Six Themes for Literacy and Math Use Background Knowledge to Build Skills!

Each of the six CitySteps themes features a variety of familiar urban experiences, settings, and images to make learning meaningful and fun. CitySteps kits, based on popular early childhood themes, people, and experiences of the city! It was developed in conjunction with leading experts in early childhood and urban education.

CitySteps Supportive Text Collections

Extend each CitySteps Theme with read-aloud text collections! Promote conversations and unlock other opportunities for language development with thematically-based, read-aloud book collections. Each collection builds on a CitySteps theme by providing related content tied to children’s experiences and background knowledge.

Each CitySteps Supportive Text Collection includes 10 different small books and a storage bag.

Marvelous Me

Each child is unique. Marvelous Me gives young children an opportunity to talk about what they do to feel good about themselves and stay healthy.

Dramatic Play Kit
Students take turns acting out a visit to the doctor with a stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, lab coat, prescription pad, and more!

My Neighborhood

Every community is special. My Neighborhood presents opportunities for children to talk about the places they live, play, and visit in their neighborhoods.

Dramatic Play Kit
Going out to eat is fun as children play restaurant
with pretend foods, dishes, chef’s hat, apron, guest checks, and more!

Vroom, Vroom Machines

Young children are fascinated with how things work. Vroom, Vroom Machines explores vehicles in the city that help people, transport people, and are used to build lots of things.

Dramatic Play Kit
Children will love to dress up with a hard hat and tool belt fully equipped with a hammer, screw driver, monkey wrench, and more, to build great city skyscrapers.

Weather Watcher

What's the weather outside? Weather Watcher explores different types of weather as well as what children wear and can do on sunny, snowy, rainy, or cloudy days.

Dramatic Play Kit
Children predict the weather and report current conditions as news meteorologists, complete with a microphone, weather chart, business jacket, and more!

Amazing Animals

Where are animals found in the city? Amazing Animals encourages children to talk about animals they see in the air, on the ground, and in the water. Of course, some amazing animals are at the city zoo!

Dramatic Play Kit
Children set up a pet grooming shop with a washtub, comb, brush,
smock, and pet treats for furry friends! (Stuffed animal shown is not included.)

Growing Things

Throughout the year, a city blooms with lots of colors. Growing Things encourages young children to talk about familiar plants, fruits, and vegetables in their community.

Dramatic Play Kit
Promote healthy eating habits as children set up and run their own fruit and vegetable stands!