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Preschool
Our preschool area is available to all of our 3-5 year old children throughout the day, each section having a specific purpose. This is based on the “Creative Curriculum For Preschool” philosophy. During the majority of the day, children are allowed to choose the area they want. By doing so, they become more independent and responsible.
The following interest areas/centers are available:
Block Play The various blocks you might see in our classroom are one of the most valuable learning materials we have. They come in exact sizes and shapes. For this reason, when children build with blocks they learn math concepts such as the number of blocks that fill a certain space. They compare the height of their buildings and learn about geometric shapes (triangles, squares, and rectangles). When they lift, shove, stack, and move blocks, they explore weight and size. Each time they use blocks, children are making decisions about how to build a structure or solve a construction problem. Dramatic Play/Kitchen The Dramatic Play Area children take on different roles and recreate real-life experiences. They use props and make-believe to deepen their understanding about the world they live in. The ability to pretend is very important to your child's development. Children who know how to make believe develop a good vocabulary, which is important for reading. They learn to cooperate with others and solve problems, and are able to think abstractly (all important skills for success in school). When children pretend, they have to recall experiences and re-create them. To do this, they need to picture their experiences in their minds. For example, to play the role of doctor, children have to remember what tools a doctor uses, how a doctor examines a patient, and what a doctor says. In playing the doctor or other roles, children learn to cooperate with others and to share their ideas.
Art Art is an important part of our curriculum. Every day, children find a variety of art materials available on our shelves. Drawing, painting, pasting, molding and constructing are not only enjoyable but also provide important opportunities for learning. Children express original ideas and feelings, improve their coordination, learn to recognize colors and textures, and develop creativity and pride in their accomplishments by exploring and using art materials. Library The Library Area is a very important part of our classroom and of your child's life. It's where children gain the foundation for reading and writing. It's also a place where children can relax and enjoy the wonderful world of children's books. We read stories to the children every day. Reading introduces new ideas, helps children learn how to handle problems that come up in life, and mostly encourages them to develop a love for books. Discovery Area In our classroom, the Discovery Area is a place where children can explore and investigate to answer their questions. They observe, experiment, measure, solve problems, take things apart, and explore the material and living things we put out. They guess what will happen as a result. Sand and Water Play/Sensory Table Although you're probably used to seeing your children splash in the bathtub and dig in a sandbox at the playground, you may be surprised to know that the Sand and Water Area is an important part of our school program. Both sand and water are natural materials for learning. When children pour water into measuring cups, they are exploring math concepts. When they drop corks, stones, feathers, and marbles into a tub of water, they are scientists exploring which objects float and which sink. When they comb sand into patterns, they learn about both math and art. Music and Movement We do a lot of singing and creative movement in our program. Singing and moving to music give the children a chance to hear and appreciate different kinds of music, express themselves through their movement, and practice new skills. The children love our daily time for singing together, and it helps them to learn to cooperate in a group. Cooking Cooking is a very special part of our program. It is one of the few activities children get to do that is also done by adults. Children pretend to be grown-ups making meals in their dramatic play. They can read books and sing songs about food. But in cooking, children can actually behave as grown-ups. Outdoor Play Physical exercise and fresh air are important for your child's well being. We take children outdoors every day so they can run, jump, climb, and use all the large muscles in their bodies. They run around, breathe in the fresh air, look at the clouds, or catch a ball or bug. They lie on the ground and watch clouds and birds, or they climb high and look down. We also talk about things children see, hear, touch, and feel so they become aware of changes in the weather, the seasons, the growth of plants, and of animals.
*For small group opportunities, the children are divided into younger and older groups. These groups are used at varying times of the day, for example, meal times, stories, journaling, music etc.
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