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4's Curriculum Joyful Heart Character
(Biblical character traits and sequential early reading activities for 4-6 year olds)
Goals
- To recognize, make connections with, and practice godly character traits
as found in the Bible
- To play and manipulate the sounds of language (phonemic awareness)
- To make connections between print and sounds (phonics)
- To develop a growing sense of accomplishment as they read and write
using CVC words and sight words, both in and out of context
- To enjoy the rereading of favorite, predictable story books

An Overview of the Lessons
The Joyful Heart Character Curriculum continues the learning from the Joyful Heart Bible and Rhyme Curriculum. There are a total of 38 planned weekly lessons in the Joyful Heart Character
Curriculum, designed to be used during a typical school calendar year (August through May). Each weekly lesson is arranged so it can be used over the course of four days.
Children should have a firm grasp of letter recognition and know most of the corresponding
letter sounds before beginning. Each weekly lesson will have a focus letter for review, introduce a new sight word, and introduce or review a short vowel word family. The reading portion of the
lessons build upon one another and should be used sequentially.
Each weekly lesson is based on a character trait. One character trait is studied each week
and is discussed through Bible stories and related verses from the Bible. Crafts and story books are used to further emphasize the character trait. Review weeks are built in to allow for review of
all aspects of the curriculum and to build in opportunities to work with seasonal concepts and activities.
Note: If you are only interested in using the Character Trait portion of the curriculum, just print the character trait tune charts (double sided), grab your favorite Bible, and you will be ready to go
! The character trait definition, suggested Bible memory verse, related verses from Scripture, Bible story references, and the character trait song are on the Character Trait Tune Charts. You
could then, also, choose the order for the traits and not be dependent on the scope and sequence chart.
Joyful Heart Character Scope and Sequence
This is a 9 page document to show the full 38 week sequence for character traits, Bible, memory verses, crafts, story books, sight words and booklets, letter focus, word family focus, math
concepts, and science concepts at a month by month glance.
Original Scope and Sequence
Per request: This is for those of you who have started the old sequence and would like to continue.
Quick Reference Book List
A list of Suggested Books to use with this curriculum for the entire year. Just print it out and take it to the library with you!
Joyful Heart Character Lesson Plans
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Lesson Plan Sheets and Other Printables
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Week
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Character Trait
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Weeks 1 - 4
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1
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Orderly
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2
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Attentive
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3
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Teachable
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4
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Obedient
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Weeks 5 - 8
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5
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Respectful
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6
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Honest
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7
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Forgiving
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8
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Peacemaker
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Weeks 9 - 12
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9
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Review / Fall
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10
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Courageous
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11
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Discerning
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12
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Review / Halloween
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Weeks 13 - 16
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13
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Content
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14
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Servant Hearted
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15
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Thankful
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16
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Review / Thanksgiving
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Weeks 17 - 20
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17
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Self Control
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18
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Loving
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19
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Humble
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20
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Review / Christmas
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Weeks 21 - 24
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21
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Review / Winter
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22
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Prayerful
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23
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Modest
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24
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Joyful
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Weeks 25 - 28
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25
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Generous
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26
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Review / Valentine's Day
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27
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Responsible
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28
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Compassionate
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Weeks 29 - 32
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29
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Kind
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30
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Patient
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31
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Diligent
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32
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Faithful
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Weeks 33 - 36
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33
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Servant Hearted, Humble, and Obedient
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34
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Servant Hearted, Humble, and Obedient
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35
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Review / Easter
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36
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Full of Faith
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Weeks 37 - 38
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37
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Review
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38
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Review
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Resource Books
Bible and Character Traits
- A Child's Book of Character Building: Growing Up in God's World- At Home, at School, at Play (Book 1) by Ron and Rebekah Coriell. Fleming H. Revel Company: 1981. ISBN 0-8007-5494-8
- For Instruction in Righteousness : A Topical Reference Guide for Biblical Child Training by Pam Forster. Doorposts: 1993 (revised 1995). ISBN 1-891206-07-9
- What Every Child Should Know Along the Way by Gail Martin. Growing Families International: 2000. ISBN 1-883035-53-8
- Praying the Scripture for Your Children by Jodie Berndt. Zondervan: 2001. ISBN 0310232163
Beginning Reading and Decoding Skills:
- Alphabet Rhymes: Reproducible Rhyme Books by Jean Warren. Totline Publications: 1998. ISBN 1-57029-277-9
- Now I'm Reading for Beginning Readers: Animal Antics (Level 1 set) by Nora Gaydos. Innovative Kids: 2003. ISBN 1-58476-159-8
- Now I'm Reading for Beginning Readers: Playful Pals (Level 1 set) by Nora Gaydos. Innovative Kids: 2003. ISBN
- BOB books
Math:
- Count On Math: Activities for Small Hands and Lively Minds by Pam Schiiler and Lynne Peterson. Gryphon House: 1997. ISBN 0876591888
- Calendar Binder - Kindergarten teacher Jessica Meacham shares her original idea for
Calendar Binders. Lots of photos, free printables, and explanations here!
Phonemic Awareness:
- Phonemic Awareness: Playing with Sounds to Strengthen Beginning Reading Skills by Jo Fitzpatrick. Creative Teaching Press: 1997. ISBN 1574712344
- Phonemic Awareness: Listening Activities to Develop Pre- Reading Skills by Hildi Kang. Fearon Teacher Aids: 1997. ISBN 1564179443
- Phonemic Awareness Activities for Early Reading Success by Wiley Blevins. Scholastic: 1997. ISBN 0590372319
- Phonemic Awareness Songs and Rhymes by Kimberly Jordano and Trisha Calella-Jones. Creative Teaching Press: 1998. (There are three books in this series – Fall, Winter, and Spring)
- Phonemic Awareness Ideas - from PALS
Science:
- Let's Read and Find Out Science Series Levels 1 and 2

Other Resources for Teaching Four Year Olds
Ages and Stages - Four Year Olds
Brightly Beaming Resources - Letter of the Week Curriculum by Katrina Lybbert
Before Five in a Row by Jane Claire Lambert
Preschool and Kindergarten Guidelines - free printable assessments and even a report card for
4's Preschool! Check out the rest of this website by Cindy Downes if you are considering homeschooling beyond Pre-K!

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