Pre-K4 Curriculum

Pre-Kindergarten, or Pre-K, is a foundational early childhood education setting designed for children typically aged 4 to 5 years old. The environment is warm, inviting, and structured to support young learners as they embark on their first formal educational experiences.

Daily activities are a mix of structured and unstructured play. Learning in Pre-K is often theme-based, integrating topics like seasons, animals, or community helpers into various activities. Here, we use a play-based approach to introduce concepts in literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional skills, allowing children to learn through exploration and interaction.

STREAM in Pre-K4

STREAM in pre-kindergarten introduces young children to basic concepts in science, technology, engineering, and math through hands-on activities and play to foster curiosity and problem-solving skills. 

The following skill sets are developed in Pre-K4:

Creativity Curiosity

Creates art using own ideas Expresses interest in various topics outside lesson

Uses imagination in play Engages in new activities

Expands imagination in art

Scientific Method Engineering Design Process

Makes a prediction Adds own ideas to teacher's instructions

Experiments with materials

Examples of STREAM Activities and Projects

Our Table:  After reading the book, "Our Table" by Peter Reynolds, students constructed Thanksgiving tables using cubes and popsicle sticks.  Students were challenged to build a regular table, a tall table and a wide table.

Focus:  Engineering Design Process

Garden Time:  Every spring and fall, students work in the garden to plant vegetables or flowers.  They are responsible for planting seeds, weeding, tilling the soil, and watering.  At the end of the growing season, they eat or use what was grown.

Focus:  Curiosity and science

Build a Snowflake (or Snowman):  Students experiment with marshmallows and toothpicks to build various kinds of snowflakes.  Students learn that every snowflake is different and try to make unique iterations of a snowflake.

Focus:  Creativity

Apple Investigation:  Students conduct an apple investigation where they observe apples of different color, height, circumference, and density (sink or float).   After the observation students tested to see if the apples would sink or float. 

Focus:  Scientific Method and math

Animal Homes:  Using index cards, construction paper, markers, and glue, students were instructed to create a three-dimensional house or den for their little “animal” toys.  The students were required to make walls and ceilings.  The structure also needed to be big enough to put their animal inside. 

Focus:  Engineering Design Process, math and creativity