Mathematics is woven into everyday life in the classroom. Counting the number of days on the calendar, using math language to describe geometric blocks of different shapes, exploring mathematical ideas to solve problems all provide daily opportunities for children to be immersed in the language and ideas of math. Teachers extend learning and challenge students to grow while fostering curiosity and an interest in numbers. Math lessons in PK and Kindergarten are guided by the Math in Focus curriculum, based on the Singapore math approach. The key goals of this approach are to use hands-on activities to allow students to tackle concepts that are normally delayed until later grades, and emphasize the application of math skills to real-world situations to help children become critical thinkers and problem-solvers.

Preschool mathematical concepts include counting, one-to-one correspondence, matching, recognizing and creating patterns, shapes, counting the calendar days, and ideas about time in their daily lives. Mathematical thinking and language are developed organically with our youngest students throughout daily activities from counting the number of friends in school, organizing toys in categories or by size, talking about yesterday and tomorrow, to matching colors to correctly put markers away.

Prekindergarten mathematical concepts include counting and recognizing numerals on the daily calendar, patterns both linear and growing, flat and solid shapes, counting forward, backward and patterns of counting, sorting, and classification, time to the hour, introduction to addition, and subtraction.

Kindergarten mathematical concepts include measurement standard and non-standard units, length and height, solid and flat shapes, numbers to 100, counting strategies, comparing sets, calendar patterns, counting on and back, place value, patterns, number facts, classifying and sorting, addition and subtraction stories, money, and time.

Students are immersed in a language and print-rich environment from the moment they enter the classroom areas. Teachers are intentional about creating learning spaces that invite children to explore, connect and expand their language and literacy development. Daily schedules, morning messages, carefully chosen children’s literature, time spent in the school Library; all immerse and engage children with rich vocabulary, new ideas, and challenge them to think and grow.

Language and literacy skills are taught in small groups, side by side, and with the whole class. Teachers thoughtfully create games, utilize hands-on materials and incorporate movement and explorations into daily reading, writing, listening, and speaking.

Letter sounds and words are introduced more formally in Prekindergarten and Kindergarten with Heggerty which teachers use to help students develop an understanding of how sounds work in words and Wilson’s Fundations programs. Fundations is designed to support students’ emerging understanding of the alphabetic principles of letter-sound associations and alphabetical order, and the written language skill of manuscript letter formation. The Wilson’s Fundations program is used alongside the Great Minds’ Geodes book collections in Kindergarten. These collections follow the Fundations’ scope and sequence, providing students the opportunity to practice and enhance their phonics skills while also cultivating a deep reading experience and building knowledge in history, science, and the arts.

Thematic studies provide opportunities for children to learn through changing interdisciplinary units that are rich, immersive and help children to make connections in natural ways. Studies often begin with a query. What do you wonder? What do you know? What would you like to learn?

Teachers weave the theme of study into the curriculum using curated children’s literature, movement, art, science, math, music, and writing in ways that are developmentally appropriate for each grade.

Preschool units of study include All About Me, community, seasons, holidays around the world, harvest, hibernation and migration, New Year, New Beginnings, Black History Month, Earth Day, weather, and Down on the Farm.

Prekindergarten units of study include classroom and school community, identity through name study, self portraits, poetry, art and family traditions, Family of the Week, History and Heritage Months, MLK Week of Service, emotions, seasons, holidays around the world, materials explorations through loose parts, and observations and documentation of the natural world.

Kindergarten units of study include All About Me, Classroom Community, harvest, seasons, holidays, family traditions, school community, diversity and traditions, Philadelphia: bridges, water, symbols, and landmarks, thankfulness, hibernation, life cycles, communities around the world, and Change Makers Project.

The Preschool science curriculum falls into two, year-long investigations within the life sciences: the first is The Five Senses. They focus on the senses of sight and sound by listening to a diverse variety of media and engaging in imaginative play. These two senses will be highlighted throughout the year, in both science and in their homeroom, as not just innate actions, but observational skills that are indicative of everyday scientists. The second year-long investigation is Birds, and starts by discussing what it means to be living or nonliving. They learn that birds possess certain characteristics: they have feathers and beaks and lay eggs. We discuss these traits more specifically by studying turkeys. In addition to practicing observational skills, Preschool students begin to learn how to document their findings in science notebooks. They will explore their senses and learn about new birds throughout the school year. They begin their foray into the physical science concept of stability through structural engineering.

Prekindergarten starts the year in science by reviewing the five senses and science tools. They then begin their year-long investigation of trees by learning the names of different tree parts, comparing leaf edges and shapes, and searching for different types of trees outside. Engineering challenges ask them to think about how objects balance and what makes a structure stable. These challenges include building a gate for the Five Little Pumpkins and constructing an apple tree out of loose parts. Students use loose parts to create a cave, den, or hollow place as a home for a woodland animal. Throughout the year, Prekindergarten students will practice engaging in scientific discussions, making observations using all of their senses, and documenting their findings in their science notebooks.

Kindergarten students begin in science with the question “What is a scientist?” to gain a better understanding of the multitude of things that scientists do. They review how scientists use all of their senses and practice using various science tools to make observations. Afterward, they begin the first part of their year-long weather investigation, in which they will be gathering evidence to identify daily and seasonal weather patterns. They make daily observations of the local weather in their homeroom morning meetings, and record their observations on a bar graph in their science notebooks. In science class, they discuss the differences between the seasons and make preliminary predictions for the weather on their birthday. Throughout the year they will continue to gather weather data and will further explore severe weather and how sunlight warms the Earth’s surface. The Kindergarteners also delve into the life sciences by reviewing the characteristics of living things with specific investigations of squirrels and bats. They complete a physical sciences unit in which they are introduced to pushes and pulls and the effect these forces have on the motion of objects.

At St. Peter’s students are exposed to a varied range of mediums. Projects are student-centered in skill, as well as expression and exploration. The program allows for cross-curricular projects that deepen a student’s understanding and view of their world.

Preschool

• Shows appreciation for various forms of visual art

• Shows appreciation for the artwork of peers

• Communicates what s/he sees and how it makes her/his feel

• Communicates about his/her artwork

• Uses and cares for art materials

• Explores different materials, tools, and processes

• Shows increasing awareness of color, line, form, texture, space, and design in his/her artwork or the work of others

Prekindergarten

• Develops imagination and express artistic creativity through free art opportunities

• Develops hand-eye coordination (trace and draw shapes, complete a maze, tear paper, etc).

• Able to draw self-portrait

• Experiences various art materials

• Colors in circles, filling in the white spaces and staying in the lines

• Makes balls, shapes, and cookies with playdough

• Cuts play-dough with cookie cutters

• Paints with a paintbrush

• Identifies basic shapes and colors

• Demonstrates creating a pattern using shapes and/or colors

• Uses the other hand to hold the paper while drawing or writing

• Develops proper grip technique and scissor grip

Kindergarten

• Explores, discovers, and expresses their ideas through art

• Learns techniques in drawing, painting, sculpting, and printmaking

• Uses sketchbooks to illustrate ideas

• Completes projects that reinforce the understanding of primary, secondary, complimentary, and tertiary colors

• Learn to tint colors with white and to differentiate between warm and cool colors

• Develop a familiarity with geometric shapes, free shapes, different lines, textures, and patterns

• Uses finger paints, watercolors and tempera paints to make different strokes, textures, and blended colors

• Creates collages and develops sewing and weaving skills

• Learns about artists from around the world and discusses their artworks

• Continues the exploration of art inspired by that of other cultures

Preschoolers and Prekindergarteners enjoy their introduction to the French language. Each class begins with a warm-up, where we exchange greetings and build vocabulary to ask and answer questions such as “What’s your favorite food?” or “What animal is red?” Students continue to use vocabulary for colors, body parts, numbers to five, animals, and food. We focus on repetition and fun, and also introduce simple songs such as “Salade, Salade” to practice counting, “Il Fait Froid” and later “Frotte, Frotte” to review body parts, then “Chat, Chat, Chat” to review animals and “Frere Jacques” at the end of class.

Kindergarteners develop listening and pronunciation skills to use greetings with ease, and to include colors, numbers to ten, and animal vocabulary. into conversation. They have extended classroom vocabulary, with foods, body parts, and clothing words. The focus continues to be on the repetition of vocabulary through songs, games and skits.

Early Childhood students participate in different dance, aerobics, movement of yoga classes, designed to develop gross motor skills. Physical Education class provides the opportunity to teach students about movement, strategies, cooperation and teamwork, problem solving, and health related wellness. Exposing students to a variety of sports and methods of fitness can teach the whole student an enjoyment for the physical activities as well as build social, psychomotor, and cognitive skills. Classes strive to provide the means for students to become more confident with their abilities, increase their knowledge of health-related fitness, and to remain physically active.