Our Junior kindergarten classroom is for children ages 4-5 years of age. These children are preparing to attend kindergarten.
The classroom is set up similarly to a kindergarten classroom. Activities in the centers help the children to prepare for kindergarten. We are a Learning Through Play program, so you will not find children sitting and doing worksheets. You will find our kids measuring, estimating, exploring, inquiring and learning!
Hands on experiences help children learn better! Using environmental print in the classrooms, music activities and art help children with pre-writing and pre-reading skills. Opportunities to measure, weigh, estimate and count helps children with math skills.
The art center isn’t just a fun place to be creative. When children hold scissors, crayons, pencils and markers they are working their fine motor skills. They are also working on pre-writing skills. Most children are able to write their names and many other words prior to kindergarten.
Learn more about the art center HERE.
Our book center is a place of calm, but also an exciting environment of learning. Children not only learn to appreciate books, but also to retell stories. Additional materials are provided for children to retell some of their favorite books.
Children can use puppets, story blocks, small animals, miniature pieces, and felt/felt boards. This is just one way children build vocabulary and pre-reading skills
Learn more about the book center HERE.
In the kindergarten center, children are able to work on specific skills and goals for kindergarten. Materials in this area help build letter and number recognition, patterning and sequencing, shapes and colors.
Because this is a center for one child, they are better able to focus on the task at hand.
One of the most popular center, this area is where fine motor skills are put to the test. Here children will find lacing, Legos, puzzles, and other small interlocking building activities.
Not only do they work on fine motor skills, but pre-reading and pre-writing skills. There are many games with directions and rules.
Learn more about the manipulative center HERE.
Children love to pretend play. In this center they are able to explore many different life skills. There are an array of clothing for specific jobs, fancy dresses, vests, jackets, etc. Additional tools and materials allow children to explore work roles such as police, fire, teacher, hair stylist, vet, etc.
In this center children learn to cooperate, build language skills and pre-reading and pre-writing skills. Children are able to have sign in sheets, appointment cards and create signs for their play.
Learn more about pretend play HERE.
Another popular center in the science center. It is here that children explore animals, colors, patterning, sequencing, nature and other fun topics.
A variety of science tools (magnifying glasses, color paddles, microscopes, etc.), books, games, and hands on nature items make science come to life! Children are able to observe nature through the window as well.
Learn more about the science center HERE.
Another center that focuses on the pre-reading and pre-writing skills children will need in kindergarten.
Children are able to follow color coded songs with bells, sing songs and create their own rhythms with the many materials provided. Sometimes they will sing their own created songs, build a band or dance with scarves and ribbons to the beat.
Learn more about the music center HERE.
A place to get messy, the sensory is a popular place to visit. Children might be getting their hands dirty (and wet), but they are really learning many skills that will serve them a life time!
It is in this center that they learn cause and effect, measurements, what floats and what doesn’t. Sensory can be calming for an anxious child, children with ADHD and Autism or a child just missing mom.
Learn more about the sensory center HERE.
Ready to enroll? Here’s where to start!