Preschool Curriculum

(3 – 4 year olds)

Expanding the boundaries of their world, children need to soar. Preschoolers at Kensington School spread their wings by developing and deepening friendships, learning new skills, and broadening their knowledge.

Animal Island Reading Readiness Program
Welcome to Animal Island, a reading readiness program for emergent readers. Children gather at this circle time to join lively characters in their discovery of the letters of the alphabet. The appealing story format and continuously developing adventures build throughout the year, introducing the children to new characters and new skills. From plot discussion and story comprehension to phonemic awareness, each segment of Animal Island draws the children deeper into the wonderful world of letters, words, and stories.

Handwriting Without Tears
Learning how lines and curves form letters is a multi-sensory learning experience. Using specifically designed wooden manipulatives and slate chalkboards, children work on developing the fine motor skills and eye-hand coordination required for handwriting. My First School Handwriting Workbook becomes a wonderful record for each child’s first handwriting efforts.

Scooter the Traveling Bear, Our Community
Our beloved Scooter Bear inspires and guides the children in an exploration of their community. Activities augmented with classroom visits from members of their community such as dentists, veterinarians, firemen, and librarians, facilitate a growing understanding of the many and varied aspects of the children’s neighborhood and community.

Kensington School’s Mindfulness Curriculum
Step into the world of a child and you will find they are very busy! There are friends to meet, toys to play with, new environments to explore, and information to process. Our mindfulness curriculum is carefully created to calm the minds and bodies of young children. Through teacher-led classroom activities, we count our “in and out breaths,” talk about how we feel, relax our bodies, focus on our senses, and learn how to be present. These important life skills increase self-esteem, concentration, and awareness as our always working brain grows, managing our emotions and behavior.

Project Based Learning
Through circle time conversations and literature, children exercise their individual creativity and give input to creating a classroom topic web for each Project Based Learning Topic. The study of everyday topics becomes relevant and interesting to each child as they take ownership of the investigation.

Science, technology, engineering, art, and math are made accessible through authentic, meaningful experiences. Examining a “field site,” asking questions of “expert visitors,” as well as benefiting from extensive resources such as our SMART Board and literature, children have abundant opportunities to make detailed observations. As their own curiosity leads them to construct greater personal knowledge of the world, children discover the value of the skills they put into practice through Project Based Learning.

Documentation and representations fill each child’s individually created PBL Documentation Scrapbook or Folder – a treasured record of their unique learning experiences- for each completed PBL topic.

P. Mooney Language Development Program
As our language and vocabulary grow and we start to expand our sentences, it’s time to meet P. Mooney. This fun-loving, striped puppet is greeted by cheers and giggles whenever he visits the classroom with his magic talking stick and his special bag at the ready. P. Mooney encourages children to use descriptive words and develop conversation skills. With this trusted companion, we develop language skills through rhyming, singing, and listening activities.

Observational Drawing
Observation is a fundamental skill for scientific inquiry. Just as scientists not only use words but also drawings, photographs, and diagrams, we too incorporate these valuable tools that foster scientific thinking. Children study monthly themes that will allow them to look and ask questions as they take their time, study their subject, and wonder as 3D objects become their 2D drawings on paper.

Music Classes and Seasonal Musical Programs
Children gather around the piano with their music teacher to share songs and rhythmic activities, introducing them to a variety of instruments and movement games that enhance listening skills. The children take a big step as they joyfully share their musical fun and newfound skills in a musical performance for parents.

Spanish
Circle time with Señor or Señora keeps linguistic agility alive and well! Young learners absorb sounds and intonation patterns naturally. Introduced to Spanish through songs, games, and stories, children enhance memory, creativity, and problem-solving skills.

Yoga
Building balance, strengthening muscles, developing focus – the benefits of yoga stretches abound. Our yoga instructor patiently and carefully guides the children in active poses and games.