Preschool and Transitional Kindergarten
Preschool comprises the critical years in which young hearts and minds are voracious for knowledge and learn to interact as part of a larger, formative community. In our mixed-age classroom community of three, four, and five-year-olds, students explore the skills that serve as the foundation for kindergarten readiness. Our preschool program emphasizes hands-on, experiential learning that nurtures curiosity and fosters a love for discovery. Children engage with the natural world around them, investigating the on-campus pond, tending to the garden, and observing seasonal changes, cultivating a lasting connection with the environment.
Transitional Kindergarten serves as a developing year for students who could benefit from the gift of time to build on established skills learned in preschool in preparation for their kindergarten year. Transitional Kindergarten students construct meaning and expand their skills and knowledge in the classroom community that bridges the play-based model of our preschool and the academic focus of kindergarten.
Curriculum Highlights
Monarch Butterfly Unit
Monarch Butterfly Unit
Students have the opportunity to watch Monarch caterpillars up close in a classroom butterfly cage. Through this intimate observation, the children are able to take their time to carefully watch the entire life cycle (egg, larva/caterpillar, pupa/chrysalis, butterfly) unfold in front of them. In addition to the life stages, students study the migration route these butterflies will take to Mexico upon hatching and learn many Spanish words they can use to discuss this process. In art, students use Monarch patterns to create human-sized butterfly wings that they wear during a whole-school assembly where the older students cheer them along as they "migrate" across the stage.
Building Unit
Building Unit
To better understand the world around them, students study the mechanics and form of different structures. After listening to visiting architects and builders, children collaborate to build their own large-scale cardboard skyline that goes on display for the entire school to visit and enjoy! In addition to their cardboard creations, students also design and construct 3-dimensional “snow” sculptures in art class that are inspired by their winter nature hikes.
Community & Growing
Community & Growing
For many students, Preschool and Transitional Kindergarten serve as the first classroom setting they encounter. Understanding this, much time is spent in our youngest grades actively working to build awareness of one another’s similarities and differences, and students are able to learn and practice age-appropriate conflict resolution strategies. The culmination of these skills is showcased when students develop and perform a play based on the concepts of cooperation, perspective, and the overall concept of building a story.
Emergent Unit of Study
Emergent Unit of Study
Throughout the year, Nashoba Brooks teachers build collaboration and cooperation skills through shared projects and academic pairings among their students. As group interests emerge, several areas of study are identified as potential group learning opportunities and our TK students engage in a group decision-making process to collectively decide their class's unique area of study. Teachers provide supportive material and sources for students to research and imagine the culmination of their shared project. Examples of previous areas of study include bird identification and exploration, and rocks and gems.
Sample focus questions:
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How can we work together and develop as a community?
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How do we count and order objects from everyday life?
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How do I learn to keep a beat and perform rhythms accurately?
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How can we keep ourselves safe while riding a bike?
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How can we use writing to express our ideas?
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How do words sound different in Spanish?
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What are force and motion?
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How can we express our ideas and feelings effectively?
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What happens when you add/subtract water to/from clay?
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How do regions around the world vary? How are they similar and different from our own region?