Giraffe and Young 5’s
4-5 Years Old (4th Birthday prior to September 1st)
Monday – Friday 9-11:55am
Afternoon Enrichment Option Available
Monday-Friday 11:55 – 3:30
The Giraffe class is a Kindergarten readiness program. Whether you are here for 4 year old preschool or Young 5’s, your child will be supported and challenged as they work toward their Kindergarten year.
The school’s educational approach of meeting every child’s individual needs as well as building strengths in cognitive and social/emotional areas continues with a familiar routine.
Our entire day is structured with small group learning opportunities along with the choice time and whole class meetings. Play continues to be an important part of our daily routine as the goals of Kindergarten readiness are much more than knowing alphabet and ability to use writing utensils.
Children practice building independence with personal belongings, manage a daily routine, and learn how to be a part of a classroom community.
At the center of our curriculum and woven throughout classroom activities and themes is a focus on our “natural world.” Children have a natural curiosity to explore and make sense of their world. Our daily routine provides ample time for outdoor play on our large playground where we explore seasons, plant and animal life, and practice social skills in our big outdoor classroom.
Program Highlights
Calendar – each day begins with calendar time which is immersed in math, reading readiness, public speaking, science and social studies
Introduction to Sign Language – learning the letter of the week in small groups
Play With a Purpose – Play is an important part of being 4 and turning 5. The Giraffe year is when children develop their focus from “ME” to “WE”. The classroom provides ample opportunities to practice being a part of a classroom community through play
Letter Books – sounding out words that begin with the letter of the week in small groups
Class Books – illustrate and author class books on a regular basis
Did You Know? A weekly word or fact tied to our theme – because it’s great fun to KNOW THINGS!
Space Study – we learn about the planets and report on a chosen planet through words, art, and inquiry
Habitats – we study the needs of a habitat along with the similarities and differences in various habitats beginning with people.
Zoo – applying our habitat knowledge to plan, prepare and provide a zoo for the whole school to visit during Z week!
Life Cycles – discover the life cycle of plants and animals culminating in the raising and release of butterflies!
Monthly Art Class with our Art teacher
Weekly Music Class with our Music teacher
Program Goals
- To develop relationships of mutual trust with adults and peers
- To enjoy playing alone and with other children
- To express ideas through language and symbolic representation in effective and varied ways
- To express interesting and creative ideas, problems, and questions
- To use initiative in pursuing curiosities
- To put ideas of objects into relationships, noting similarities and differences
- To demonstrate persistence in completing a task
- To have confidence in one’s ability to solve problems
- To begin to coordinate different points of view by cooperating and resolving conflicts
- To cope with fears, anxieties and frustrations constructively
- To become increasingly autonomous
- To build awareness of one’s body in space
- To coordinate fine and gross motor skills
- To build a bank of recognized letters of the alphabet beyond those in the child’s name
- To begin building phonemic awareness through practice with books with teachers and in small groups of students