SHAPES--an acronym for the South Plains Child Care Management Services (SpCCMS) Helping, Assisting and Preparing Educators and Staff--is also the name of a preschool readiness curriculum that is being developed for use by administrators and teachers. The first phase of the curriculum development consists of the publication of five books to be used in training teaching staff. The present curriculum guide for day care centers is the third book in the series. Chapter 1 of the guide describes an approach to curriculum activities that requires teachers to design tasks that focus on children's individual needs within a unit structure. Chapter 2, which consists of lesson plans for a 6-week curriculum, is divided into six thematic units: (1) body parts; (2) family and friends; (3) autumn; (4) home; (5) animals; and (6) Halloween. A total of 124 suggested activities related to the lesson plans are listed in Chapter 3. The activities address children's physical, creative, cognitive, language, and social development. Chapter 4 offers curriculum suggestions concerning dramatic play; block play; the use of toys; and activities involving art, books, and music. Additional tips for curriculum development are suggested in Chapter 5. Blank lesson plans and activity sheets for teachers' use are appended. (BC)