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Terrific Three Year Olds
Our three year old program runs on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9:00 to 11:30 at the Ephraim preschool. Children must be potty trained. Monthly visits are scheduled at the Peninsula School of Art in Fish Creek. |
Fabulous Four & Five Year Olds
Our four & five year old program runs on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings from 9:00 to 11:30. Regular Wednesday field trips are held at The Ridges Sanctuary in Baileys Harbor. Monthly visits are scheduled at the Peninsula School of Art in Fish Creek. |
8:55 am – The children begin to arrive. The children are welcomed by the teachers and friends eager to start the day. Children may help set up the snack, engage in fine motor activities, and try new activities which have been prepared for the day. Each child is greeted as a unique individual and made to feel welcome, respected, and safe.
9:15 am – We gather in the circle for community activities such as songs, stories, yoga, and books. Language skills and confidence are built through discussion and storytelling. Musical concepts are explored in the group through movement, improvisation, and instrumental play. Etiquette and kindness are practiced.
9:30 am – The children transition to child-centered free play where they have freedom to choose activities and move around the room. All the materials and games on the shelves stimulate growth in art, fine motor development, sensory play, numeration, science, or language while encouraging social and emotional development. Process art exploration promotes decision making, self-expression, fine motor skills, and literacy. Dramatic play develops social skills and cooperation. Creative, open-ended engineering toys teach design and problem solving through trial and error exploration and engineering. Mistakes are not considered to be a problem, but a step on the path to discovery and solutions. To further stimulate curiosity and imagination, a loose parts table is available to explore shape, form, and the interrelation between beautiful objects while building innovation, collaboration, and cooperation. Teachers prepare the environment so the children are able to follow their own motivation independently; setting goals and building confidence in their own abilities. Care is given not to disturb children while engaged in order to develop focus and to allow the satisfaction of completion and success. The social, emotional, and cognitive needs of the children are always being considered by the teachers.
Snack - Children are free to eat snack when they are hungry. They set their place, serve themselves, and clean up their dishes independently while enjoying a healthy snack and conversation with friends. We enjoy preparing food together in class in celebration of the season, holidays, or to learn about nutrition and science. We are fortunate to have a full kitchen for baking and cooking. Our school is nut and meat free. We encourage fresh fruits and vegetables along with organic, whole grains and dairy to strengthen bodies and brains.
10:30 - 10:45 am – We finish free choice time by cleaning up together then gathering in our circle. We may sing or dance together, share the highlights of the morning, and tell of any kindnesses given freely among friends. This is a time when the children enjoy stories, science experiments, and explorations in the group. Orff Shulwerk music lessons develop musical thinking and expression as we sing and play xylophones and rhythm instruments. We will more deeply explore topics of interest to the children such as outer space or dinosaurs and use multi-sensory activities to satisfy their curiosity. Perhaps we will create a solar system with our bodies to demonstrate the orbits around the sun or make masks and have a Mardi Gras parade.
11:00 am - Weather permitting we will go outside to enjoy the sunshine and playground until parents arrive. The children learn how to dress themselves to go outside increasing their independence and confidence.
9:15 am – We gather in the circle for community activities such as songs, stories, yoga, and books. Language skills and confidence are built through discussion and storytelling. Musical concepts are explored in the group through movement, improvisation, and instrumental play. Etiquette and kindness are practiced.
9:30 am – The children transition to child-centered free play where they have freedom to choose activities and move around the room. All the materials and games on the shelves stimulate growth in art, fine motor development, sensory play, numeration, science, or language while encouraging social and emotional development. Process art exploration promotes decision making, self-expression, fine motor skills, and literacy. Dramatic play develops social skills and cooperation. Creative, open-ended engineering toys teach design and problem solving through trial and error exploration and engineering. Mistakes are not considered to be a problem, but a step on the path to discovery and solutions. To further stimulate curiosity and imagination, a loose parts table is available to explore shape, form, and the interrelation between beautiful objects while building innovation, collaboration, and cooperation. Teachers prepare the environment so the children are able to follow their own motivation independently; setting goals and building confidence in their own abilities. Care is given not to disturb children while engaged in order to develop focus and to allow the satisfaction of completion and success. The social, emotional, and cognitive needs of the children are always being considered by the teachers.
Snack - Children are free to eat snack when they are hungry. They set their place, serve themselves, and clean up their dishes independently while enjoying a healthy snack and conversation with friends. We enjoy preparing food together in class in celebration of the season, holidays, or to learn about nutrition and science. We are fortunate to have a full kitchen for baking and cooking. Our school is nut and meat free. We encourage fresh fruits and vegetables along with organic, whole grains and dairy to strengthen bodies and brains.
10:30 - 10:45 am – We finish free choice time by cleaning up together then gathering in our circle. We may sing or dance together, share the highlights of the morning, and tell of any kindnesses given freely among friends. This is a time when the children enjoy stories, science experiments, and explorations in the group. Orff Shulwerk music lessons develop musical thinking and expression as we sing and play xylophones and rhythm instruments. We will more deeply explore topics of interest to the children such as outer space or dinosaurs and use multi-sensory activities to satisfy their curiosity. Perhaps we will create a solar system with our bodies to demonstrate the orbits around the sun or make masks and have a Mardi Gras parade.
11:00 am - Weather permitting we will go outside to enjoy the sunshine and playground until parents arrive. The children learn how to dress themselves to go outside increasing their independence and confidence.
Art Exploration at the Peninsula School of Art
Once a month the the 2-Day and 3-Day children of Peninsula Preschool visit the Peninsula School of Art for creative exploration and self discovery. Following a visit to the gallery to experience the current art exhibition, the children freely explore themes, colors, media, and techniques in a fully equipped art studio under the guidance of Crystal Chesnick. Fine motor skills are strengthened, self-confidence is developed, and self-expression is celebrated. The children can't wait to share their creations and look forward to each visit where we develop communication skills and techniques to share the beauty we observe in the world.
The Ridges Nature Experience for the Four Year Old 3 Day Class
The 3 Day class enjoys regular field trips to the Ridges Sanctuary on Wednesdays throughout the school year. Children go on guided hikes, listen to nature in silence, and engage in extended free exploration and play among forest, meadow, and wetland sites.
Nature invites children to challenge their strength, develop gross motors skills, test their powers of observation, build confidence, and learn a new vocabulary. They feel a part of something important and larger, building a sense of stewardship for our treasured natural places. It sets us free from technology, if only for a morning. It is a fine complement and extension our time in the classroom. Every day the outdoor class is new, inspiring, and surprising.
Nature invites children to challenge their strength, develop gross motors skills, test their powers of observation, build confidence, and learn a new vocabulary. They feel a part of something important and larger, building a sense of stewardship for our treasured natural places. It sets us free from technology, if only for a morning. It is a fine complement and extension our time in the classroom. Every day the outdoor class is new, inspiring, and surprising.
