Our PreK-4 Art program is designed with every aspect of a child’s development in mind. The curriculum takes an exploratory approach to art tools, materials, and concepts. Students
are introduced to the art of drawing, painting, cutting, tearing, molding, sculpting, etc. They draw and print lines, arrange paper shapes, paint insects, explore clay, create
patterns, and mix colors. The emphasis is on the
process of creating and discovering, as the process is more important than the product, at this age. Learning to use, respect,
and care for tools and materials; engaging the muscles and developing physically; practicing and refining new skills; striving for the right words to describe a work of art and
to share ideas – these are all important parts of what it means to discover the artist within.
The PreK-4 Bible curriculum is guided by two books,
Five-Minute Devotions for Children and
More Five Minute Devotions for Children, both by Pamela Kennedy. While
learning facts about animals, these stories tie in lessons about Christian living and character. Each week, the children will also memorize a Bible verse which correlates with
their devotions.
Our Social Studies curriculum combines an introduction of history and geography of the United States in addition to a study of American holidays. Our class will discover the “geography”
of Whitefield, the importance of building friendships and community, transportation, community helpers, recycling and other types of community service.
Beginning to Read, Write and Listen by Pleasant T. Rowland (McGraw-Hill) is the comprehensive reading-language arts curriculum that we utilize. In order for a child to
read, phonic awareness is a foundational skill that begins in PreK-4. Therefore, this curriculum encompasses reading, handwriting, auditory and oral language skills; preparing
children to read and to write. Our instruction provides children with a thorough understanding of the letters of the alphabet and their sounds-the most basic elements of our spoken
and written language. This is a multisensory program of visual, kinesthetic, and auditory activities. We begin to introduce students to the Orton-Gillingham approach (the clock-face)
to handwriting and phonics, which is expanded upon during their Kindergarten year. Our Language Arts Supplemental resources include:
- Alpha Tales: ABC Songs Sing-A-Long CD with Chart
- Sounds and Symbol: High Hat
- Handwriting without Tears
Our PreK-4 classes learn what libraries are, what librarians do, and appropriate library behavior. They develop listening skills through read-a-louds of fiction and non-fiction
materials. They learn that books are authored and illustrated by people and the labels for the parts of a book. Our students are introduced to the proper handling of books. Genres
that are included at this age are Caldecott Awards, Newberry Awards, and Coretta Scott King award winning books, folk tales, and poetry. Drama is woven throughout their curriculum
by incorporating puppetry and skits performed in the spring by the Fifth Grade class.
PreK-4 children are natural mathematicians because they delight in exploring their environment and describing shapes, sizes and numbers. Our math curriculum supports and builds
upon their eagerness to compare quantities, learn and use new words, make designs and move about in our three-dimensional world. The lessons and activities of the Houghton Mifflin
PreK-4 Math curriculum closely align with and support the five key math strands identified by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM):
- Number and Operations which includes comparing sets, counting, connecting number words to groups of objects and numerals, using ordinal numbers, exploring fractions, and generating
and solving simple addition and subtraction problems.
- Algebra which includes sorting, working with patterns, and describing change over time.
- Geometry which includes two-and three-dimensional shapes, positions, and symmetry.
- Measurement which includes comparing and ordering objects according to size, length, volume, weight, and time; using nonstandard measurement units, and exploring uses of measurement
tools.
- Data Analysis and Probability which includes gathering, displaying, and interpreting data.
Our Math Supplemental Resource includes:
- Number Tales by Judy Nayer offers a fun and easy way to capitalize on a child’s natural interest in learning numbers. Each simple imaginative story focuses on a different
number or skill, teaching the numbers 0-10, 30, 100, skip counting, simple addition and simple subtraction.
PreK-4indergarten students participate in a highly experiential curriculum. Music-themed books, video and audio examples, simple songs, and body rhythms help PreK-4 students to
understand basic music principles and express them outwardly. These and other diverse activities contribute to helping students expand their musical experience at a young age.
Our PreK-4 physical education curriculum (following the National Association for Sport and Physical Education) is designed to introduce students to new ways to move, be active,
and enjoy learning. Students learn basic loco-motor and non-locomotor skills, increase activity, develop and improve their personal, social, and attitudinal characteristics needed
to be physically active for life.
Science touches every aspect of our lives, and one of the most common ways we experience science is through the life cycles of plants and animals. With the Scholastic Science
Vocabulary Readers curriculum, we are building children’s core science knowledge, acquiring key science vocabulary, and applying what they learn to experiences outside the classroom.
Our Pre-Kindergarten classes begin the journey of the Spanish through building a repertoire of child-centered, Latin-American Folk songs by Jose Luiz Orozco. The song language
is introduced with gestures for kinesthetic learning, and then followed with reinforcing, playful activities, such as follow the leader, coloring, or a guessing game. These songs
provide a rich bank of phrases that become a foundation for whole language learning in following years. To supplement our program, a senior from the Upper School comes weekly
to share his or her passion of the language with the children.
