The International Preschools ends the 2016-2017 school year on Wednesday, June 7th…and what a wonderful year of play-based learning it has been! Here’s a look back on some of the fabulous events of the past school year…
At The International Preschools, play-based learning is used to help students acquire a love of learning. This week, we will take a look at how our youngest students in the Crèche (1.5-2-year olds) and Red Rooms (2-year olds) explore the season of fall via thematic units and play-based learning.
Songs and books are an effective way to explore classroom themes and expose young children to new vocabulary. The classes at 76th Street used real pumpkins to act out the story of the “five little pumpkins.” Here, the children practiced counting with correspondence and provided another visual cue for storytelling. Some fall books that were read in the classrooms were Find a Pumpkin by Tad Hills, Five Little Pumpkins by Iris Von Rynback, Apples and Pumpkins by Anne Rockwell, and Clifford’s First Halloween by Norman Bridwell.
“Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.” – Fred Rogers, educator and Emmy-winning creator of the children’s show, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood
The idea of learning through play is a key principle here at The International Preschools. Our school mission states in part that “through play, we promote the cognitive, emotional, social and physical growth of each child in a nurturing atmosphere.” It is believed that, through this practice, children will learn the necessary social and cognitive skills that they will use throughout their lives. How, you might ask, can these goals be accomplished?
At The International Preschools, a different theme is assigned to every month of the school year. Teachers incorporate this theme into every classroom center, from the sensory table to the discovery center to the songs that are sung and books that are read.
A common unit for the month of September is called “All About Me,” where children learn and share information about themselves and their families with each other. Last year, many classrooms incorporated this unit into the month of September and into all of their classroom centers. Each classroom and age level explored this topic in a variety of ways. Listed below are some highlights from the classrooms across the three locations:
