The curriculum offers children activities and materials that stimulate imagination, build independence, and present ample opportunities for exploration and discovery.  Through a wide range of activities we help children gain confidence as they become competent learners, adapt to group experiences, and learn to respect the feelings of others.

 

We believe that children's play is an expression of intelligence and growth, and that young children learn best through hands-on, concrete experiences.  In preschool, the curricular areas overlap and provide the foundation upon which the academic areas of literacy, mathematics, science, and social studies are established.  In this way children are prepared for the more formal educational experiences of Lower School.

Literacy begins at birth. Preschool children are acquiring language, learning to listen, and beginning to recognize that written symbols have meaning and are used as a method of communication. Our children are helped to express themselves and build vocabulary by being read to, looking at books, and dictating their own stories. A trip to the library to hear a story and choose a book occurs weekly. Language is valued as a positive way to resolve problems and issues in the classroom.  Language development evolves from the concrete to the abstract as children develop the capacity to recognize the written symbols of language and words. Teachers monitor and guide each child to ensure the development of the following necessary skills:

• Visual discrimination
• Auditory discrimination
• Memory
• Use of oral language
• Ability to answer questions and follow verbal directions
• Ability to remember previous events and apply that information.

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Mathematics

Mathematics is a way of ordering and thinking about the world. As soon as a child thinks of himself or herself (one) and others (more than one), the child is beginning to understand and learn math. Mathematical concepts develop though the hands-on use of materials such as manipulatives, puzzles and Cuisenaire rods that allow children to discover and explore early math principles. When children are building in the block area, playing with sand, setting the table, taking only two crackers for snack, or following a recipe chart, they are developing mathematical skills and concepts, including:

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Science

Science in the Preschool means more hands-on exploring, experimentation, and discovering. Children learn science by engaging in activities such as observing grass grow, watching butterflies emerge from their chrysalids, studying and researching ponds or owls. They care for animals in the classroom, observe growth in themselves and others, and obsrve the weather.  When children cook or bring snow into the room and watch it melt, they are gaining an understanding of changes and properties. Other science activities include using magnets, color wheels, and magnifying glasses. Older children may take trips to the park to observe seasonal changes, in addition to learning about day and night, the clouds and stars. Their observations lead to “scientific” predictions and eventually to finding ways to record their observations.

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Social Studies

Social Studies allow preschoolers to explore and understand their immediate environment. Children begin to learn about their classroom community, its routines, rhythms, and rules. They begin to understand how to function as a group. By sharing their different backgrounds, holiday traditions, and exploring a variety of cultural and ethnic cooking activities, stories, music, and dances, Preschoolers discover the many wonderful differences and common threads that bind individuals together. Learning respect for and acceptance of a variety of ideas and opinions is a goal of the program. After children become comfortable in their own classroom, they are introduced to the wider school community: interacting with Lower School buddies, watching performances by other classes, and participating in school-wide events such as the all-school art show.

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Community Service Learning

Community Service is an important and inherent part of a BFS education. To properly serve their community, children must first learn what a community is, what it means to be part of a community and one's role in serving his/her surrounding communities. In the Preschool, we build this necessary foundation through our ongoing curriculum and community service projects such as participating in collections of pennies, books, food or clothing for various organizations. Each class also takes a turn baking a special snack for a local women's shelter.

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Art and Music

Creating, experimenting, and learning go hand in hand. Art is a form of communication that comes naturally to children. It is experiential and exploratory and does not always need to be planned or purposeful. Students have opportunities to be creative every day, using a variety of materials including paint, markers and crayons, clay and collage. Art activities develop the following skills:

Music is to make, to use, and to enjoy, and classes engage in musical activities daily. Classes sing or play rhythm instruments and listen to a wide range of music representing different styles and cultures. As children sing, do finger plays, or imitate animals in a song, they use their imaginations and improve coordination. They develop an appreciation for the patterns and the musical variety produced by rhythms, melodies and musical instruments. They also simply learn to love music and find joy in singing together.

 

Dramatic Play

Dramatic play allows children many opportunities to grow socially and emotionally as they use their imaginations: in the house area, the block area, with a basket of small figures, or on the roof in free play. Children in a safe, supportive environment with the guidance of teachers can:

On the roof, in the gym, and during dance, children are developing an awareness of their bodies in space. The ability to move with skill, care, thought, and imagination is a learning process for children as they gain control of their own bodies. In the classroom, the children learn how to move safely and appropriately. On the roof playground or in the gym, they have the opportunity to run, jump, climb, play with balls, ride bikes, and move with freedom. In dance, they learn many different ways of moving as they explore a variety of themes and music. The themes are often related to classroom activities such as fall leaves, dragon dancing for the Lunar New Year, or snow gently falling to the ground.