Butterfly Class
Older 3’s & 4’s
In our Butterfly classroom, the children are encouraged to explore, create, and imagine, all while getting set for TK/Kindergarten. Our classroom is a happy, safe, play-filled place where respect and support among students (and teachers) is of key importance, and social skills are emphasized. Our goal is to instill within each child a lasting love of learning while nurturing their confidence in themselves.
Weekly themes
Each class consists of its own weekly theme, so that your child has something new to anticipate with each coming week.
Hands-on activities
Our activities are thoughtfully designed to keep your child engaged through creative, interactive learning experiences that support curiosity, focus, and a love of learning while building important early skills.
In our Butterfly class, circle time provides an opportunity for community building, practicing listening skills, and sharing ideas. There are books read, storytelling, finger plays, songs, active movement, and calendar and weather activities. Concepts are introduced, such as counting, alphabet and number recognition, and matching, rhyming, and opposites games, all in simple and age-appropriate ways.
Our free play/center time offers rich and varied play and learning opportunities. Child-selected centers include sensory tables, art, blocks, manipulatives, puzzles, book corner, dramatic play area with dress up, writing area, and science. There is a generous amount of time to play, explore, and experiment. The variety of activities is designed to promote social, emotional, cognitive, language, and physical development. During this time, one teacher may work with small groups or one-on-one at the table (i.e., dictating a story to the teacher, doing a cooking or science project, or simple handwriting activities for the older, developmentally ready children).
Throughout the day, we encourage the children's emerging independence and guide them with self-help skills (zipping their jackets, problem-solving skills in social situations). Outside play is full of physical, social, and creative learning opportunities in our spacious yard. Occasional nature walks in our quiet neighborhood behind the school also take place.
Theme-based curriculum
Our theme-based curriculum includes a wide variety of topics throughout the year, such as community workers, farm, and featured authors. The children learn in a hands-on manner. An example of our community worker theme would include transforming our dramatic play area into a grocery store. Cash registers, play money, wallets, purses, grocery carts, food to buy, aprons, and bags are available. The children can make an 'OPEN' and 'CLOSED' sign and name their store. So many skills are emphasized including taking turns, role playing, counting money, making decisions on what to buy and working as a team. Additional activities related to the theme might include books about markets, puzzles of various community workers, games, songs, and finger plays related to the grocery store, an art project, possibly cutting out pictures of favorite healthy choice foods and a cooking project. We expand on subjects as their interest grows.
