Preschool Curriculum

Thirteen units of study provide a framework for the pre-kindergarten curriculum, with threads of language arts, social studies and science interwoven into each unit.

Pre-kindergarten language arts and literacy skills are presented and practiced each day. While learning about dinosaurs, the solar system, and the like, students are exposed to many forms of print, enriching vocabulary, new information that crosses into the areas of social studies and science, and multiple opportunities to actively explore and enjoy each unit topic presented. The scientific skills of observation, comparison, prediction and drawing conclusions are exemplified and practiced.

Through these unit-based experiences, reading readiness skills such as letter recognition, letter formation, letter sounds, listening, speaking and writing skills are developed. Additionally, the Handwriting Without Tears program is introduced in pre-kindergarten. Both teacher-directed and student-choice activities provide good practice for spatial, gross and fine motor skills, as well as an open and positive environment in which social skills are modeled and learned, independence is encouraged and accomplishments are celebrated.

Pre-kindergarten children develop their understanding of mathematics through the use of concrete materials. The hands-on activities are designed to help young children see the patterns, relationships and interconnections of math ideas and concepts. The variety of activities provides for concept and skill development throughout the year in areas such as patterning, classifying, comparing, counting and graphing. Daily calendar activities also help to strengthen math concepts. Pre-kindergarten children learn to write the numbers 1–9, work to recognize written numbers to 20 and participate in activities that help to build both accuracy and consistency when counting objects. As a child’s math understanding and skills progress, they are used to form generalizations, make predictions and associate symbols to a learned concept. 

The physical education program provides an enjoyable introduction to what we believe is an important part of a child’s total development. By encouraging participation in a variety of activities, we explore many new opportunities in each child’s physical development. By encouraging cooperation and sportsmanship, we can help each child adapt to the “new” school environment.

The physical education curriculum emphasizes basic body management, locomotor and non-locomotor skills, manipulative activities, games of low organization, rhythmic activities and gymnastics. Specific activities within the program include movement exploration, conditioning, ball skills, games using balls, singing games, basic tumbling, relays, parachute, gym scooters, bean bags and games using no equipment. 

All Preschool students participate in PE class three times a week.

The Preschool music program integrates song, speech, instruments and movement. Children’s natural affinity for singing and rhythmic action is nurtured through songs and musical games (corresponding to the language arts, science and social studies curricula); dances and interpretive movement; ear training (from tone matching to a sense of choral blend); rhythm studies; instrument playing (both barred and unpitched percussion); samples from classical literature (including a kindergarten unit on orchestral instruments); and visits from accomplished musicians. 

The Preschool classes typically present three programs during the course of the year: Fall Songfest, GrandFriends Day and Closing Exercises. Special performances provide opportunities for children to work together as a Preschool; to learn stage presence and voice projection; to build poise and confidence; and to share their musical accomplishments with an appreciative audience. 

Whether rehearsing songs for a program, playing scales, steps and skips on the staff or dancing to a folk tune, the twice-weekly music classes have one overriding goal: to be fun and to generate within children a genuine, enthusiastic and lasting love of music.

All Preschool students participate in Music class twice a week.

At the Preschool level, the process of visual creativity is more important than the product. Art education reinforces students’ creative abilities by providing opportunities for visual self-expression. The visual arts enhance the creative processes through skill development. The curriculum introduces a variety of media for exploration, including drawing, painting, collage, printmaking, clay and sculpture.

All Preschool students participate in Art class twice a week.

Conversational Spanish is introduced in informal, brief lessons and integrated within the pre-k and kindergarten curricula. Children are encouraged to speak and to listen; lessons are brief and frequent, as recommended by language learning specialists.

All Preschool students participate in Spanish class three times a week.

Pre-kindergarten cooking classes correlate with the units of study. Kindergarten cooking classes also follow an international theme, with classes cooking and sampling the cuisine from several countries around the world. Our cooking experiences emphasize good nutrition, offer new tastes and, most of all, are fun.

Pre-kindergartners participate in Cooking class once a week, and kindergartners have Cooking once every other week.