are taught in this lesson. This skill is necessary for beginning writers.

In any picture book, the parents can point out objects and tell the child to complete the name by giving the
first letter. Example: a green _ROG needs an __. (F) Parents can also devise a flash card set to have the
child match the appropriate initial consonant to the last letters of the object.


Same or Different: Winter ( actually Shapes) (same as above)


Kindle Spindle

A talking clock helps the child learn time in five minute intervals.

This is the primary time lesson that uses reading numbers in a clockwise fashion;
telling the time for each five minutes on the face of the clock is covered.

Parents may address future events by the time they will occur. Example: dinner
will be ready at five forty-five. Parents can practice with the child by orally counting by fives.
The child may also use an analog watch to count five minute intervals by pointing to each
number on the watch dial.




Rap A Word: Friends

Words and phrases that give details about friendship are presented.


Sound-letter and whole word concepts are used. Vocabulary development is enhanced
thru Rap a Word.

Suggest that the child name some friends they have, and then ask the child to apply some
of the new vocabulary words that give descriptive details of each friend. Examples: shy, fun, smart.



The Name-It Game ( same as above)

Kindle Spindle ( same as above)

Name a Shape ( same as above)