Ebenezer United Methodist Church, as a Christian institution, is concerned about the well being of children and society as a whole. It recognizes the importance of a broad educational experience in developing an individual's potential and future success in life; therefore, Ebenezer sponsors a non-profit preschool ministry to reach children and their families in our community.
At the preschool level, a child's experience is centered on the home, his/her family and the limited world outside the home. Our purpose is to provide our preschool students with a loving and nurturing environment, working closely with their parents and family to guide their physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and social development.
We believe our preschool education program will help children become comfortable with and aware of themselves and others, learning skills, ideas and beliefs that will promote personal development and appropriate social skills. Our core academic curriculum builds a foundation for further learning experiences and for entrance into kindergarten. We welcome children of all faiths while teaching Christian ideals as a model for personal and social behavior.
Our students will grow in their awareness of God, His Creation and the love of Jesus Christ through interactive experiences with stories, songs, children's prayers, and academic and creative activities. Our preschool teachers and staff serve as important role models, demonstrating Christian attitudes and values.
Class Organization
Our EPS program is open to two, three and four-year-olds. Each class averages 10 (2-yr-olds,) 12 (3-yr-olds) or 15 (4-yr-olds) children and is staffed with two early-childhood educators. We provide flexible two, three and five-day programs, meeting from 9:00 -12:00 a.m.and offer an optional "Stay Day" program several days during the week from 12:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Educational Focus
Learning through play
Presenting challenging opportunities to succeed
Developing self help skills and independence... "I think I can, I think I can
Learning to express needs and feelings in words
Developing manners and respect for self and others
Learning to share and take turns
Introducing letters, sounds, shapes, and color identification.
Developing a positive attitude toward education, home, school, and church.
Interest Centers
Children learn best through personal involvement and play. Our centers allow children to create, explore, observe, invent, and learn, while providing opportunities for a wide range of sensory experience: touching, hearing, smelling, and tasting.
Examples of centers are:
Listening/Reading Center (to develop a lifelong love for books)
Home Living/Dramatic Play Center (to dramatize home and family situations)
Block/Toy Center (to build, create, and play)
Manipulative Play Center (to develop eye/hand coordination and body dexterity)
Music Center (to experiment with sound and rhythm)
Art Center (for free expression to create, experiment, and practice skills that are child-directed)
God's World Science Center (to discover and stimulate the imagination of the children as they learn about the wonders of God's world)
Math Center (to provide opportunities to experiment with measuring, counting, weighing, calculating, and evaluating)
Our Musikgarten Music Program
Ebenezer Pre-School's Musikgarten Music Program, God's Children Sing, is an experience-based curriculum for children up to 5 years of age. It includes methods and materials which promote the child's musical development within the context of nurturing the family's life of faith. Classes meet for 30 minutes every week, while pre-school is in session.
The curriculum for our 2 and 3-year-old classes is divided into two semesters:
God, My Family, and Me, and God's Wonderful World. Each unit of lessons follows the development of the main topic mentioned in the title. God, My Family and Me moves from the child's self-awareness as a child of God outward to family, pets, grandparents, friends and the church family. In January, we begin our 2nd semester, God's Wonderful World, which focuses on God's creation: birds, oceans, night/day, animals, and weather, along with the concepts of working together and growing up.
The curriculum for our 4-year-old classes is also divided into two semesters:
Friends in God's World and Friends of Jesus. First semester lessons are centered around a scripture reading and a related story. Friends in God's World includes stories from the Hebrew Scriptures, such as The Creation and Noah's Ark. Our 2nd semester with Friends of Jesus, focuses on stories about Jesus from the Gospels and one story about St. Francis of Assisi.
