Recently, I received an email asking me for more information about Mother Goose Time.
Mother Goose Time is a play-based, thematic preschool program. The activities from this program are regularly featured at The Playful Scholar.
If you have questions about Mother Goose Time and the basics of how it works, this post is for you!
Monthly Thematic Preschool Curriculum
Mother Goose Time sends a box containing all unique materials needed for any given theme each month. Inside the box are instructor guides that take you week by week and day by day through the materials. Recent themes include”Friends and Feelings” and “Orchard Harvest.” Check out all the upcoming 2018-2019 themes!
Although the themes do reoccur in three year rotations, the materials are always updated to reflect current educational philosophy and customer feedback. The program has improved every one of the five years that we have used this program!
Preschool Monthly Thematic Studies
Each month, focus is placed on specific
- character traits
- shapes
- colors
- letters
- and numbers.
During the summer months, there is opportunity for review with themes that include activities incorporating the entire alphabet, colors and shapes, and numbers up to twenty.
Each day there is opportunity to pursue activities in
- community
- language/literacy
- math and reasoning
- creative arts
- STEAM stations
- story time
- and music and movement.
Learning Objectives for Preschool
Daily experiences integrate research-based skills through playful hands-on experiences.
Community
Community Challenges encourage kids to work together to solve a project, create something, or play a game. These challenges promote empathy and increase social awareness. It’s team building exercises in the early years!
Language/Literacy
Through free play and table top games, literacy is introduced as fun and exciting. Kids learn how to identify letters by name and sound. Introductory reading concepts are offered.
Math and Reasoning
Mother Goose Time does a fabulous job of introducing basic mathematical concepts. My kids often have no idea that they are doing anything other than playing a game. Counting, sorting, shapes, pattern recognition, and basic addition and subtraction are all included.
Creative Arts
My kids love Mother Goose Time’s art projects. They come in two primary forms: “Invitation to Create” and “Make and Play”. “Invitation to Create” is a process based art activity that allows to kids to explore new mediums and make their own masterpieces with adults offering only prompts and inspiration. With “Make and Play” projects kids are provided an example and given the chance to make their own creation and use it in free play. My kids love it!
STEAM Stations
Mother Goose Time provides suggestions for activities that are STEAM based. STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. These activities are meant to give our kids practice thinking outside the box and following their own ideas, learning through trial and error. Each week STEAM activities are offered that focus on blocks, science and nature, sensory experience, dramatic play, and outside discovery.
Story Time
A unique story book is included with every Mother Goose Time thematic box. Additional suggestions are given for books to go along with each theme. Discussion questions meant to engage young learners in conversation and encourage independent thinking are also included in the teacher guides.
Music and Movement
A CD with thematically appropriate tunes to a variety of musical styles is offered each month. My kids love this music and learn a ton from it. The tunes are catchy and if you really want me to, I can still sing to you all about the three parts of an insect! More importantly, so can my daughter 🙂
Daily Flow for Preschool Curriculum
Mother Goose Time provides ideas for circle time. This includes beginning the day with a suggested greeting song, weather pieces, calendar, and discussion questions. The discussion questions are tied to the day’s topic.
The calendar also helps practice pattern recognition.
Mother Goose Time includes discussion topics in their teacher guide. I rarely have any trouble getting the kids motivated to start talking once they see the topic poster that’s included with each day’s packet. All materials are packed by the day, so there is very little sorting or organizing that is needed. Simply read through the teacher’s guide the night before and gather any additional materials (scissors, glue, paint) that may be needed. Occasionally, you may need to cut some materials in advance, such as cards for a matching game.
Additional reflection questions are included for after the day’s activities are done. My kids often enjoy talking about these over dinner, so they can share what they’ve done that day with Dad.
Add-Ons for Toddlers and Kindergartners
For the family or preschool that has toddlers, there is a wonderful toddler supplement called Little Goose! For older students there are materials called More Math and More Literacy which are appropriate for kindergarten students. Both supplements are used in our homeschool and help make it possible to keep everyone engaged in the day’s activities.
Want to Know More?
If you’re considering subscribing to Mother Goose Time, but need more information, visit our Mother Goose Time Curriculum Page to learn more.
We love to connect and often post photographs and updates of our Mother Goose Time adventures on Instagram and Facebook.
As a blog ambassador for Mother Goose Time, I am happy to share preschool curriculum ideas, activities, and crafts with my readers. Mother Goose Time provides our family the opportunity to use their curriculum free of charge in exchange for honest and authentic stories based on our personal experience. 
