The Country School

Educational / Social Objectives

Children are encouraged to play in small groups as well as alone.

The teachers encourage cooperative play.

The children have ample opportunity to role play.

Children are encouraged to become independent.

The children learn to take care of their personal belongings.

The children are expected to be kind to one another.

The teachers model appropriate social behavior and encourage children to work out their own problems.

Children will be encouraged to use their imaginations to solve problems.

Children are encouraged to express their own thoughts and ideas about the world around them.

Children are encouraged to recognize their written names.

Children are encouraged to count to 20.

Children are encouraged to classify objects by size, color and shape.

Children are encouraged to persist at a task.

Children are encouraged to follow directions.

Children are introduced to the alphabet.

Pre-Kindergarten Themes

All About Me - Children learn about themselves as individuals, family members and students.  They are introduced to concepts such as where their family comes from (geography,) things that are different/same about each child (social studies,) self portraits (art,) comparing family size (math) and what is inside of us (science.)

Native Americans – The class is introduced to Native American culture, and the importance Native Americans had in the survival of America as a country.  Where and how Native Americans lived (social studies,) the importance of their environment ((science) and their pottery (art,) will be introduced.

Cultures & Holidays Around the World – Drawing on the first theme, children will learn more about their own culture and other cultures.  This theme is mixed with Holidays Around the World.  Children will explore different foods (science,) songs and dances (music & movement) and literature.

Dinosaurs – The most popular dinosaurs come to life in the classroom. The children participate in fossil making (science & art,) size graphs (math,) paleontologist’s findings (science) and a huge dinosaur mural (art.)  They are introduced to the real names of the dinosaurs and pretend to go on a dinosaur adventure (creative movement.)

Fairy Tales -  Cinderella, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty are just a few of the ones we will learn about.  The class will listen to stories (literature,) act out scenes (creative movement,) and be encouraged to make up their own characters.  Children can illustrate (art) and write their own stories.

Trees and Plants – The classroom becomes a garden as the children learn about seeds, the parts of a flower and what plants need to grow.  Children are introduced to magnifying glasses (science,) local vegetation (science & social studies,) plant rubbings (art) and science experiments with seeds and soil.

Pond Life – Frogs, tadpoles, turtles and insects are discovered and explored.  The class raises tadpoles (science,) visits a local pond (social studies,) works together to create a pond mural (art) and learns about the insects and plants that live around the pond.