Programs & Activities
Building Strong Foundations Through Faith, Learning, and Play
At Great Beginnings Early Learning Center, we believe that every child is created with unique gifts, abilities, interests, and developmental needs. Our programs are designed to nurture the whole child—academically, socially, emotionally, physically, and spiritually—as children learn, play, grow, and explore the world around them.
From infancy through Pre-K, children are active participants in the learning process. We believe that no child is too young to learn when experiences are nurturing, engaging, and developmentally appropriate.
Our teachers carefully adapt classroom activities, routines, and learning experiences to each child’s age and stage of development. This individualized approach allows children to progress at their own pace while gaining the confidence, curiosity, independence, and foundational skills needed for future success. Great Beginnings operates year-round, excluding scheduled holidays, staff development days, and emergency or inclement-weather closures.
What Children Learn
Children participate in age-appropriate learning experiences designed to strengthen skills in:
- Early language and literacy
- Pre-reading and beginning reading
- Pre-writing and handwriting development
- Early mathematics and number concepts
- Nature, science, and discovery
- Bible lessons and Christian character development
- Arts and crafts
- Music, movement, and dance
- Fine- and gross-motor development
- Sensory exploration
- Social-emotional development
- Recreational and cooperative play
- Problem-solving and independent thinking
- Self-help and school-readiness skills
Learning takes place throughout the day—not only during teacher-directed lessons, but also through play, classroom routines, conversations, creative expression, outdoor activities, and interactions with teachers and classmates.
Our Curriculum
A Beka Book® Curriculum
Great Beginnings uses the faith-based A Beka Book® curriculum as the foundation of our educational program.
A Beka has been used by Christian schools and early childhood programs for decades and is especially recognized for its structured approach to phonics, language development, handwriting, number concepts, and Christian character education.
Through age-appropriate A Beka lessons, children develop foundational skills in:
- Phonics and letter recognition
- Early reading and language development
- Numbers and beginning mathematics
- Handwriting and fine-motor coordination
- Poetry, music, and memory development
- Bible knowledge and Christian values
- Listening, following directions, and classroom participation
Our goal is to help children develop the educational, social, behavioral, and developmental skills needed to enter kindergarten confidently and participate successfully within their families, schools, churches, and communities.
Hands-On and Creative Learning
We complement our structured curriculum with hands-on, child-centered learning experiences inspired by the principles of the Creative Curriculum.
Children learn through:
- Classroom learning centers
- Sensory activities
- Science experiments and observations
- Building and construction
- Dramatic and imaginative play
- Art and creative expression
- Music and movement
- Outdoor discovery
- Teacher-guided and child-selected activities
Blending structured instruction with creative, hands-on exploration allows our teachers to respond to different learning styles while keeping children engaged, curious, and excited about learning.
Nursery Programs
Our nursery classrooms provide warm, responsive care within a safe and nurturing environment. Teachers support each infant’s individual feeding, sleeping, movement, communication, and developmental needs while establishing trusting relationships with children and families.
Doves
Young Infants • 6 Weeks–9 Months
The Doves classroom provides attentive care for our youngest learners as they adjust to life outside the home and begin reaching important early milestones.
Teachers support development through:
- Tummy time and supervised floor play
- Reaching, grasping, rolling, and movement
- Songs, stories, and gentle conversation
- Visual, auditory, and sensory exploration
- Individual feeding and sleeping routines
- Secure, nurturing interactions with caregivers
Maximum ratio: 4 children to 1 caregiver
Lambs
Older Infants • 9–16 Months
The Lambs classroom supports older infants as they become increasingly mobile, expressive, curious, and independent.
Learning experiences encourage:
- Crawling, standing, cruising, and beginning steps
- Early language and communication
- Music, movement, and fingerplays
- Exploring safe classroom materials
- Beginning self-feeding skills
- Social interaction with teachers and classmates
- Simple stories, pictures, and vocabulary development
Maximum ratio: 4 children to 1 caregiver
Ducks
Toddlers • 16–24 Months
The Ducks classroom provides active toddlers with opportunities to explore, communicate, develop independence, and practice emerging social skills.
Children participate in:
- Language-building conversations
- Stories, songs, and rhymes
- Early color, shape, and number concepts
- Sensory and art activities
- Fine- and gross-motor development
- Outdoor and recreational play
- Beginning self-help routines
- Sharing, turn-taking, and positive peer interaction
Maximum ratio: 5 children to 1 teacher
Preschool Programs
Our preschool classrooms combine structured instruction, hands-on exploration, Christian character education, and purposeful play. Children build the academic, behavioral, social, and self-help skills needed for a successful transition to kindergarten.
Penguins
2-Year-Old Program
The Penguins classroom supports children during a period of rapid language, physical, cognitive, and social development.
Children work on:
- Vocabulary and expressive language
- Letter, color, shape, and number recognition
- Listening and following simple directions
- Music, movement, and creative expression
- Fine- and gross-motor coordination
- Beginning problem-solving skills
- Sharing and cooperative play
- Self-help and toileting-readiness skills
- Bible stories, prayer, and Christian character development
Maximum ratio: 8 children to 1 teacher
Cubs
3-Year-Old Preschool Program
The Cubs classroom introduces children to more structured preschool learning while maintaining a playful, encouraging, and developmentally appropriate environment.
Children develop skills in:
- Phonics and early literacy
- Letter and sound recognition
- Pre-writing and handwriting readiness
- Counting, sorting, patterns, and number concepts
- Science and nature exploration
- Following multi-step directions
- Independent classroom routines
- Creative arts, music, and movement
- Cooperation, conflict resolution, and friendship skills
- Bible lessons and Christian values
Maximum ratio: 10 children to 1 teacher
Giraffes
4- and 5-Year-Old Pre-K Program
The Giraffes classroom is our advanced preschool and kindergarten-readiness program. Children receive structured instruction and meaningful learning experiences that help prepare them academically, socially, emotionally, and behaviorally for elementary school.
Children strengthen skills in:
- Phonics and beginning reading
- Vocabulary and comprehension
- Letter formation and handwriting
- Counting, number recognition, and early mathematics
- Patterns, sequencing, and problem-solving
- Science, nature, and discovery
- Listening, concentration, and completing assignments
- Independence and personal responsibility
- Public speaking and classroom participation
- Cooperation and positive peer relationships
- Bible knowledge and Christian character development
Maximum ratio: 10 children to 1 teacher
Enrichment and Learning Experiences
Children’s Library and Early Literacy
Children have regular access to age-appropriate books and reading materials designed to expand their language, imagination, vocabulary, comprehension, and understanding of the world around them.
Teachers use books and storytelling to encourage:
- Letter, picture, and name recognition
- Listening and comprehension
- Story sequencing and recall
- Predicting what may happen next
- Retelling familiar stories
- Vocabulary development
- Imagination and creative thinking
- A lifelong appreciation for reading
Through books, children can visit new places, meet memorable characters, explore unfamiliar ideas, and experience adventures—all from the comfort of their classroom.
Art and Creative Expression
Creative art gives children opportunities to express ideas, strengthen fine-motor skills, make choices, and develop confidence in their own abilities.
Activities may include:
- Drawing and coloring
- Painting
- Cutting and gluing
- Collage and mixed-media projects
- Seasonal crafts
- Playdough and modeling materials
- Open-ended art exploration
- Teacher-guided classroom projects
The emphasis is not only on the finished product, but also on the child’s experience of creating, experimenting, and expressing individual ideas.
Music, Movement, and Dance
Music and movement are incorporated throughout the day to support language, memory, coordination, rhythm, self-expression, and physical development.
Children may:
- Sing familiar and educational songs
- Participate in fingerplays and action rhymes
- Play age-appropriate musical instruments
- Move and dance to different types of music
- Practice rhythm and beat
- Participate in group performances and celebrations
- Listen to classical music and soft instrumental selections during rest periods
Science, Nature, and Discovery
Children are naturally curious about how the world works. Our teachers encourage that curiosity through age-appropriate opportunities to observe, ask questions, experiment, compare, predict, and discover.
Experiences may include:
- Exploring plants, animals, weather, and seasons
- Simple classroom experiments
- Sensory activities
- Nature walks and outdoor observations
- Sorting and classifying natural objects
- Learning about health, the human body, and the environment
- Building, measuring, and problem-solving activities
Outdoor and Recreational Play
Outdoor play is an important part of each child’s daily experience. It supports healthy physical development while giving children opportunities to practice social skills, build confidence, release energy, and explore their environment.
Activities support:
- Running, climbing, jumping, and balancing
- Ball skills and coordination
- Cooperative games
- Imaginative play
- Strength, endurance, and body awareness
- Friendship and teamwork
Additional Enrichment Opportunities
When available, children in our preschool programs may participate in additional enrichment activities such as:
- Gymnastics and physical movement
- Group music instruction
- Individual music experiences
- Special classroom visitors
- Seasonal programs and celebrations
- Educational presentations and community experiences
Available enrichment activities may vary throughout the school year.
Developing the Whole Child
At Great Beginnings, education is about more than preparing children academically. We help children become confident learners, caring classmates, responsible community members, and young people who understand that they are loved by God.
Our teachers intentionally support development in five essential areas:
- Academic: Building strong early literacy, mathematics, science, and school-readiness skills
- Social: Learning to cooperate, communicate, share, and develop friendships
- Emotional: Identifying feelings, building confidence, and developing self-regulation
- Physical: Strengthening fine- and gross-motor abilities through active play and classroom experiences
- Spiritual: Learning biblical truths and practicing kindness, honesty, patience, compassion, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control
Discover the Right Program for Your Child
We invite you to visit Great Beginnings Early Learning Center, explore our classrooms, meet our teachers, and learn more about the program designed for your child’s age and developmental stage.
Click the flashing “Schedule a Tour” button on our website to choose a convenient date and time.
