Designed for use in curriculum development and as an instructional guide for preschool programs in Shasta County, California, this framework provides information on curriculum areas, developmental indicators, and appropriate activities at the preschool level. Specifically, this framework represents a resource for teachers, curriculum specialists, administrators, and the Board of Trustees in planning courses of study, developing instructional objectives and learning activities, selecting instructional materials, and evaluating programs. Following a brief foreword, the philosophy behind the preschool curriculum is described, emphasizing the importance of a play-based, developmentally appropriate environment. Next, developmental indicators are described and appropriate activities and content are listed for the following 14 curriculum areas: (1) social and emotional development, emphasizing activities that develop children's self-confidence; (2) physical development, including gross and fine motor skills and the promotion of self-help skills; (3) cognitive development, including activities relevant to children's experience; (4) creativity, stressing the use of open-ended activities; (5) mathematics; (6) reading, emphasizing regular reading experiences and listening skills practice; (7) language skills, highlighting the importance of respect for children's home language; (8) art; (9) music; (10) science, placing an emphasis on the act of discovery; (11) nutrition, suggesting the use of cooking activities to engage children in learning; (12) social studies; (13) play; and (14) special activities for handicapped or other special needs students. Contains 34 references. (BCY)