Our Daily Rhythm
We have a loosely structured day intentionally to allow space for the magic of child-led learning to take place. Children learn best when all of their senses are engaged, curiosity is piqued, and are given time to explore. Some common activities include gardening, mud kitchen play, singing, hiking, digging, creating art, making music, writing, and searching for rocks.
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Group Gather
Group Gather time is when we connect and learn together at the start of the day. It allows the children to connect, encourages listening, and sharing. My preschoolers look forward to this special time together when we can sing and be silly together to kick-off our day!
Core Gathering Activities:
Core Gathering Activities:
- Welcome Song
- Calendar
- Days of the Week
- Seasons & Weather
- Sharing Feelings
- Question of the Day
- Morning Affirmations
Creative Art Project
We value the process of art over product. This means the value is in the experience of creating the artwork and exploring materials and techniques without predetermined steps. There is no right or wrong way to do the project and my role is to encourage and support children’s creative process. The only structure is the materials provided and a general "goal" to achieve but in their own way.
Nature Walk
Our nature walk is hands down my preschoolers favorite time of the day. We take the same two wooded paths that are about a mile long and I encourage them to deliberately observe any changes with all their senses. They learn to focus their attention and take in the details of things around them. During this time we often identify various plants and rocks of interest as well as forage leaves for afternoon tea and our nature table. This is our most peaceful and reflective time of day together that we cherish.
Teacher-Led Group Learning
This is our core learning time that is teacher-lead. Group activities are great for building healthy relationships in the classroom and developing empathy. Children learn through observing how their peers solve problems or interact with each other. In a mixed ability group, children can practice leadership skills as well as teamwork. These are typically STEAM activities which is an acronym that stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. It is an educational approach that integrates these subject areas into a cohesive curriculum, emphasizing hands-on, inquiry-based learning experiences. The goal of STEAM education is to promote critical thinking, problem-solving skills, creativity, and a multidisciplinary understanding of the world.
- Science: We focus on exploring the natural world, conducting simple experiments, making observations, and asking questions. Children may investigate topics such as plants, animals, weather, or the properties of different materials.
- Technology: We explore simple technological tools like cameras and microscopes to enhance our learning experiences.
- Engineering: These activities involve problem-solving, design challenges, and construction.
- Arts: We focus on creativity, self-expression, and the integration of arts in activities such as dancing, or storytelling to explore concepts and express ideas.
- Mathematics: We focuses on foundational concepts such as counting, sorting, patterns, shapes, and measurements. Children engage in hands-on activities using nature manipulatives and games.
Nature Immersion Exploration
Nature Immersion Exploration is when children have full freedom to play in whatever way they want. Sometimes we choose to explore the outdoor classroom, playground, splash in puddles, etc. I let the group collectively have control on where we do our free play time for the day. It's a great opportunity for them to make choices together and listen to their friends opinions and feelings.
Story Telling
Story time can be one of the most impactful learning experiences a child could have, in part because they naturally make sense of their world through both story and play. It teaches children important pre-literacy skills when we read, sing, talk, and play together. Even something as seemingly simple as how pages turn and how we read from left to right, children learn from observations they make about their world.
Each week I choose three books that we read relating to our weekly topic. I add in two more that are my all-time favorites or are impactful for what the children are going through emotionally or developmentally to provide a great message.
Each week I choose three books that we read relating to our weekly topic. I add in two more that are my all-time favorites or are impactful for what the children are going through emotionally or developmentally to provide a great message.
Mindfulness Activity
Preschool gives children their first sense of community outside the home. Emotional intelligence and empathy begins as children make friends and participate in decision-making in the classroom. Then it moves beyond the school into the neighborhood and around the world.
Through these social projects, children learn to accept differences, deal with their emotions, and practice resolving conflicts. They gain confidence as their social skills develop, and learn to share, take turns, and practice being both leaders and followers.
Through these social projects, children learn to accept differences, deal with their emotions, and practice resolving conflicts. They gain confidence as their social skills develop, and learn to share, take turns, and practice being both leaders and followers.
Weekly Bread Making
Making bread is a sensory-rich activity that brings textures, smells and tastes all together. This organic experience in one that has the ability to engage, entice and ignite a sense of wonder in young children. The experience of making bread also presents young children with a sense of interconnection.
Children can feel the dough, form balls, or make their own creative shapes to be baked. As the bread bakes, the wonderful smell brings a sense of warmth and nurturing as well as anticipation. When the time comes for the children to sit down and enjoy the warm bread with their friends, they feel a great sense of accomplishment, as they saw this process through, from start to finish.
Children can feel the dough, form balls, or make their own creative shapes to be baked. As the bread bakes, the wonderful smell brings a sense of warmth and nurturing as well as anticipation. When the time comes for the children to sit down and enjoy the warm bread with their friends, they feel a great sense of accomplishment, as they saw this process through, from start to finish.
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Bread Making Verse
The bread has risen oh so slowly Look how fat it's belly has become! Let's wake it up with a gentle punch And tickle it tickle it thin... Thin I will roll it and shape it Until it giggles with glee And pop it in the warm comfy oven And then into my tummy! |
Preschool Basic Yeast Bread Recipe:
Ingredients:
Directions:
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