Developmentally Appropriate Goals for a Three-Year-Old Lesson Plan

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The following information was compiled by me based on viewing few preschool curriculum standards, WIDA levels, and milestones appropriate for this age group.

Like the twos, a three-year-old class can do better with a teacher in front of the class. You can hold classes from 20 up to 45 minutes as time goes on.

Here are some milestones for this age group:

• Use five or six words in a sentence and have a two- to three-sentence conversation

• Tell you their name, the name of at least one friend, and the names of most common objects

• Understand words like in, on, behind, and next

• Ask WH-questions like “Why?” to get more information about things

Based on a preschool curriculum that uses WIDA I believe these objectives are appropriate for this age. You may notice that some of these objectives also are in the one-year-old blog. That is because it is important to include level one when teaching.

Here are listening objectives shown as "I can" statements:

• I need people to show me pictures and use their hands to help me understand. 
• I can understand when people say “hello” or “goodbye.”
• I can notice that people will sometimes wave when they say “hello” and “goodbye.” 
• I can understand when people say one to three words at a time if they use their hands or show me pictures to help me understand. 
• I can understand questions that let me choose “yes” or “no” for an answer.
• I can recognize different sounds in English words. 
• I can understand a few words about things that are important to me. 

Here are speaking objectives shown as "I can statements:

• I can use greetings as a way to begin talking with other people.
• I can use my hands to wave, point, or show what I want to say and what I need.
• I can use a few words that help me get what I need.
• I can connect two or three words together.
• I can say English words close to the way they should sound most of the time.
• I can connect a few words together using “and.”
• I can use words to be polite to everyone.
• I can talk about myself and other people.
• I can use words to answer simple questions and to do everyday things in class with my friends.
• I can use words and actions to show what I need. 
• I can make short sentences by using sentences I have heard at school. 

Please use this information when trying to plan for your future lessons. I feel that it is important to think of the purpose for the lesson first; then, think of an appropriate topic afterward.

Sources:

Milestones for 3s