Learning Environment
The PRACTICAL LIFE area emphasizes the development of fine motor skills, self-help skills, and the ability to care for one’s environment. The activities are frequently changing, offering wide variety of experiences and activities for the child’s development of life skills.
The SENSORIAL area refines the senses of the child. The use of the sensorial materials encourages the child to make comparisons and form judgments about qualities present in the objects. Specific language is taught so the children will learn identification, classification and categorization.The ART AND CRAFTS area offers the child daily activities and opportunities to creatively express himself/herself at the easel or through the use of different art mediums and materials.
The HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY AND SCIENCE areas provide exciting avenues to make the child more aware of his/her world. An enriched environment is provided, offering studies of such subjects as plants, animals, fossils, light and energy, and the solar system.
The LANGUAGE area offers materials that develop and refine the skills necessary for writing and reading. The child is learning phonetic awareness and introduced to the whole language program of writing, grammar development, reading comprehension and journal writing.
The MATH area gives the child the opportunity to learn the meaning of numerals. The concrete, manipulative materials provide a solid foundation in the abstract world of numbers. The MUSIC, MOVEMENT and DRAMATIC PLAY activities provide both group and individual experiences such as singing, gross motor activities, movement, listening stations, bell matching and introduction to different types of music like instrumental, classical, pop, jazz, and contemporary music.
The COMMUNITY SERVICE area activities provide opportunities for children and families to connect with other schools, organizations and agencies. They are encouraged to learn how to help and assist other children and families and share their time, talent and skills. This component encourages activities such as visits to museums, libraries and senior centers, participation in the Heifer International projects, letter writing to children who are hospital-bound, adopt-a-family for the holidays project and backpack and winter jacket/mitten collection activities. It is never too early for children to learn how to share!