(From 2 to 3 years old)
Preschool 2/ Très Petite Section focus on language acquisition, socialization, creative art, dramatic play, potty training, independence and compliance with rules.
The curriculum is age based and theme based. The teacher-oriented activities enable the teachers to introduce new concepts, and have the children work at the same time on specific projects and skills.
We use child-oriented activities through various learning stations that are available to the children. Block play provides the foundation for learning in every area of a child’s development and further contributes to cognitive development by developing pattern recognition, sorting and classification skills, and problem-solving skills. During dramatic play, children take part on the roles of adults who are meaningful in their lives and develop many areas such as creative thinking and problem solving skills. While they are “playing” they also develop social skills and empathy with others, an essential step in moral development. While at the art station, children may draw, paint, do collage and printmaking. We rather focus on the process than the product because the goal is creativity and total support.
Those stations let the children decide on which specific area they would like to work. The teacher is always nearby to observe and ready to assist if needed and as needed. The teacher’s role is also to help the children master a skill they have decided to acquire and to challenge them if a skill is already mastered.
Following is a list of various stations available to the children:
The block station
- Creativity
- Self-expression
- Small muscle development
- Problem solving
The library station
- Select books for individual needs and interests
- Follow simple story lines in stories read aloud
- Distinguish between real and make-believe
The art station
- Visual discrimination of color, shape, texture
- Small muscles development, eye-hand coordination
- Self-expression through paintings, collage materials, clay, and other dough
Practical life
- Table manners
- Hanging jacket on hook
- Blowing nose and throwing away tissue properly
- Dressing oneself
Outdoor play
- Social skills: sharing, negotiating, creating and following rules, taking turns
- Motor development: opportunity to develop and refine large muscle skills
- Develop body and spatial awareness