Before: Children observe the fertilized eggs in the incubator at our 86th Street location.
Throughout the months of February and March, there have been a variety of themes displayed within our classrooms. Interdisciplinary themes, combined with our play-based learning philosophy, were evident everywhere you went at The International Preschools!
In February, both locations welcomed twelve fertilized eggs in incubators, which produced many fluffy chicks that were born on Valentine’s Day! At 76th Street and 86th Street, the classes visited the chicks throughout the hatching process and celebrated with a “birthday party” to commemorate our feathered friends’ entry into the world.
After: A successful “chick hatch” at 86th Street!
In addition to Valentine’s Day, the Winter Olympics, and Pediatric Dental Health Month (February), our annual literacy units began in the Green and Pre-K Rooms. Our Green Rooms studied a particular author in the weeks leading up to our two-week Spring Break, while the Pre-K Rooms concentrated on a chapter book study of their choosing. The Red Rooms worked on a color unit, focusing on a different color each week.
Blue Week “Show and Share” in the 76th Street Red Room. Children were asked to bring in an object of their choosing in the color of the week to “show” and “share” with the class.
Take a look into our classrooms at the wide range of themes and learning that’s happening at The International Preschools!
Winning an Olympic medal at 76th Street!
The 76th Street children participated in an Olympic ice skating event using paper plates for skates!
The 76th Street children created the Olympic rings using paint and paper towel tubes to create “rings.”
Sitting with our feathered friends!
Green Room students at 86th Street observe a tiny chick.
A “chick exploration center” at 86th Street.
We pet the chicks gently, using only one (or two) fingers.
The Red Room observes the chicks playing and frolicking during our Chick Birthday Party.
Chick Birthday Party at 86th Street
We pet the chicks gently, using only one (or two) fingers.
Ms. Tabbs speaks to a class about the chicks at 86th Street.
Doing the “Chicken Dance” for our chick friends at 76th Street!
We pet the chicks gently, using only one (or two) fingers.
Chick-themed games at 86th Street’s birthday celebration.
Ms. Tabbs and Ms. Jaya face off in an egg-on-a-spoon race during the 86th Street birthday party!
76th Street had a successful chick hatch!
Petting a baby chick at 86th Street.
A “chick exploration center” at 86th Street.
Egg-on-a-spoon race at the 86th Street chick birthday party.
Chick-themed games at 86th Street’s birthday celebration.
Petting a baby chick at 76th Street.
We love the baby chicks!
Dancing and festive fun at the 86th Street chick birthday party!
Welcoming the baby chicks was so exciting!
Decorating chick cut-out cookies at the 76th Street birthday celebration.
Red, pink, white, and purple necklaces were made at the 76th Street Valentine’s Day celebration.
Valentine’s Day-themed play dough center at 86th Street
Making valentines at 86th Street
The Pre-K 2 class at 76th Street explores using a toothbrush in a different way during Pediatric Dental Health Month.
Pre-K 2 students made a mouth using marshmallows for teeth during their Dental Health unit.
It’s Yellow Week in the Red Room at 86th Street!
A blue-themed project during Blue Week at 76th Street!
Color-mixing science unit + color unit = fun!
Red Week coincided with Valentine’s Day in the Red Room at 86th Street!
Working on a blue puzzle during Blue Week at 86th Street!
When we return in April, we will turn our studies to Earth Day, life cycles, and of course, the spring season!
Classes at The International Preschools resume on Tuesday, April 6th, after a two-week spring break. Before the final stretch to summer begins, please enjoy the following snapshots of our IPS students hard at work in our classrooms. Happy Spring!
Red Room Family!
Dancing with our friends…
Experimenting in Pre-K
Art
Multi-step art project
Harold and the Purple Crayon project
Ribbon Dance in honor of Lunar New Year
Art and Sensory Boxes
Circle Time
Spider webs in honor of Eric Carle
Bingo! in Junior Kindergarten
Block building
Art work sample
Whole group activity
Green 2 weather activity
Making Mat Man from our Handwriting Without Tears program
The Red Room at 76th Street creates a paint/collage masterpiece in honor of Orange Week.
While our Green Rooms (3s), Pre-K Rooms (4s), and Junior K (4s/5s) are concentrating on their author and book studies, the Red Rooms (2s) are hard at work learning about colors! The children in the Red Room spend six to seven weeks throughout February and March learning about primary and secondary colors. Each week, a different color (red, yellow, blue, green, orange, and purple) is highlighted, with the seventh week being the “favorite color week” for the children.
Throughout the designated color week, children are invited to dress in clothing of that color. The children participate in a “show and share,” where they are asked to bring in an item from home in the color of the week. Art projects, games, books, and even snacks often highlight the specific color that the class is studying.
Scroll down for some photo examples of the Red Rooms’ color units…
The Red Room at 86th Street explores mixing yellow and blue paint to create the color green during their class’ Green Week.At 76th Street, the Red Room children work on a “friendship finger painting,” where they work in pairs to mix yellow and blue paint, creating the color green, during their Green Week.Red Room children at 86th Street are dressed in the color green for Green Week!It’s “Green Week Show and Share” time at 76th Street in the Red Room!
The Red Room will focus on learning shapes in the coming weeks as well. Cheers to our littlest students for all of their hard work!
Our 45th Street and 86th Street locations are closed this week for spring break, and our 76th Street location will join them next week! In lieu of our usual blog posts, here is a peek into the classrooms at The International Preschools during the months of February and March. More photos to come!
Happy United Nations Day! Our UN Day celebrations have been an annual tradition at The International Preschools since the founding of the school in 1963. The themes of peace, friendship, and acceptance run through the 2s, 3s, Pre-K, and Junior K classes at all three locations during this time of year. Here is a window into some of the classrooms for you to see the fun and various way students are preparing to celebrate this unique tradition.
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.