Preschool Explorers Daily Rhythm

Early Morning Routine

 

Arrival (8:30 am - 9:00 am)

Children will start arriving at the center from 8:30 am to 9:00 am. Parents should strive to have their children arrive on time to ensure that they do not miss out on one of the most important parts of our day which is circle time.

 

Circle time (9:00 am - 9:20 am)

During circle time, children will be given the opportunity to sing, share stories and interact with each other. We will discuss a range of topics such as the weather, and the days of the week, months of the year. Circle time is an excellent opportunity for children to settle in and prepare for the busy day ahead. During this time, they are reminded of school rules and are introduced to new classroom materials and topics for the week.

 

Morning Work Cycle (9:20 - 10:15 am)

At the end of circle time, the Morning Work Cycle begins. Children may work individually, in a group setting, or with a teacher. Students will utilize the Montessori-tailored materials for their specific age group to aid with their learning. The classroom in divided into different Curriculum Area, Practical Life, Mathematics, Language Arts, Culture and Science, and Sensorial. Children will be encouraged to work but never forced.

 

Morning Snack time (10:15am - 10:30 am)

 

Morning Work Cycle Continued (10:30 am - 11:30 am)

 

 

Mid Morning Routine

 

 

Outdoor Play (11:30 am - 12:15 am)

Weather permitting; children will have the opportunity for outdoor play that engages them in physical activity. Outdoor play can include water play, science experiments, and children’s games, neighborhood walks, structured physical challenged (obstacle courses, cricket, football).  Each child will have sunscreen applied to protect them from the sun. In the event of rain or extreme heat, children will instead play indoors.

 

Lunch Time (12:15 am to 12:40 pm)

In preparation for lunch, hands are washed before the children sit for their meal. Water is available for each child throughout the day. During snack and lunch time, the children all drink from cups and are encouraged to pour their own water from child sized water jugs. Lunchtime at Little Valley Preschool is an excellent time for the students to socialize and bond over nutritious meals. They are encouraged to practice their table manners such as how to ask for more food, how to decline an offer, how to sit up at the table, how to properly use their eating utensils. We strongly encourage that parents support our efforts by highlighting and encouraging these practices during family meal times.

 

Clean-up

Each child will assist in their own way with clean-up time. Children will be reminded to wash their hands after their meal and to get ready for quiet time.

 

Nap time/ Quiet play (12:40 pm to 1:40 pm)

Children will be given a short rest period. They will have the opportunity to sleep or simply lie down and rest. Children will not be forced to sleep. There will be various quiet activities such as reading, puzzles, and toys available for quiet play if a child does not sleep. When the children get up from nap time, they are encouraged to rehydrate and stretch in preparation for the afternoon activities.

 

Mid Afternoon Routine

 

Afternoon Work Cycle (1:40 pm – 2:20 pm)

 

Group Activity (2:20 pm – 3:20 pm)

Group activity time is a time for the group to come together and focus on a specific task. Activities can include arts and crafts, Culture and Science Lessons, Music and Movement, Reading. Children will be given materials to work on their creations that can be displayed on the classroom walls or taken home. Children will assist in cleaning up the workspace and preparing for the late afternoon routine.

 

Late Afternoon Routine

 

Afternoon snack/ Free play/Departure (3:20 pm to 5:00 pm)

During the late afternoon routine, children will be offered a snack. Children will then have the opportunity for free play in which they will get to choose from a variety of different activities (puzzles, block play, Legos, playdoh, cards, dominos, etc..). This may either take place indoors or outdoors.