LFCDS Preschool Curriculum

Early Childhood CurriculumPRESCHOOL

Early Childhood Center Curriculum Guide 2

Overview of the Early Childhood Center (Preschool–Senior Kindergarten)

The Early Childhood Center (ECC) at Lake Forest Country Day School (LFCDS) is designed to be a safe “home away from home”—a warm and welcoming community where young students play, learn, and enjoy developmentally appropriate experiences under the guidance of nurturing and talented faculty. Emphasis is placed on a smooth transition from home to school and from one year to the next, so that each child's school experience is positive, enjoyable, and rewarding.

Students are engaged in rich and varied activities designed to provide the foundation for academic and social success. There is a healthy balance between whole group, small group, and individual work, academic enrichment and play, and teacher-directed and self-guided pursuits. Teachers differentiate instruction to meet individual student needs and craft integrated units of study that capture the imaginations of their students and allow them to make connections across disciplines.

Our comprehensive early childhood program educates the whole child. Small class sizes and two teachers in each classroom enable faculty members to create close, meaningful relationships with each student. World language, music, physical education, and library and information technology experts support and enrich children’s learning experiences, opening doors for students to discover new ways of making sense of our world.

Each classroom has access to the state-of-the-art playground with opportunities for daily exercise and the development of large motor skills. Raised beds for gardening help students connect with the earth and food sources. A prairie plot, the School’s forest, and a wetlands area on our twenty-nine acre campus provide sensory experiences and resources for developing an appreciation for the natural world in our students.

Each child is respected, supported, and challenged, and knowing the families of our students is as important as knowing their children. In order to develop and maintain the all-important parent-school partnership, daily communication at drop-off or pick-up, weekly newsletters or blogs, and pictures of students provide each family with a window into their child’s experience

Teaching PhilosophyKnowing the students we teach—individually, culturally, and developmentally—is of utmost importance to us. We also believe in the importance of getting to know their families. We value the input of parents as the child’s first teachers, beginning with intake conferences prior to the start of school when parents share their knowledge of and hopes and dreams for their child.

Two important beliefs are at the heart of our teaching philosophy: first, the social curriculum is inextricably linked with the academic curriculum; and second, how students learn is as important as what students learn. Early Childhood Center faculty share a commitment to the following teaching and learning practices:

DOMAINS OF GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENTTeachers focus on the whole child at a critical time of development in five domains: physical, social and emotional, cognitive, language, and creative.

DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE PRACTICESYoung children require environments, schedules, and curriculum that is appropriate for their level of maturity and their developmental stage.

THE POWER OF PLAYTeachers encourage child-directed, unstructured play as opportunities to learn important skills critical to future social and academic success.

RESPONSIVE CLASSROOM®Responsive Classroom® techniques foster a welcoming, accepting, safe, and nurturing environment for learning.

HABITS OF MINDTeachers promote ways of thinking and behaving that develop self-discipline and strong character.

DIFFERENTIATIONTeachers focus on each individual student’s learning style and make adjustments as needed to provide support or additional challenge.

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNINGStudents enjoy opportunities to engage in hands-on activities and role-play experiences that help them understand abstract ideas.

UNIFYING CONCEPTSIdeas are introduced in the context of central unifying concepts or themes to help students recognize and remember connections in what they are learning in different disciplines.


Early Childhood Center Curriculum Overview

Domains of Growth and Development“At the beginning of the twenty-first century, key principles about child growth and development have stood the test of time:…physical maturation, language acquisition, social and emotional behavior, and cognition... Children generally go through predictable stages in the same order, but they will not all go through them at the same rate.” (Chip Wood: Yardsticks: Children in the Classroom Ages 4–14. Northeastern Foundation for Children, Inc., 2007.) Additionally, within the various aspects of development, children progress differently. For example, a child who matures quickly in cognitive areas may mature more slowly in physical and social ones. These developmental concepts guide the decisions we make in our Early Childhood classrooms at Lake Forest Country Day School to ensure that each child’s individual needs are being met. We attend to all areas of growth because each plays a crucial role in learning outcomes and in providing balance in a child’s life. The whole child comes to school; therefore, decisions about physical activity and the development of social and emotional skills are as important as curriculum choices and test results.

Social and Emotional Development Emotional development concerns the child's

increasing awareness and control of their feelings and how they react to them in a given situation. Children develop self-awareness, self-confidence, and the ability to cope with and understand feelings.

Social development concerns the child's identity, relationships with others, and an understanding of their place within a social environment. The social aspect of school is how children form attachments, play with others, cooperate, share, and create lasting relationships.

Students at LFCDS engage in meaningful play every day. While playing, students have the opportunity to navigate social situations and learn appropriate ways to respond to and interact with their peers.

Language Development Language acquisition during the early years is

important for the development of children’s cognitive skills, including the foundation for reading and writing, and social and emotional maturity.

At LFCDS, children have the opportunity to share their thoughts and ideas during Morning Meeting.

Vocabulary learning is fostered throughout our rich literacy, social studies, and science curricula by attending to interesting words in stories and informational texts we read.

Children use play to control their own language development, which is guided by their teachers and their desire to play with their peers.

Through imaginary play, children practice using acquired vocabulary, clarify new words and concepts, employ motivating language, develop metalinguistic awareness, and practice formulating and expressing thoughts.

Physical Development Physical development includes mastering

movement, balance, fine motor, and gross motor skills.

During early childhood, a child’s balance improves. Children work on their balance as they learn new yoga poses in ECC classrooms.

Children work on their gross motor skills on the playground as they navigate the playground structures, ride bicycles and scooters, and learn to pump on the swings.

During play time, children build with blocks, complete puzzles, use scissors, paint, writing and drawing tools, and play with play dough. These activities develop hand-eye coordination and strengthen fine motor skills.



Cognitive Development Cognitive development includes skills

pertaining to learning and thinking.

Teachers at LFCDS create learning activities that challenge students in a way that fosters growth while also nurturing a love of learning.

Because imaginative play enhances executive functioning and academic learning, it is considered an important aspect of each child’s experience in our ECC. As children persist with

problems in their play, they become creative thinkers, problem solvers, and risk takers.

Creative Development Exploring art materials and engaging in

dramatic play helps students discover new ways to express themselves. Music and movement activities stimulate the brain, increasing pattern recognition, improving coordination, and enhancing language skills.

The LFCDS Early Childhood “Neighborhood”Our Early Childhood programs are housed in two wings of the School. The Preschool is located with 1st STEP in a quiet wing with a separate entrance, which allows our youngest students to experience a peaceful transition from home to school. Bright murals that echo images by Eric Carle, a popular picture book author, decorate the welcoming hallway that leads into large, sunny classrooms.

The James L. Marks Early Childhood Center, where junior and senior kindergarten classrooms are located, was designed especially for young children. Distinctive architectural features make the exteriors of the classrooms look like residential homes. The four classroom “houses” are grouped around an “indoor park” with support beams resembling trees. These physical details reinforce the concept of the classroom as a “home away from home.” Similarly, the school community is, symbolically, a neighborhood comprised of friendly families who interact with one another as they support their children’s growth and development.

As children transition into the Lower School, the “house” concept becomes more abstract, but the sense of community prevails. All students in grades one through eight are grouped into four “Houses” within the School, with students from a younger and older grade level paired as buddies (e.g., grades one and five). The houses are named for significant leaders in the School’s history (Bell, Mason, and Farwell) and a founder of the first private day school in America (Alcott). At various times throughout the year, house buddies get together for activities that build multi-age friendships and foster school spirit.

Developmentally Appropriate PracticesWhen schools create learning environments that honor and support the natural development of young learners, they are at the same time creating a foundation for skills and behaviors that will support students in their education for years to come.

As Early Childhood educators, we know that children go through common, definable steps in their

growth and development. As trained experts, we also know that these stages occur at different rates in the development of each individual. Our challenge is to create an atmosphere where balance is achieved in the education of each child. Whether it is how the day is structured, how the classroom is arranged, or what size the playground equipment is, every consideration



is given to creating a learning environment that is developmentally appropriate for all children with respect to their emerging capabilities.

The teachers in the Early Childhood Center at Lake Forest Country Day School are especially adept at developing relationships with each child and their families to honor and respect each child’s stage on the developmental continuum. For many of our students, this is their first school experience, and their natural inclination to seek independence is often countered by a longing for the predictable environment of home. To honor this stage of child development, the teachers have created a transition period at the beginning of the school year so children can enter school both physically and emotionally ready to learn. This transition time is just one example of how the learning environment at LFCDS is inspired by best practices.

Young children also seek structure and predictable environments. When they feel physically and emotionally safe, children are free to explore and take

risks. Developing meaningful relationships with each child and creating a predictable flow of the day are key factors in laying the foundation for success.

When you visit the classrooms in the ECC, take note of the physical space and how the classrooms have been designed to honor and engage young children. Is there natural light? Are there tools and supplies available to encourage exploration? Does the room reflect the work of children or adults? What does the room sound like? Is there independent work and group work available? Are there opportunities for play?

We feel confident that you will come away from your visit wishing that you could go back to school yourself and be a part of this joyful learning environment. We hope that you will also leave with the knowledge that every part of the experience we offer young children is designed intentionally, to acknowledge and respect the variety of developmental needs of young children.

The Power of PlayPlay is a powerful gift in a young child’s world and essential in fostering the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional well-being of children. Play challenges the complex mind in immeasurable ways and nourishes the human spirit. When children engage in child-directed, unstructured play in the early childhood classroom, there are endless opportunities for learning. In fact, a growing body of research continues to support the unequivocal benefits of exploratory and imaginative play in the early years of school. These benefits include increased capacities for creativity, self-regulation, social awareness, emotional resilience, collaboration, and problem solving. Moreover, these advantages play an important role in the early childhood classroom’s academic environment. With this understanding, the early childhood educators at Lake Forest Country Day School strive to create a learning environment where imaginary play is a key element in the early foundations of language development, literacy skills, mathematics, science exploration, and social sciences.

Creative potential is strongly correlated with lifetime achievement. At the root of creativity is an individual’s ability to engage in the discovery of the unknown, take on divergent perspectives, and to explore the wonders of one’s surroundings. “In early childhood, distinct types of free play are associated with high creativity. Preschoolers who spend more time in role-play (acting out characters) have higher measures of creativity: voicing someone else’s point of view helps develop their ability to analyze situations from different perspective.” (Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman, “The Creativity Crisis,” Newsweek, July 2010.)

Children are working hard to develop self-regulation skills throughout the early childhood years. Play provides young children with meaningful, self-directed opportunities to engage with their environment and learn the best ways to interpret what they experience, make sense of their emotions, manage impulsivity, and respond in socially appropriate ways to their surroundings. Furthermore, “the ability of



young children to control their emotional and cognitive impulses, it turns out, is a remarkably strong indicator of both short-term and long-term success, academic and otherwise. In some studies, self-regulation skills have been shown to predict academic achievement more reliably than IQ tests.” (Paul Tough, “Can the Right Kinds of Play Teach Self-Control?” New York Times, September 25, 2009.)

In addition, play is central to nurturing and developing emotional resilience in children. The challenging scenarios created through play test a child’s ability to solve problems independently, recognize when to ask for support, compromise, confront adversity, and endure frustration and disappointment.

“If we fail to learn in childhood how to handle the full catastrophe of a rich life, we grow up emotionally ill prepared. Learning to build these inner resources for a happier life demands that we endure the hard knocks of the playground—boot camp for the inevitable upsets of everyday relationships. Given how the brain masters social resilience, children need to rehearse for the ups and downs of social life, not experience a steady monotone of delight.” (Daniel Goldeman, Social Intelligence: The New Science of Human Relationships. Bantam, 2007.)

Without these opportunities to work through frustrations, children wouldn’t learn the value of persistence and subsequently the joy of accomplishment and newly found confidence.

It’s hard to argue the incredibly close connection of child’s play and success in school. Play is the mode in which young children learn to master the various skills

which are crucial to tackling their future academic and interpersonal challenges. A healthy balance of child-directed imaginary play and meaningful educational opportunities are fundamental to developing children of strong character with a passion for learning.

“Play is the young child’s dominant mode of learning. When we take away time from that playful learning, we deprive the child of self-created learning experiences.” (David Elkind, The Power of Play. Da Capo Press, 2007.)

The Early Childhood Center utilizes Responsive Classroom® techniques to create a welcoming, accepting, safe, and nurturing environment. In classrooms where caring communities are created and where children are valued for who they are as learners, students are prepared to face academic challenges. Activities are intentionally designed to stretch their thinking and help them develop confidence in what they can accomplish. As students grow, they enjoy more

in-depth learning, participate willingly in discussions, and ask questions while they make connections. By kindergarten, students are in a five-day, full-week program that allows them the time to stretch their learning and use their prior knowledge to strengthen their skills.

Children must have multiple opportunities to learn and practice in order to be successful academically

Responsive Classroom®

Forests, Flights, and Fairy TalesPeek into our Early Childhood classrooms and you will find two highly qualified teachers spending time with students one-on-one, in small groups, and in large-group settings. Lessons are purposefully designed to meet children’s needs through multiple experiences. In a preschool classroom at LFCDS, you might find children discovering new knowledge about trees and leaves while sifting through bark, leaves, and seed pods at the sensory table as they gain an understanding of our relationship to the earth. In junior kindergarten, four-year-old students board a “flight” to Australia where they learn about its ecosystems and hear and play music unique to this area of the world. Peek through the windows of a senior kindergarten classroom and you may see five-year-old students applying their knowledge of fairy tale elements to write a collaborative traditional story. From nature exploration to imaginative field trips to folklore studies, LFCDS students benefit from fun, hands-on experiences that pique their curiosity, introduce academic skills, and develop a passion for learning.



and socially. Since the greatest cognitive growth occurs through social interaction, various social settings (e.g., one-to-one conferences, small groups, whole class, and team experiences) provide opportunities for learning cooperation, assertion, responsibility, empathy, and self-control.

Every Early Childhood Center classroom begins the day with a Morning Meeting. Children are introduced to greeting one another in our 1st STEP program at the age of two. Children are encouraged to sit together in a circle while they are guided to say

their names with different greetings throughout the school year. This lays the foundation for children to acknowledge other children who are present and to learn the names of their friends and teachers. 1st STEP’s goals are for children to become comfortable and proud to say their names in front of others, to greet

their classmates with a smile, and to manage their impulsivity while they wait their turn.

In preschool, children continue to learn the polite skills involved in greeting one another, and the Morning Message is introduced. Children are taught to greet their classmates by looking each other in the eye and smiling to let others know they are accepted and liked. Once children are comfortable with the routine, the greeting is enriched with a sharing and learning time, an opportunity for each child to explain items they have brought to school and to explore numbers and letters. Every week, the Morning Message changes to reflect the weekly theme. The message begins with the same greeting and ends with the same salutation throughout the school year to encourage early recognition of words. It is used to search for letters, identify sounds, and count objects. Children develop confidence in their early reading skills as they identify words that are regularly present in the message and tackle learning new ones.

In junior kindergarten, children build on the skills they have learned for greeting one another and reading the Morning Message. Greeting is now a time to not only make their classmates feel welcomed, but a time to connect to their learning. After saying their name, a child is often asked to add information about an animal being studied, identify letters in a word, express sounds connected to letters, count with one-to-one correspondence, or identify numbers. The sharing time is used to intentionally teach communication skills and to get to know one another better. On their scheduled day, the children who share are

taught to stand confidently in front of their classmates and explain what they brought to school and why it is important to them. They learn to make eye contact and speak clearly. Their classmates learn to manage their impulsivity while thinking of questions

NAEYC’s 12 Principles of Child DevelopmentThese principles are grounded in research on child development and learning and in what is known to be true about educational effectiveness. They guide our practices in order to promote optimal learning and development of our students.

All domains of development and learning—physical, social and emotional, and cognitive—are related.Children follow well-documented sequences to

build knowledge.Children develop and learn at varying rates.Learning develops from the dynamic interaction of

biological maturation and experience.Early childhood experiences can have profound

effects, and optimal periods exist for certain types of development and learning.Development proceeds toward greater complexity

and self-regulation.Children thrive with secure, consistent

relationships with responsive adults.Multiple social and cultural contexts influence

learning and development.Children learn in a variety of ways, so teachers

need a range of strategies.Play helps develop self-regulation, language,

cognition, and social competence.Children advance when challenged just beyond

their current level of mastery.Children’s experiences shape their motivation,

which in turn affects their learning. National Association for the Education of Young Children, www.naeyc.org



to ask the child who is sharing. The child accepts three questions, and the answers provide further information to which classmates can connect. When the Morning Message is read together, letters, sounds, and words are highlighted.

In senior kindergarten, children are ready to apply the skills they have practiced to all parts of Morning Meeting. The Morning Message becomes an interactive board for teaching literacy and mathematics skills, including the use of punctuation and capitalization

and writing the date. The message changes daily, and students are assigned to read and complete the message. The message occasionally ends with a question that each child is encouraged to read and answer. During sharing time students are taught to be concise by stating a main idea and two details before asking for three questions or comments. By this time, children have become quite comfortable sharing about themselves and their knowledge.

Habits of Mind are behaviors or dispositions that we believe provide a strong foundation for success in school and in life. Across the curricular areas, faculty members discuss their application and provide regular opportunities for students to apply them. For example:

All early childhood students learn to listen with empathy and understanding as they participate in Morning Meetings and hear classmates share ideas and stories. Becoming an active listener is one of the most important life skills taught in these early years.

“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”

—Leo Buscaglia

A junior kindergarten student persists as she practices crossing the monkey bars independently.

Persistence is the twin sister of excellence. One is a matter of quality; the other, a matter of time.

—Marabel Morgan, The Electric Woman

A senior kindergarten student uses his metacognition during a mathematics lesson as he shares two ways he approached solving a problem. Learning to think about one’s thinking and to consider different options and perspectives is a powerful skill.

When the mind is thinking it is talking to itself. —Plato

Early childhood students respond with wonder and awe as they use their senses to experience their environment and gather data. They role-play the story that was read to them; discover what colors are created as they mix paints; note the patterns that are involved in the rhythms played on their xylophones; experiment with the sounds of new words spoken in Spanish or Mandarin; and dig in the garden to plant seeds that will grow into lettuce shared with parents at an end-of-year celebration.

Observe perpetually. —Henry James

The most beautiful experience in the world is the experience of the mysterious. —Albert Einstein

A preschool child is encouraged to manage her impulsivity, a skill that early childhood children practice daily when listening to mini lesson on the rug, or waiting for a turn to participate. Teachers model this idea and discuss the value of patience throughout the school day.

…goal directed self-imposed delay of gratification is perhaps the essence of emotional self-regulation: the ability to deny impulse in the service of a goal, whether it be building a business, solving an algebraic equation, or pursuing the Stanley cup.

—Daniel Goleman, Emotional Intelligence

Habits of Mind



Children learn best through hands-on experiences that enable them to observe and manipulate objects and materials using their senses. Our commitment to experiential learning is supported by recent neuroscience and brain research which emphasizes that children learn best through authentic experiences. At LFCDS, interactions with the natural world are promoted through the use of our native prairie, wetland, and forest environments where children can interact with phenomena being studied. Emphasis is on taking care of the natural world to become stewards of the earth.

Creative expression through art, music, and dramatic play and the exploration of nature and a child’s surrounding environment engage students in active roles, thereby enhancing their understanding of concepts and the likelihood that they will internalize the experience. Experiences in the ECC capitalize on the natural curiosity of three-, four- and five-year-old students about the world around them and their fascination with a rich and ever-changing environment.

The preschool class hikes in the forest to study trees and leaves. Children become tree experts and take part in a ceremony in which the Head of School places a “Tree Expert Necklace” on each child. They plant bulbs and seeds that provide beauty on the playground and pumpkins for the next year’s class of children. Observing red wigglers in the composting bin, collecting rain water, and taking care of the earth in a variety of ways connects them to nature.

Junior kindergarten children study the animals of North America, the polar regions, and Australia. Whenever possible, they observe and care for creatures, such as slugs found in our woods, whose movements, eating habits, and egg-laying are closely watched. Beekeeping equipment is donned, a wasp nest is dissected, and bees are observed and collected from flowers in the LFCDS prairie. Junior kindergarten students take part in a simulated flight to Australia, complete with parent volunteers who check each child’s passport and luggage and serve as limo drivers, flight

Differentiation is the process of matching instruction to students and their varied interests and needs. Each child is unique, and each child learns differently. At LFCDS, teachers differentiate instruction based on an understanding of where each child is on the learning continuum as determined by observation and both formative and summative assessments. Our small class sizes allow us to know our students well. We take into account the “whole child” and consider the personal experiences, interests, and learning styles of each student in order to guide him or her toward success. Whole-group, small-group, and individualized experiences occur throughout each child’s week.

When developing curriculum, faculty create engaging activities meant to acknowledge the differences in children’s developmental levels – to challenge and support them as they develop socially, emotionally, cognitively, physically, and creatively. Teachers are skilled at recognizing which skills each

child is ready to work on and providing individualized opportunities for practice. For example, in preschool, the teacher may ask a child who is ready to learn letter sounds to help read the Morning Message, while she may encourage a child who is strengthening fine motor skills to manipulate play dough or use an eye dropper to fill a small container at the water table. In junior kindergarten, a teacher may prompt students who are eager writers to add a daily sentence to their journals and gently coach other students in ways to effectively navigate social situations. In senior kindergarten, a cluster of students may participate in a book club while others solidify their understanding of letter–sound correspondence through games. Our teachers have high expectations that all students will make excellent progress and attain appropriate benchmarks—at their own pace and in their own ways—with specific feedback and warm encouragement from both teachers and parents.

Differentiation

Experiential Learning



Unifying concepts provide a structure for organizing and making meaning of the knowledge and information that students learn throughout the school day. Research supports this notion: facts and ideas become usable understandings for children when they are linked to central themes or concepts. Unifying concepts are integral to ensuring that students make connections within and across disciplines and topics and, as a result, comprehend their learning experiences more deeply. Knowing how students learn best, we developed preschool through eighth-grade social studies and science curricula around unifying concepts that build upon and connect to each other.

In preschool, the concept of relationships (i.e., peer to peer, peer to adult, in-school community, and people to the environment) is thoughtfully woven into the curriculum. Through daily play, earth awareness activities, and multisensory discoveries, these young children are beginning to understand the important difference their small contributions make in the big world around them.

As children progress into junior kindergarten, relationships with others, the school community, and the earth is enriched by the concept of exploration. The rich curriculum is filled with a plethora of flora, fauna, and global interdisciplinary units of study.

Stepping out of their classroom door, children enjoy hiking through the prairie and woodlands in all seasons, and their curiosity is piqued as they experience nature. Throughout the year, the children’s world is broadened as they embark on “voyages” stretching across the continents, heightening their love of learning.

Building on these foundational experiences, in senior kindergarten children delve into the concept of interactions. Embedded within all of the units of study is an opportunity for children to explore how interactions affect people, places, and things. During the castle study children are transported back in time when serfs and monarchs interacted with one another to ensure a strong and impressive castle. Through the study of culture, senior kindergarten students develop an awareness of the similarities we share with others and how we are different. They discover how who we are, what we do, and what we make defines a culture.

At each grade level the unifying concept broadens the previous one and adds a new layer of student understanding and application. We are committed to challenging young minds with authentic, thought-provoking experiences and building strong foundational skills.

Unifying Concepts

attendants, and pilots during this exciting experience!

Senior kindergarten students build their own river system and create a planetarium during science studies. An exciting medieval feast occurs during a unit on castles and medieval life. Children enjoy role playing, making a

coat of arms, painting portraits of themselves as royalty, and learning a courtly dance. They dress in period costumes, sing, entertain one another, and eat as royals and peasants/serfs. They also cooperatively write and illustrate their own fairy tale. It’s a fairy tale experience!

Early Childhood Center Curriculum Guide — Preschool 11

The Preschool Experience at LFCDS Three-year-old children are very curious about the world around them. At Lake Forest Country Day School our preschool program offers children the opportunity to learn and explore within a safe and nurturing environment. The preschool classrooms are located in the same hallway as the 1st STEP classrooms. This location helps to ease the transition for children moving from 1st STEP to preschool. This is their first year of attending a program that is five mornings a week, and the familiar faces and setting help children feel more comfortable and confident as they begin an important year of their early childhood education. The music and Spanish room, small gym, and classrooms for the Extended School Program are also located in this hallway. The greenhouse is nearby, allowing for year-round gardening activities.

At the beginning of the year, the preschool children and their teachers work together to create a list of “Good Ideas” for the classroom. These ideas are the result of collaboration and cooperation and give the children ownership over classroom expectations. The list is written in positive, concise language (e.g., use kind words, play gently, respect others) and is displayed in the classroom where the children and teachers can easily refer to it throughout the school year. The

children “sign” this agreement with their handprint as a visible reminder that we are working together as a community in which every member is valued.

Routines are very important for young children. When they know what to expect, they feel more secure

in their environment and can focus their energy on the learning opportunities that are offered throughout their day. The daily schedule is posted in a prominent location where the children can reference it and predict the flow of their day. The use of words and pictures on the schedule provides daily exposure to printed language that the children can associate with sounds, meaning, and experiences.

Preschool students begin their day with a gathering time on the rug where teachers and children sit together and explore books, puzzles, and building materials. This time together sets the tone for the day as the children greet one another and share

information and stories. When everyone has arrived, Meeting Time begins and the class gathers together around the daily message. The message provides a valuable literacy experience by posing questions, providing information, building vocabulary, and exposing the children to words in print. One morning the class meeting may involve a science experiment, while on another day the children might be “building”

Highlights of the Preschool Experience

A fall hayride around campus with our very own “Farmer Roy” from the maintenance team.

Various collaboration projects with family throughout the year, strengthening the home/

school connection.

Tree Expert medals awarded by the Head of School in an outdoor ceremony under the

Legacy Oak Tree.

Friendship Soup prepared and shared with all of the ECC children in a fall harvest celebration.

Winter toy bear hibernation with a picnic to “fatten up” the bears for their long winter’s nap

and a reunion in the spring.

Lettuce grown by students in the School’s greenhouse and later transplanted to the gardens

on their playground is used in the end-of-year celebration as part of a community salad.

Creation of class books throughout the year to take home and share with families.

Camp Discovery, complete with a “campfire” at meeting time, hiking sticks, backpacks filled with

supplies, and a map to hike around campus.

PRESCHOOLCurriculum


Preschool Overview

a snowman together. Meeting Time provides an appropriate venue for direct instruction embedded in a lot of fun! This is a critical part of the day as it offers an opportunity for every child to be recognized, to share information, to make connections, and to learn from one another. It is heartwarming when the children are aware of another child’s absence and express their concern. At this young age they are building compassion and gaining a sense of belonging.

From Meeting Time the children transition into other activities including time for play in the classroom, music, Spanish, or PE, depending on the day of the week. The classroom experience provides time for exploration in the block corner, the dramatic play area, the art studio, and the writing center. Children of this age are moving from parallel play to interactive play. While they participate in the “work” of a preschool student, they navigate social interactions, practice problem-solving skills, use their imaginations, use expressive language, and engage their creative spirits.

Children at this age are beginning to notice environmental print and show an interest in writing. There is print throughout the classroom, including meaningful text in the daily morning messages. The writing center is a place that children can visit freely to write in their journals and experiment with representational illustrations.

Three-year-olds learn best through hands-on experiences. Young children need to interact with their environment in order to comprehend it. The preschool curriculum provides numerous opportunities for children to discover new concepts on their own and with the guidance of an early childhood professional. In our preschool classroom, children are learning mathematical concepts through comparing and contrasting, creating class graphs, voting, and counting real-life objects that are relevant to young children.

Snack time provides another community experience as the children sit and enjoy a family-style snack with their teachers and friends. The use of cloth napkins and plastic cups underscores our focus on earth kindness, and a teacher at every table helps to model the practice of polite conversation and good manners.

Young children love to listen to books, and their interest and attention at story time is a testament to the

power of the printed word and illuminating pictures. Story time is a part of each day in preschool and exposes children to a variety of texts. In fiction and nonfiction books, the children are developing early comprehension skills as they pose questions and listen for information. Rhyming texts and stories with predictable phrases allow the children to engage in “reading” the story while appreciating the author’s craft. Preschool students also visit the library once a week for a themed story time, including the opportunity to browse through books and make a selection to bring back to the classroom.

Three-year-olds are developing physical skills that will prepare them for success in later years. At LFCDS, young children are given tools to strengthen these skills, and teachers provide the necessary guidance for progress. The classroom furniture and spaces are set up to allow children to use materials independently, another important part of developing self-confidence. Sitting in chairs, sitting on the floor, gripping pencils and crayons, manipulating small objects, and

Creativity“Creativity involves adaptability and flexibility of thought, which is deemed critical for students in reports on education. (e.g., the Carnegie Forum on Education, 1986) Creativity stands at the center of educating children who will be scientists, inventors, artists, musicians, dramatists, innovators, and problem solvers of the future. The progress of civilization is essentially attributable to creative thinking. (Mary Mayesky, quoted in “Nurturing Creativity in Early Childhood Education: Families Are Part of It,”by Kristen M. Kemple and Shari A. Nissenberg. Early Childhood Education Journal, Vol. 28, No 1, 2000.)

The preschool classroom and curriculum at Lake Forest Country Day School are intentionally designed to inspire, encourage, and honor the creative process in all aspects of a child’s day. Our activities are focused on the process of creativity in art, design, drama, problem solving, and personal interactions. We expect our students to explore, discover, wonder, and imagine. In doing so, we know that we are giving them the skills and foundation necessary to become divergent thinkers and problem solvers in an ever-changing world.


Preschool Overview

experimenting at the sensory table are all intentional activities that guide the children’s physical development toward independence and strength.

The curriculum also extends to the outdoor classroom, an essential component of early childhood education. At LFCDS we are blessed with a large campus that allows us to take the children through a small patch of prairie, a wetland, and an oak savannah without leaving our campus! Raised-bed gardens, rain barrels, and compost bins on our playground allow the children to interact with dirt, plants, and water on a daily basis. The life cycle of a pumpkin is not only taught in the classroom but comes alive on our playground! We know that children thrive when given the opportunity to explore the outdoors.

The playground also offers a safe environment for running, climbing, swinging, pedaling, and creating. Being outdoors is an integral part of our program as it provides time for healthy activity, hands-on learning, and an unimpeded flow of imagination.

Preschool is the place to be!

SchedulePreschool classes meet daily from 8:15—11:30 a.m. Children can extend their day with lunch in the Alcott Lunch Club until 12:30 p.m.; enjoy engaging activities in the Alcott Club until 3:15 p.m.; and join the Extended School Program, a nurturing, fun environment for children who need care until 6:00 p.m. All are additional fees.

Each day begins with Morning Meeting, which includes greeting one another, sharing a story, sharing something about ourselves or what we are learning, reading our morning message, and engaging in a physical break by singing and/or dancing to a song,

Following Morning Meeting, students learn about their activities for the day. They may choose to move through a variety of stations, including participating in a special activity related to our theme.

Students enjoy recess and a snack each morning.

Each child participates in music and Spanish class twice a week; physical education & wellness twice a week; and library every other week.

Interdisciplinary StudiesThroughout the year, preschool children participate in hands-on, interdisciplinary units of study. These studies encompass the fundamental disciplines with an overarching theme of relationships. You will find examples of these engaging interdisciplinary studies throughout the curriculum section.

Pumpkins and GardeningThe overarching theme in preschool is relationships, including our relationships to the earth and each other. Throughout the year, gardening is incorporated in our units. In the fall, we study pumpkins and the process of decomposition. During this unit the children:

Count pumpkin seeds.

Learn about the letter P, and read a variety of related fiction and nonfiction texts.

Study decomposition and put our class pumpkin and seeds back into the ECC gardens.

Discuss what we can use pumpkins for and how we can give a gift to the children next year by putting the seeds back into the garden.

Practice yoga positions that resemble pumpkins, scarecrows, and blackbirds.

Act out “5 Little Pumpkins.”

Make jack-o-lantern masks.


Preschool Literacy

LiteracyOverview

The primary goal of the literacy experience in preschool is to expose young children to a variety of texts and print in the classroom environment. Purposeful conversations occur throughout the day to develop each child’s language and creative and critical thinking skills. In doing this, we are building a love of learning and the foundation for reading and writing in later years.

Grade-Level Expectations In preschool, students work to master the following skills:

Phonological Awareness and ReadingRecognize some uppercase letters.Begin to associate sounds with letters.Enjoy hearing and playing with rhymes and alliteration.Identify name in print.Notice environmental print.Develop concepts of word (e.g., reading left to right, top to bottom).Engage in conversation with peers and adults.Begin to develop comprehension skills:

• Use illustrations to infer meaning in texts.• Retell and reenact events in a story. • Sequence events in a story.• Make connections.• Identify interesting words.• Distinguish between fiction and nonfiction. • Use prior knowledge to anticipate meaning and make sense of text.• Make predictions.• Identify the setting, problem, and solution. • Discuss character traits and emotions.

WritingUse proper grip.Use pressure and control when writing.Begin to form letters correctly.Create representational illustrations.Utilize writing materials at the learning center.Dictate or write ideas.

LanguageExpressiveShare stories from home.Express ideas and feelings.


Preschool Literacy, Mathematics, Social & Emotional Development

Use sentences with four or more words.Develop appropriate articulation and volume in speech.Respond to questions.

ReceptivePractice listening to the ideas of others.Follow simple oral directions. Ask appropriate questions using “who, what, where”.

MathematicsOverview

Exposure to mathematical concepts is embedded in many aspects of a preschool student’s day. Students see mathematics as a meaningful aspect of everyday life; they develop confidence and key foundational skills, learning the language of mathematics and creative problem solving through authentic, inquiry-based experiences. The resource Everyday Mathematics guides our intentional activities.


Demonstrate counting to 10.Demonstrate one-to-one correspondence when counting.Identify numbers 1−10.Compare and sort by attributes.Identify shapes.Identify positions (e.g., in/out, top/bottom).Assess quantities (e.g., least/most, more/less).Replicate simple patterns.Use non-standard and standard measurement (e.g., length and weight).Create and analyze graphs.Recognize ordinal numbers.

Social and Emotional DevelopmentOverview

The social-emotional development of young children is perhaps one of the most important aspects of early childhood education. Recognizing that this may be their first school experience, our program focuses on helping students feel comfortable transitioning to school, building friendships, and developing a sense of belonging in their classroom community.


Preschool Social & Emotional Development, Physical Development


Demonstrate self-care skills and desire for independence.Separate from caregiver and adjust to new situations.Manage transitions well.Enter into social groups and friendships.Use language to negotiate with peers and problem solve.Practice cooperation in a group setting.Name feelings and emotions.Practice self-regulation. Demonstrate persistence.Understand and respect classroom routines.Respect classroom materials, toys, and supplies.Show empathy toward others.Participate in dramatic play.Develop a sense of competence and positive attitude toward learning.

Physical DevelopmentOverview

Our goal is to help children develop and strengthen the fine and gross motor skills necessary for success in later years. Research tells us that children need movement to learn. We balance our fine motor and gross motor activities to create the most developmentally appropriate learning environment.


Consistently use right or left hand.Use scissors successfully.Use large muscle group to maintain posture while sitting on the floor and standing in line.Enjoy a variety of tactile experiences.Demonstrate stamina for physical activity.Practice running, climbing, cycling, and swinging on the playground.Attempt new physical challenges.


Preschool Fine Arts

Interdisciplinary Study: Construction! One of the joys of the preschool classroom is the ease of incorporating thematic units into the curriculum. The children experience a variety of academic skills while exploring an engaging thematic unit. In the early spring, the preschool classroom transforms into a construction site, complete with an architect’s studio, work benches, props for plumbers and painters, many tools, and construction vehicles. The unit culminates with the “building” of a town in which each child has provided a building. During this unit the children:

Become architects, drawing plans in a studio.

Build structures with tools and hardware.

Dictate stories about the buildings they have created.

Use pipes and pretend to be plumbers at the water table.

Paint with a variety of painter’s tools.

Read a variety of re-tellings of The Three Little Pigs story.

Act out the story of The Three Little Pigs.

Learn about the many members that make-up a community.

Fine ArtsOverview

Education in the arts is an inseparable part of the education of the whole child. Children learn to express and interpret ideas through observation and analysis of these art forms. They learn creative modes of problem solving and in so doing develop an array of expressive, analytical, and developmental tools which can be applied to every human situation. Students understand the influences of the arts in their power to create and reflect cultures, both past and present, thus enabling them to make informed judgments about cultural products and issues. They also develop attributes such as self-discipline, perseverance, and collaborative skills. Experiences in the arts develop each child’s imagination and sense of personal fulfillment.

General MusicThe three main components of the Early Childhood Center general music program at each grade level are music literacy, performance, and music listening and analysis.

Grade-Level Expectations In preschool, students work to master the following general music skills:

Experience beat and rhythmic patterns through various chants and rhymes.Identify and perform equal divisions of beat using pictorial representation.Explore the voice through sirens and echo singing.Explore the sound of A440 and the falling minor third for the purpose of inner hearing.Explore musical concepts such as articulation and dynamic markings using gross motor movement.Explore the difference between performance and audience etiquette.Experience a variety of genre through listening and creative movement.


Preschool Physical Education & Wellness, Information Literacy

Physical Education & WellnessOverview

The mission of the physical education & wellness program is to help students develop a lasting appreciation for physical activity and acquire the skills, strategies, and knowledge that lay the foundation for a lifetime of well-being through athletics. Teachers strive to inspire a commitment to health-related fitness and positive lifestyle choices regardless of athletic ability. Our goals are to enhance students’ ability to lead, work together as a team, participate fairly with sportsmanship, and develop respect for peers. We encourage active participation from all students.


Explore the difference between personal space and general space.Move in different ways alone and in a group. Be introduced to safe and developmentally-appropriate movement.Participate in discussions about their bodies and how they move.Learn about healthy choices for healthy bodies.Explore the concept of cooperation.Practice verbalizing needs, wants, and feelings.Practice calming activities.Enhance their academic development through activity.Experience the enjoyment of physical activity.

Information LiteracyOverview

Library visits and lessons are designed for our early childhood children to learn the library routines such as book selection and check-out and return of materials. Students are exposed to and discuss good literature. Comprehension skills as well as the basic skills of counting, color identification, sequencing, and knowing the alphabet are reinforced during lessons.

Grade-Level Expectations In preschool, students work to master the following information literacy skills:

Follow library routines and etiquette.Listen attentively when books are read aloud.Make connections to a theme through literature and enrichment activities. Identify books of personal interest.


Preschool World Language

World LanguageOverview

LFCDS offers Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, and French in the ECC and Lower School. These languages were selected in order to expose our students to a variety of important world cultures and better equip them to meet the challenges of global citizenship. Our design is based on current brain research and best practices in elementary world language education. Adhering to the national standards for the teaching of world languages, we aim to prepare our students to view the world from broader perspectives, compare and contrast languages and cultures, and appreciate the importance of communication in international communities. The benefits of this model lead beyond language learning into the discovery of diverse cultural worlds where these languages are spoken.

The Early Childhood and Lower School curriculum sequence is:Spanish: Preschool and Junior KindergartenSpanish is the most prominent second language in the United States. Often young children have already had some exposure to Spanish expressions and culture. The two-year study of Spanish provides a foundation in Spanish which will also set the stage for the learning of other languages with different sounds and syntax.

Mandarin Chinese: Senior Kindergarten and Grade 1Chinese represents the fastest growing Eastern language and may be the most important business language outside of English in the twenty-first century. In addition, brain research shows benefits from the study of pictographic and tonal languages, which naturally develop simultaneous use of multiple areas of the brain, enhancing student learning of other subjects. The two-year study of Chinese enriches our senior kindergarten and first-grade cultural studies, especially our first-grade social studies unit on China.

French: Grades 2 and 3French is an official language in thirty-three countries spread throughout five continents. While learning French, students discover the influence of French on the English language. This awareness deepens their knowledge of our own language as they explore the multitude of French words the English language has absorbed. The two-year study further enriches the third-grade social studies unit on the French voyageurs.

Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, and French: Grade 4Fourth-grade students have the opportunity to revisit or become familiar with Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, and French. In our global world today, some knowledge of the sound system and basics of each language is critical for a well-rounded education. In addition, an opportunity to compare all three languages over the course of a year allows students, with the support of parents and teachers, to make an informed choice about which single language to study in Upper School. Having experienced all three languages also complements the fourth-grade immigration unit and their culminating study of global warming.

Grade-Level Expectations In preschool, students work to master the following world language skills:

Hear and respond to words spoken in the target language.Develop an “ear” for different sounds, facilitating a near-native-sounding accent.Study other peoples, learning to respect and celebrate cultural differences.Learn basic vocabulary through songs, games, and movement (e.g., greetings, body parts,

numbers, colors)


Preschool Resources for Parents

Resources for ParentsWe are confident that preschool will be a terrific experience not only for your child but for your family. Beginning with intake conferences with your child’s teachers, an informational coffee in early September, and grade-level social events, there will be many opportunities to establish important connections. As the school year progresses, there will also be several ways for you to volunteer—for classroom activities and field trips, lunch supervision, and in a variety of capacities through the Parent Association and the Auction. We encourage you to join other parents for coffee and conversation on Tuesday mornings at 8:15 a.m. in the Parent Relations Office next door to the Onwentsia Lower School Office. Also, we welcome you to join the Lower School students in the Green Bay Atrium on Wednesday mornings at 8:15 a.m. for Community Meeting. Take a moment to visit in the Parent Association Office as you enter the Green Bay Atrium from the Lower School.

The Panther Portal, as well as the external website (www.lfcds.org), provides a wealth of information:

Parent Downloads, Forms, and Links: This area on the Portal is filled with a variety of helpful information (i.e., online directories and class lists, downloadable medical forms, information on the school dress program, and more).

Curriculum Review Information: Each year a representative task force of faculty examines and revises a specific disciplinary area of study. This Portal page outlines our curriculum development framework and offers a venue for you to share constructive feedback.

Enrichment Activities/Resources: At LFCDS, we believe that summer is an opportune time to balance learning with a bit of leisure. This page provides information about required summer work, book lists for particular grade levels, mathematics and science challenges, and parent resources.

WordPress Blogs: Many classrooms have a WordPress blog set up, which gives a fun glimpse into the classroom. These are also available on the Panther Portal.

Parent Association Information: This tab provides information about ways to get involved in the LFCDS Parent Association and the numerous events they help coordinate.

We believe social media is a timely way to tell the story of Lake Forest Country Day School, and to that end, the School has a Facebook account and a Twitter account that we encourage you to “Like” and “Follow”! Simply search for “Lake Forest Country Day School” on Facebook and follow @LFCountryDay on Twitter. We have a strict social media policy and never post individual student names or information on these channels. You will discover snippets of all of the great things happening at LFCDS on a day-to-day basis!

Your room parents are available to answer questions and help you get involved, and you are welcome to stop by the Lower School Office anytime. Questions? Please contact the office of the Head of Lower School at (847) 615-6188.

Rev. July 2013

Documents

LFCDS Preschool Curriculum