Kindergarten
Rhythm - Repetition - Reverence
The Kindergarten builds on the work of the preschool, providing a more structured environment with a strong daily rhythm that supports the children’s calm learning. Daily stories, movement activities, rhymes and finger plays build pre-literacy skills. The repetition of these activities over many days comforts the child and encourages a strong memory and a burgeoning love of language, both great skills for later learning!
The children are encouraged to view the natural world with wonder on their regular bush-walks. They are introduced to the riches of nature in this way and through seasonal festivals, poems, activities and stories about local plants and animals.
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The children awaken to social relationships in Kindergarten. Now they are emerging from the ‘parallel play’ period of very early childhood and want to play with their fellows, it is time to help them relate kindly to others. Many activities of Kindergarten strengthen social skills; the creative play periods, both indoors and out, that include many group cubby building times, the food preparation, the shared meals at the table, moving together in circle activities and more.
Pre-numeracy skills are practiced through sorting, naming, building and arranging the natural materials in the classroom and playground. The children continue to paint, do crafts, cook, bushwalk and play in a strong weekly rhythm.
Activities:
- Creative play both indoors and outdoors
- Aural / oral storytelling from World Fairytales
- Puppet Plays
- Drama – retelling of the stories
- Sorting, folding, ordering and building with natural materials
- Baking and other cooking
- Painting
- Beeswax modeling
- Paper crafts – making moving pictures, cards, folding
- Finger knitting, French knitting and other yarn crafts
- Sewing
- Regular nature walks
Children turn 6 years old during their Kindergarten year. Occasionally Glenaeon has places for ‘Little Kindergarten’ children who attend 3 days/week. These children turn 5 during the Little Kindergarten year then spend a second year in the full Kindergarten program before moving onto Year 1. (Children must have January/February birthdays to be considered for Little Kindergarten.)