Guided Discovery Preschool Curriculum

Guided Discovery Curriculum in our Preschool program will prepare your child for life skills by introducing children to learning centers that encompass a wide range of activities. Our children will be introduced to math, language, reading, social and physical skills in a creative manner. In addition we will continue to work with children on their self-esteem and independence skills.

Science Area

Science is an important component in the Preschool curriculum. Children thrive in a hands-on environment where they are able to use their senses to learn about their world. The following activities will be offered in our programs:

• Engaging in science activities and making predictions
• Conducting simple experiments
• Problem solving with other children and adults
• Observe life cycles
• Introduction to geography

Creative Arts and Dramatic Play Areas

Creating longevity projects with teachers and peers

• Drawing, cutting and other fine motor activities
• Singing, dancing, mimicking and other expressive activities
• Participation in dramatic play, role playing and creative arts with other children

Physical Development

Your child will also have wonderful opportunities to develop physically. We have a large variety of indoor and outdoor equipment that enhances physical development throughout the day. You will see children participating in the following activities:

• Group activities: Obstacle courses, music and movement and various exercise activities
• Small motor activities: playdough, digging and constructing
• Planting and gardening
• Eye hand coordination activities: Throwing basketballs in hoops, catching balls, and kicking a ball
• Large motor: Bike riding, obstacle courses and dancing

Math and Manipulative Area

Our Preschool environments are filled with opportunities to think logically, to solve problems, and to perceive relationships. The curriculum includes a variety of teacher directed as well as child-initiated activities that promote pre-mathematic skills. Children will spend time utilizing materials in the environment to understand counting, patterns, basic geometry and probability. The teachers will ask probing questions such as “How do we make blocks balance on top of each other?” or “Which is heavier a cork or a magnet?” These types of questions allow children to reason on their own. The type of math concepts your child will participate in:

• Problem solving
• Logical thinking
• Number recognition and counting
• Comparisons and sorting
• Basic measurements
• Estimating
• Block building

Reading and Language Areas

Your child will be provided with a print rich environment and exposed to a variety of language experiences. Circle times are filled with posing questions and opportunities for children to freely express themselves. Children are asked to attach descriptions to their work and talk about their activities. Teachers ask children their opinions and use their ideas in curriculum planning. The type of language and reading concepts your child will participate in:

• Participating in real life experiences that include reading and writing
• Developing oral communication
• Recognizing symbols through games
• Describing art work and activities
• Show and tell
• Leading circle time activities
• Reading with adults

Milestones that are focused on in the Preschool experience:

• Patterning
• Be able to sort by shape, size and color
• Understand cause and effect and begin to problem solve
• Basic counting
• Make predictions based on simple information
• Recognize own name and other letters in print
• Show a genuine interest in reading books with adults
• Speak in front of a small group
• Recall events from an activity
• Artwork will become more refined and begin to look like symbols