Preschool

List of 8 items.

• Library

  Preschoolers enjoy stories that tie into units of inquiry as well as the world around them. Books are developmentally appropriate but stretch young students to increase their vocabulary. These young learners also explore beginning library skills, including recognizing the names and titles of their favorite authors and illustrators, checking out their own books independently and learning responsibility for borrowed materials by returning them in good condition. 

• Mathematics

  Preschool students learn that mathematics is a language that helps us communicate and organizes our world. Our hands-on and play-based curriculum develops  critical foundational number sense, such as rote counting skills, understanding of one-to-one correspondence, ability to classify and sort objects, as well as understanding of patterns and base shapes.

• Music

  Preschool students enjoy music throughout their school day, dancing to simple songs and finding rhythm and beat to help develop their fine and gross motor coordination. Music is also explored in relation to stories and brings life to the world around us in connection to units of inquiry. In workshops with the Lower School Music teacher during the year, Preschool students have an additional opportunity to explore singing on pitch both with and without instruments and pre-recorded accompaniments.

• Physical Education

  What jumps like a frog, flies like an airplane, crawls like a kitten and gallops like a horse? Preschool students who come to the gym ready to move! The goal for Preschool Physical Education is to introduce the children to explore physical movement with a variety of activities and games. At this age, we will introduce fundamental movement skills which are the foundation for learning more complex skills later in life.

• Reading

  The pre-literacy curriculum, which emphasizes the power of stories and communication, is rich with activities and experiences that encourage listening, speaking, writing and reading readiness. Pre-literacy may be taught as part of math, science, social studies, or any other area of the curriculum and is connected authentically to the units of inquiry. 

• Science

  Inquiry-based science activities offer authentic learning opportunities to budding scientists. The program emphasizes a range of skills including observing, comparing and contrasting, predicting, sorting, and the beginnings of ordered thinking. Topics are integrated with the PYP Units of Inquiry, and are often fluid as in the nature of science itself.

• Spanish

  The Spanish teacher joins each Preschool class once per week for unit related play, where students learn vocabulary, sing songs, and hear stories. As students become more confident with the language, they begin to answer simple questions. Preschool students also explore cultural aspects of diverse Spanish-speaking countries.

• Swimming

  All Preschool students participate in swim class in our on-site pool. In a nurturing environment, teachers work with the students both in the locker room and in the pool to gain independence and learn how to be safe in and around the water. Specific skills include:

  • Independent dressing;
  • Safe locker room behavior;
  • Entering and exiting the water safely and independently;
  • Back kicking;
  • Armstroke.