3.8-4-year-old Preschool
The Little Critters (25/26)
In this classroom, students will have the opportunity to learn through various learning centers and hands-on experiences. The curriculum is designed and geared towards the emotional and social interactions of the children. The emphasis of our daily activities and our overall objectives is on learning rather than teaching. The children will partake in a teacher-directed activity. This directed activity can include the following: a Creative art project, baking/cooking, science experiments, music and movement lessons, listening games, or a large motor game. The teachers follow the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care Guidelines for Preschool and Kindergarten Learning Experiences. The monthly themes are incorporated into all the learning areas in the classroom. Each week, the teacher selects one theme from the monthly themes to focus on. The children will learn about the weekly theme through reading books, answering questions, singing songs, and engaging in discussions. Listening skills, following directions, social skills (including manners), first and last name recognition, working on writing their names, saying all the letters of the alphabet, some letter recognition, shape recognition, color recognition, self-help skills, and home addresses. These skills will be incorporated into activities throughout the year; every child is not expected nor required to master every skill.
The Little Critter’s Teacher Teighan Hague
“Play is the highest form of research.”
Albert Einstein
The Little Critters
Daily Schedule
The Little Critters Daily Schedule
7:30-8:00 Arrival in the Forest Friend’s classroom/Free Play
8:00 Move into Little Critter Classroom
8:00-8:45 Free Play/Table Play
8:45-9:00 Wash/Moring Meeting/Calendar
9:30-10:00 Outside/Playground/Gross Motor
10:00-11:15 Free Play/Directed Activity
11:15-11:30 Story/Songs
11:30 Combine with Hoot Owls
11:30-12:30 Lunch
12:30-12:45 Story
12:45-2:00 Rest Time/Nap
2:00-2:15 Wake Up and Bathrooms
2:30-3:00 Outside/Playground/Gross Motor
3:00-3:30 Wash/Bathroom and Snack
3:30-3:45 Story
3:45-4:30 Free Play
4:30-5:00 Table Play/Games/Activities
5:00 Dismissal Young World Closes
This schedule is very flexible. We sing songs at appropriate transitions. We will have extended free play, extra games, or gross motor activities when it is too hot, too cold, or raining.
In the Little Critters classroom, there is an emphasis on socialization and communication. In this classroom, the expectations grow as the children get older. The children will participate in longer morning meetings; they are expected to do more for themselves, dress for outside, the art activities will have more instructions, etc… These children will move on to the Pre-k classroom the next year as their birthday is after the kindergarten cutoff date of August 31st.
See Our Classes
Ages: 2.9-3.4 Years
The Forest Friends
The three-year-old classroom is where many start their Young World journey. This classroom is where children discover their independence. The teachers encourage self-help skills: such as dressing themselves for outside, taking care of their belongings, and toileting. They begin to learn songs sung during calendar and morning meetings; they are sung in every classroom throughout the center.
Ages: 3.8-4 Years
The Little Critters
In this classroom, students will have the opportunity to learn through various learning centers and hands-on experiences. The curriculum is designed and geared towards the emotional and social interactions of the children. The emphasis of our daily activities and our overall objectives is on learning rather than teaching.
4-year old Preschool
The Hoot Owls
The Hoot Owls classroom is where the children will begin getting prepared for Kindergarten. The children will be able to observe and use appropriate ways of interacting in a group. There are a wide array of learning games for the children to work on independently or cooperatively with their peers in this classroom.
Pre-K Classroom
The Cosmic Kids
In the Cosmic Kids’ classroom, the environment is set up with a more complex, structured schedule that still includes playtime and reflects and prepares a child for what they will encounter when attending Kindergarten. The children in this classroom will continue building on the foundational skills they began working on in other classrooms.
Ages: 3-3.8 years old
The Cuties
Many start their Young World journey in the three-year-old classroom, where children discover their independence. The teachers encourage self-help skills, such as dressing themselves outside, taking care of their belongings, and toileting. Children begin to learn songs sung during calendar and morning meetings, which are sung in every classroom throughout the center.