Sunshine School  in Oro Valley, Inc.
 A Not-For-Profit Preschool and Child Care Organization

9000 N Oracle Road  
Suite 204  
Tucson, AZ 85704  
520-742-6874   



























Units of Study
Each year, we'll concentrate on three fields of study. First semester, we'll focus on "Communities Near & Far." In January and February, we celebrate "Literature" in all its glorious forms. (Of special interest in February: LOVE OF READING. Parents, family members, and principals of the local schools read to us every day and we just love it.) From early March through the end of school in May, we explore the "Natural Sciences," concentrating on our desert environment. Please understand that each teacher interprets these units differently, per the interests & abilities of the class. We welcome your cooperation, so please call the Director if you'd like to offer your expertise. Thank you.
Academic Program
Our teachers use this curriculum to develop class work for the children. Because we believe all early childhood education should be both age AND individually appropriate, teachers adapt the curriculum to fit the needs of each class & each child. Some of our 3 year old children don't know which end of a pencil is usable; some of our 5's can add in their heads! Both are normal and welcome @ Sunshine. We also recognize the critical importance of unstructured play. Therefore, before & after preschool and during recess, we encourage the children to just have fun doing whatever they wish. At these times, our work is to observe the children, help them when necessary, and keep them safe. Because social development is rapid at this age, we include an affective section in our curriculum. And, added in 2000: a "Life Skills" component, highlighting many of the necessary tasks children learn both at home and at school. You'll notice that we don't offer computer work to our children. We think that they'll use computers all their lives, but the joys and lessons of childhood are available for only a few, brief years. REMEMBER: AT NO TIME DO WE EXPECT MASTERY. The curriculum is simply a guideline.


Cognition (things to know).
  1. Language development. How to:
    1. follow directions
    2. listen attentively in different situations
    3. identify colors
    4. use age-appropriate sentence structure
    5. talk with others about personal experiences
    6. share self-expression & creativity through dictation of stories
    7. visually discriminate between likenesses & differences
    8. categorize things by groups
    9. follow left-to-right, top-to-bottom progressions
    10. identify upper- & lower-case alphabet letters
    11. auditorily discriminate between sounds
    12. associate letter symbols with sounds
    13. identify & use rhyming words, synonyms & antonyms
    14. describe the sequence of a story
    15. comprehend a story
    16. predict outcomes in varied situations

  2. Mathematical skills. How to:
    1. distinguish & describe shapes
    2. do rote counting, 0 - 20 +
    3. identify the written symbols, 0 - 10 +
    4. understand left and right
    5. experience /describe spatial relationships
    6. describe / compare attributes of things
    7. sort and match
    8. arrange items in a series or pattern
    9. understand a one-to-one correspondence
    10. write numbers with no model
    11. relate the written symbol with the number of objects in a group
    12. understand concepts of addition and subtraction
    13. understand parts and whole
    14. understand that money has value
    15. identify articles of measurement: ruler, scale, thermometer, etc.

  3. Physical goals: development of
    1. large muscle coordination by hopping, skipping, jumping, bouncing balls, etc
    2. non-locomotor or anchored movement by bending, twisting, rocking, swinging one's arms etc.
    3. small muscle coordination by holding a writing implement correctly, coloring & drawing, using detail in pictures, using clay, cutting, etc.
    4. eye-hand coordination by tracing designs, doing puzzles, sorting small objects, connecting dots, etc.

  4. Arts & sciences: to experience
    1. child-centered cooking projects
    2. weekly art classes with Barbara (her curriculum follows this section)
    3. dancing, poetry, drama,
    4. self-expression through role-playing, pretending; imitation of actions & sounds; music, movement, singing
    5. personal exploration through the appropriate use of sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell
    6. simple musical and rhythmic instruments
    7. self-awareness: body, health, and emotions
    8. appropriate safety measures
    9. understanding and respect for our environment
    10. animal and plant studies
    11. simple astronomy and history
    12. the concepts of time and routine



    The affective realm (social development).

  5. Personal and group relationships: to develop
    1. ability in making & expressing choices, plans, and decisions
    2. problem-solving skills encountered in daily situations
    3. competency in taking care of one's own needs
    4. appropriate self-expression of feelings and needs
    5. willingness to participate in large and small group, and solitary activities
    6. empathy for the needs and feelings of others
    7. positive relationships with Sunshine children and adults
    8. civility through politeness and the use of simple manners
    9. ability to eat together in a socially appropriate manner
    10. a sense of commitment to the family & Sunshine by taking responsibility for daily tasks
    11. a sense of commitment to the community by participating in charitable projects
    12. respect for all people

  6. Life Skills
    1. Nutritional aspects: to learn
      1. the difference between healthful & "fun" food
      2. how to clean up spills
      3. how to set & clear the table
      4. how to experience new foods by using all 5 senses, then taking a bite or two
    2. Safety issues: how to
      1. ride safely in a vehicle
      2. recognize the symbols for poisonous or dangerous substances
      3. avoid guns, lighters, matches, dangerous implements
      4. stay close to an adult in public places
      5. call 911; scream for help/run away when necessary
      6. exit buildings during a fire drill
      7. protect a baby sibling from harmful situations
    3. Social situations: to develop
      1. manners by saying "Please" & "Thank you" and by writing thank-you notes & invitations
      2. comfort in saying "Hello" & "Good-bye" to friends (both children & adults)
      3. phone manners: learning not to interrupt when an adult is speaking on the phone; how to safely and politely answer the telephone
      4. an understanding of when it's appropriate to share OR to take turns
      5. the habit that we knock on a closed door before entering a room
      6. the conceptual difference between borrowing & stealing
      7. an understanding that tattling, whining, and lying are never appropriate
      8. strategies for dealing with bullies
    4. Personal tasks: how to
      1. dress/undress; put on socks/shoes; select proper clothing for the environment
      2. comb hair, brush teeth, wash hands, etc.
      3. blow noses and cough without spreading germs
      4. tend to bumps, scratches, bleeding, insect bites; know how to stay calm & when to get help in an emergency
      5. protect yourself in the Arizona environment
      6. respect others by being punctual
      7. help with housekeeping: sweeping, dusting, washing windows, etc;
      8. help with the laundry: gathering soiled items, folding & returning clothing
      9. care for pets
      10. tend a garden
      11. develop an "I CAN DO IT!" attitude

Note: We selected and adapted components from the "Key Learning Experiences," published by High/Scope Press. We also acknowledge the National Association for the Education of Young Children for contributing significantly to our educational philosophy.)


The Sunshine faculty has worked with many children, so we've observed a wide range of development in 3-, 4-, and 5-year-old children. If we suspect your sweetheart would benefit from some type of therapy, we'll speak with you about a referral. We acknowledge that this information may cause you discomfort, but our intent is to help every child grow well. Early intervention is best.