ART - Mrs. Goldstein

During the fall semester the pre-kindergarten children have been exploring the many shapes and colors around them through painting, printmaking, drawing, and clay experiences. Many new and exciting discoveries have been made using a variety of materials and processes. The students began the school year learning how to sponge print paper. Leaves were then cut from this paper and placed on the paper tree in the art room. As the year continues they will add other wonderful creations to this paper tree. Pinching, squeezing, and pulling clay to create a bowl helped to develop their fine motor skills. Experiences with different materials and tools also help to hone their gross motor skills. This semester the students have also began their book about shapes and will continue to add new pages as they examine new shapes. In addition, the pre-kindergarten continue to work on listening, following class rules, following directions both verbally and through observation, and sharing and working with each other. 

MUSIC - Mrs. Moorhead

During the fall semester pre-kindergarten students have learned the concepts of high and low, loud and soft, fast and slow, and short and long. Other areas of emphasis have been exploring the speaking and singing voice, playing simple percussion instruments, and listening to contemporary and classical selections such as Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake. The children’s pitch-matching skills have been developed through echo and classroom singing, and they have also acquired the ability to visually and physically track a steady beat while performing familiar songs. Repertoire has included seasonal, holiday, letter-of-the-week, general interest, and game songs. The students have especially enjoyed learning music for the all-school Thanksgiving assembly and the winter concert in December. Social skills have been developed through creative movement, partner activities, and group games.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION - Mr. Strickling

The program is designed to introduce the prekindergarten student to the fun and excitement of physical activity. The goal of the program is to develop an awareness of life-long fitness skills and help the children experience a sense of accomplishment through movement activity.  Emphasis is placed on large muscle locomotor development, body control, space awareness, rhythm movement, perceptual–motor development, manipulative skill development, and low–organizational, cooperative games. Locomotor skill development includes walking, jogging, galloping, sliding, hopping, jumping and skipping. The manipulative skills introduced are rolling a ball, bouncing a ball, underhand throw, overhand throw and catching. Skills are reemphasized in a skill challenge class, which is made up of 6 to 12 stations, each developing the different skills being taught in that particular unit. Music is incorporated into lessons and creative movement and the understanding of kinesthetic awareness are encouraged. Every class encourages students to listen carefully when directions are being given, participate appropriately in activities and games, work cooperatively with their classmates, and enjoy being active.

SCIENCE - Mrs. Moorhead

Pre-kindergarten students began the fall semester by learning about the properties of air and wind. They then explored the states, uses, and cycles of water, and did a float-sink test with various objects. In October, the children sampled several foods made from apples and helped graph their favorite apple products. Seasonal projects included making leaf rubbings using crayons, paper, and different types of leaves and constructing books that depicted the signs of autumn. In the weather unit the children learned how to read a thermometer and did experiments to measure air and water temperatures. As budding geologists, the students used magnifying glasses to examine soil, sand, fossils, and several samples of rocks, comparing colors, shapes, and textures. A favorite computer program used for class instruction was Sammy's Science House. The semester concluded with a unit on nutrition, in which the children learned about the food pyramid, the five food groups, and the importance of variety, balance, and moderation in a healthy diet.