Flags, Families, and Ourselves: October Curriculum at IPS

Learning about ourselves, families, and flags is an ongoing unit throughout the school year. At The International Preschools, the children familiarize themselves with the flags that represent their families in the fall. The children will play flag matching games, recreate flags at the art table, and explore flags from around the world at the discovery center. In many classrooms, each child’s family flags are present on his/her snack time placemat. Our play-based learning philosophy and thematic units allow for even the youngest children in our school to grasp this concept in honor of United Nations Day, and for use throughout the school year.

In addition to our study of flags, common themes for the month of October include “All About Me” and “We Are Different, But We Are The Same.” For both of these topics, children notice and identify characteristics that make them unique, while acknowledging that though we may have different colored hair, skin, or eyes, we are still the same on the inside. We all have families. We all eat food and drink water. We all have feelings.

The celebration of United Nations Day, in conjunction with these units of study, help kick off our yearlong “Culture Share” theme. Here, families are invited to “visit” school (in person during previous years; virtually this year) to share a family tradition, holiday, or cultural aspect (music, dance, books, activities).
Be sure to return to the IPS blog next week, where we will post photos from our United Nations Day celebrations!
IPS has an amazing virtual admissions process so that you can really get a feel for our school. For more information, click here: https://www.ipsnyc.org/admissions-process/