The pre-kindergarten program at McKinney Christian Academy is designed to incorporate Biblically-based education to support the elementary school program by laying a solid foundation for learning that leads to the growth in a child’s spiritual, intellectual, and social development, which is critical to their future academic success. MCA strives to provide a language-rich environment that helps young children develop vocabulary, extended language skills, and knowledge of the world around them. Pre-K instruction incorporates opportunities for fine and gross motor development daily. Large and small group activities are provided to include themes that involve literature, alphabet, numeric, phonemic awareness, language, science explorations, simple math concepts, seasons and holidays, and other developmentally relevant topics.

Bible
We have daily Bible lessons that are centered on the word of God. This includes scripture memorization, praying, and singing. The following is a brief list of biblical concepts covered:

• Listen to Bible stories
• Participate in projects to help others in need (mission projects)
•  Recognize that plants, animals, and human beings are God’s creations
• Recognize that God created families to love and take care of one another
• Learn about God’s love
• Listen to stories of the life of Jesus
• Learn Jesus’ teachings to love God and love others
• Learn monthly Bible verses
• Participates in praise and worship in song and prayer
• Begin to incorporate a Christian worldview and apply God’s Word to real-life situations
• Explore a variety of art processes: painting, drawing, sculpture, weaving, collage, etc.

Creative Arts
The objective in Pre-K is to teach students to:

• Use a variety of art materials: crayons, tempera paint, watercolor paint, colored pencils, markers, chalk, clay, pastels etc.
•  Experiment with mixing paint colors
• Sing traditional songs and others that enhance the curriculum
• Participate in movement song and dance
• Use drums, rhythm sticks, and bean bags to practice rhythm
• Use a variety of children’s instruments
• Participate in dramatic play
• Dramatize familiar stories
• Act out the movements and sounds of animals

Language Arts
Language development is integrated with themes in the classroom that encourage learning of:

• Exposure to alphabet: letter names and sounds
• Modeled reading and writing
• Develop phonemic and phonological awareness through poems, songs, and big books
• Recognize, spell, write first name
• Hold a crayon/marker correctly
• Retell familiar stories
• Draw pictures and dictate sentences about stories and experiences
• Answer questions about stories
• Repeat simple nursery rhymes and fingerplays
• Concepts of print: left to right direction, holding a book right-side-up
• Build new vocabulary
• Build listening skills
• Strengthen visual discrimination-ex: upper case letters
• Sequencing
• Develop fine motor skills: play dough, scissors, writing utensils, Legos, etc.
• Pre Reading skills

Math
Pre-K will recognize and understand concepts of:

• Numerals 1-10
• Counting objects to 10
• One-to-one correspondence of objects
• Sorting by various attributes: color, shape, size
• Patterns: AB, AABB, ABC
• Sizes: small, medium, large
• Shapes: square, rectangle, circle, triangle
• Matching: symbols, shapes, patterns, etc.
• Same and Different
• More, Less, Equal
• Time: Day and Night
• Money: Explore through games, songs, and pretend play

Science
The students will be involved in scientific experiments, nature walks, and learn about the world around that God created: 
Explore science tools: Magnets, magnifying glasses, etc.

• Experience the world through nature walks, pictures, and other explorations
• Observe insect life
• Observe plant growth
• Observe weather and plant life during each season
• Measure and mix ingredients in cooking activities
• Identify basic colors and explore color mixing
• Make observational drawings and dictation
• Explore the world with the five senses

Social Skills
 In Pre-K, students will begin to learn how to interact with other children and adults by:

• Practice problem-solving skills in social situations
• Learn to take turns/listen quietly/follow directions/be kind
• Work in groups or with a partner on a variety of projects
• Share classroom materials with the group
• Practice using manners: please, thank you, excuse me, table manners
• Communicate his/her needs
• Take care of his/her own basic needs: clean up, fold nap pad, fasten clothing, use tissue as needed, etc.
• State personal information: first and last name, age, school name, city, state, country
• Explore types of careers and occupations