Fall is a busy season here at The International Preschools. We celebrate the seasonal changes that occur in the fall (i.e. apples, pumpkins, leaves, acorns) as well as the holidays that occur: United Nations Day, Halloween, Diwali, and Thanksgiving.
United Nations Day (October 24th) is a special day for the IPS community. Much of the month of October is spent highlighting and appreciating the multiculturalism that sets IPS apart from other schools. The children and teachers spend time observing what is the same and different about each other.
Preparing for our United Nations Day celebration with families via Zoom in the Pre-K 2 class at 76th Street.
After United Nations Day, our school quickly jumps into Halloween mode, with festivities at both locations. On November 2nd, IPS then celebrated the Hindu holiday of Diwali with Zoom presentations from the Ajna Dance Company, as well as “culture shares” initiated by families who observe the holiday. Rounding out the month of November is the American holiday of Thanksgiving, which is commemorated at IPS with classroom “feasts” as a way of coming together to share a meal with friends.
Please enjoy some highlights from the last month, which includes photos from our classroom learning about United Nations Day, Halloween, Diwali, and the fall season!
Happy Halloween from Pre-K 2!
Picking pumpkins in the Red Room!
We are different, yet we are the same! Multicultural floor puzzle completion.Represen
Representing our families’ heritages and traditions on United Nations Day.
Happy Halloween from Pre-K 3!
Red Room United Nations Day Sing-Along
Bringing nature into the classroom via acorns and leaves.
Halloween in the Pre-K Room at 86th Street.
Creating a whole-group “world collage.”
Sampling the “Pancakes From Around The World” snack in the Red Room at 76th Street!
Happy Halloween from the 76th Street Green Room!
Painting a self-portrait in the Green Room at 86th Street.
Happy Halloween from Green 1 at 86th Street!
Group painting using corn as a roller.
Red Room celebrates United Nations Day!
Painting with pinecones at 86th Street.
Halloween parade at 86th Street.
Exploring with mini-pumpkins.
Happy Halloween from Green 3!
“Around the World” floor puzzle in the Pre-K 3 classroom.
Exploring pumpkin seeds at 86th Street
Multicultural floor puzzle with Pre-K 2.
Examining the insides of a pumpkin.
Shaving cream + mini pumpkin = fun in the Red Room!
Representational drawings, using our flags as inspiration.
Happy Halloween from 86 Pre-K!
Halloween 2021 at 76th Street with the Red Room
All About Me bulletin board at 76th Street
Halloween Bingo at 86th Street.
Painting mini pumpkins at 86th Street!
Using a magnifying glass to discover what’s inside of a pumpkin at 86th Street.
Discovery Center filled with pumpkins and gourds at 86th Street
Learning about pumpkins (and what’s inside) at 86th Street
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Exploring our “flags” (the countries that we are from) is an important activity during our “All About Me” unit.
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:
The International Preschools Blog is an opportunity to journey into the school's classrooms. Here you will find information about play-based education, diversity, classroom themes; all the things that make learning joyful and fun at one of the best preschools in New York City.