2 Year Curriculum: Think of this curriculum as an introduction to learning.  Instead of focusing on your child memorizing specific items have fun playing with the different academic points.  Use this curriculum as a guide to help you cover all the bases in the learning process.  Remember:  repetition bores adults but repetition teaches children. 

Items Needed: Here is a list of items needed for the lesson.  These are items to have gathered and printed off before beginning the week.  Basic items like pencils, construction paper, and glue are not listed.

Theme, Lesson, Bible Story: This is the chosen topic for the week.  Bible stories are given to provide a biblical foundation to each theme and lesson.  Included is the biblical reference as well as page numbers listed from The Beginner's Bible for Toddlers and Betty Luken's Through the Bible in Felt.  ABCJLM contains a list of ideas on how to tell Bible stories to children.

Verse: The Bible verse reinforces the Bible story.  Be sure to print off the 2 Year Curriculum Memory Cards.  ABCJLM Ideas for Learning Memory Verses

Bible Song: These are traditional Sunday School songs.  Almost every song is on the CDs 100 Hymns and Praise Songs for Kids or The Ultimate Bible Song Collection.  The rest of songs can be found on YouTube which are linked for you.  It is best to learn the song yourself and then teach the child the song in slow, small sections.  Use the CD once the song is learned.  ABCJLM Ideas for teaching songs

Poem, Fingerplay, Nursery Rhyme: Traditional poems that help children with rhyme, fine motor skills, and rhythm.  ABCJLM Ideas

Colors:   The child is introduced to nine colors.  Each color is introduced individually and then slowly combined with other colors.  Since the goal is to provide the child with time to work with the specific color(s) and improve fine motor skills, keep the objective simple and use only the color(s) of the week during craft and drawing time.  Instead of focusing on learning the name of each color use this time to introduce, notice, and play with the different colors.  Some children are not yet ready to differentiate between the various colors at this age. Suggested activities are given under the "Ideas" section.  Click for ABCJLM Color ideas.

Shapes: Just as with the colors, focus on recognizing different shapes around you instead of memorizing the names.  As you go about the day point out how the tire is a circle, the door is a rectangle, and the pizza slice is a triangle.  With time, your child will begin to do the same.

Number: Create an Apple Tree Number Book throughout the year to introduce the child to several art media and counting.  After decorating using the suggested medium, add the appropriate number of apple stickers.  Spend a lot of time pointing and counting things that you see.  Click for ABCJLM Ideas for Learning Numbers

Letter: The 2 Year Curriculum does not focus heavily on letters.  The objective is for the child to learn to say the letters of the alphabet correctly.  The letters are divided into seven groups - divided into sections according to the "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" alphabet song.  Use this learning time to point out letters throughout the day and help the child say each letter (especially in the tough L-M-N-O-P section of the song).  (Even in this learning, understand that the letters probably have no meaning yet.)

Information: Help the child know his/her name along with the name of his/her parents and siblings.  Also teach the child the name of his/her home town and state.

Self-Care and Manners: During this time, help the child learn basic manners, personal hygiene, and simple chores.

Book of the Week: The research is unanimous - children should be read to and read to often. The 2 Year Curriculum includes a "Book of the Week." When you are finished with the curriculum, your child will have been introduced to 28 of the top children's books according to ABCJLM users and our family. Several of the books also line up various items learned in the lesson. Be sure to check out the ABCJLM Reading suggestions.

Ideas: Included in this section are ideas to reinforce the concepts learned this week.  This list starts with "Book of the Week" ideas and Bible story activities and color sheets.  This is not an exhaustive list nor is it mandatory.  Pick and choose what is appropriate for your situation.

Fine and Gross Motor Skills: Each week contains an activity to help improve fine and gross motor skills.

Review Weeks

On average, every fourth week is a review week.  These weeks typically match up with holidays.  Use these weeks to review concepts learned so far, do activities that time didn't allow to cover, or focus on a concept that your child is struggling with.  Review weeks contain their own fine and gross motor skill activity.