Play Based Preschool Curriculum in Walnut Creek

Our preschool curriculum in Walnut Creek is designed to support the whole child through play, exploration and age appropriate learning experiences. Children build skills in language and literacy, math, science, social development, physical development, music, art and creativity while developing confidence, independence and a lifelong love of learning.

Play Based Preschool Curriculum in Walnut Creek

Physical Development
- Develop large muscle skills through exercise, creative movement, and balancing, running, jumping.
- Develop fine motor skills through use of scissors, crayons, puzzles, and beads.
Emotional Development
- Develop self-control and comfort away from a parent.
- Manage transitions and begin to adapt to changes in routine.
- Engage in cooperative group play.
- Share materials and experiences and take turns.
- Develop relationships with other students and adults.
- Show initiative and independence in actions.
- Exhibit eagerness and curiosity as learners.
- Develop problem-solving skills.
- Develop listening skills and learn to follow basic instructions
Science
- Appreciate science through hands-on activities.
- Make observations and draw conclusions.
- Investigate living things in the environment.
- Use scientific tools such as thermometers, balance scales, and magnifying glasses for investigation.
- Use common weather-related vocabulary.
- Understand basic safety practices.
- Begin to be aware of technology and how it affects their lives.
- Be aware of health & nutrition through healthy-eating and proper hand washing routines.
Art
Exploratory, sensory art activities help the child experience a variety of media. Collages and creating mobiles are offered. Paints, chalk, pencils, paper, markers, glue, paste, and play dough are all available in a “free choice” activity center for the children to use as they wish.
- Explore creativity and various art forms.
- Expand their fine motor skills through use of scissors, crayons, and glue.
Music
Exposure to and involvement with simple rhythm instruments and autoharps along with tone, volume and pitch awareness are part of our music curriculum. Rhythms are also “practiced” by the learning of songs and fingerplays. Guest musicians visit the children to give exposure to a variety of sound and diverse musical styles.
Math
- Sort and classify.
- Recognize patterns.
- Identify shapes and colors.
- Recognize numbers, count objects, understand one-to-one correspondence.
- Incorporate estimating and measuring activities into play.
- Represent data using concrete objects, pictures, and graphs.
Social Studies
- Identify community workers and the services they provide.
- Cooperate and work well with others.
- Recognize similarities and differences in people.
- Accept a variety of cultural practices and celebrations.
- Recognize the reason for rules.
- Begin to understand the use of trade to obtain goods and services.
Language & Literacy
- Recognize their names.
- Recognize letters.
- Communicate needs and thoughts in words
- Listen with understanding and respond to directions and conversations.
- Understand the purpose of print and become familiar with books.
- Dictate stories and experiences.

Physical Development
- Develop large muscle skills through exercise, creative movement, and balancing, running, jumping.
- Develop fine motor skills through use of scissors, crayons, puzzles, and beads.
Emotional Development
- Develop self-control and comfort away from a parent.
- Manage transitions and begin to adapt to changes in routine.
- Engage in cooperative group play.
- Share materials and experiences and take turns.
- Develop relationships with other students and adults.
- Show initiative and independence in actions.
- Exhibit eagerness and curiosity as learners.
- Develop problem-solving skills.
- Develop listening skills and learn to follow basic instructions
Science
- Appreciate science through hands-on activities.
- Make observations and draw conclusions.
- Investigate living things in the environment.
- Use scientific tools such as thermometers, balance scales, and magnifying glasses for investigation.
- Use common weather-related vocabulary.
- Understand basic safety practices.
- Begin to be aware of technology and how it affects their lives.
- Be aware of health & nutrition through healthy-eating and proper hand washing routines.
Art
Exploratory, sensory art activities help the child experience a variety of media. Collages and creating mobiles are offered. Paints, chalk, pencils, paper, markers, glue, paste, and play dough are all available in a “free choice” activity center for the children to use as they wish.
- Explore creativity and various art forms.
- Expand their fine motor skills through use of scissors, crayons, and glue.
Music
Exposure to and involvement with simple rhythm instruments and autoharps along with tone, volume and pitch awareness are part of our music curriculum. Rhythms are also “practiced” by the learning of songs and fingerplays. Guest musicians visit the children to give exposure to a variety of sound and diverse musical styles.
Math
- Sort and classify.
- Recognize patterns.
- Identify shapes and colors.
- Recognize numbers, count objects, understand one-to-one correspondence.
- Incorporate estimating and measuring activities into play.
- Represent data using concrete objects, pictures, and graphs.
Social Studies
- Identify community workers and the services they provide.
- Cooperate and work well with others.
- Recognize similarities and differences in people.
- Accept a variety of cultural practices and celebrations.
- Recognize the reason for rules.
- Begin to understand the use of trade to obtain goods and services.
Language & Literacy
- Recognize their names.
- Recognize letters.
- Communicate needs and thoughts in words
- Listen with understanding and respond to directions and conversations.
- Understand the purpose of print and become familiar with books.
- Dictate stories and experiences.

OUR APPROACH & GOALS

Academy provides a carefully planned, play-oriented curriculum. What looks like play to the observer and feels like play to the child, is really a carefully planned program, developed to build self-confidence, expand understanding, teach responsibility, and increase motor skills. Thinking and reasoning helps a child to develop his/her brains and creates a crucial basis for his/her future ability to learn.

Our curriculum combines the best of American and European logical and thinking developmental programs. Our approach works universally well for any child because it is targeted to the child’s individual ability and background. A typical daily classroom routine includes a mix of direct instruction and opportunities for children to choose their own activities. Children will work individually, in small groups, and as a part of a large group.

Our goals are:

To help our children love the process of learning.
To teach children reasoning, thinking, and logical skills in early childhood.
To introduce children to the wonderful world of learning in a playful and fun way.
To develop in small children spatial imagination and creativity.
To create a good foundation of competence and confidence upon which all later learning will be built.