Tour

Take the Virtual Tour (2 min, requires free RealPlayer)

First meet our teachers:

Miss Dawn , Miss Bev , and Miss Tracy

A typical day at North Salem Preschool:

The day starts with Free Play:

Children are encouraged to pursue their interests. Social interactions occur while children play and share. A variety of centers are available. The centers include:
blocks , books ,
computer , writing, art ,
dramatic play
 and math. (30-45 minutes)

After Free Play, our students gather for Circle:

Our group time is an opportunity for children to listen and participate in a supportive group environment. Students hear stories. They learn letters, sounds and numbers with the use of flash cards. Pre-reading skills are promoted as children follow along "reading" printed poetry or songs on sentence strips. Students share their Show and Tell item, give a weather word or follow a bean bag song. Each child is given a job for the day.  (15-30 minutes)

Children get exercise during Outdoor Play:

Gross motor skills are enhanced as children run, jump and play. The equipment includes: swings , slides, climbing apparatus, a sandbox and 6" and 20" parachutes. (30 minutes)

All that exercise makes kids hungry, so next we have Snack Time:

The healthy approach is best. Children always wash their hands after using a tissue or using the bathroom and before eating Snack. Teachers also practice proper hand-washing techniques. Nutritious foods such as fruit, vegetables and crackers are served. Milk, juice and water are also available to children. Occasionally, snack is made by the students in class. (30 minutes)

After Snack, we have Lesson Time:

Here are some examples of typical lessons:
Math: "Feed the monster". A bag with a silly monster face is the prop. Cards tell the quantity of items to feed the open monster mouth. Children count together as one student "feeds" the monster.
Science: "Discover apple seeds". Students wash apples. The teacher removes the core. Students dissect the core in search of apple seeds. Seeds are glued to an apple shape. Later, the class makes a graph of the number of seeds found in each child's apple. Most apples have 10 seeds.
Social Studies: "Hawaiian lei-making". We discuss the Hawaiian tradition of making flower leis. Children cut colorful flower shapes from paper. They string leis, putting straw pieces in between flowers. Children will be shown photos of children wearing leis made from real flowers.
Language Arts: "Basic printing". Children use pencils with grips to practice printing letters. Letters can also be formed from play dough or written in finger paint.
Art: "Making play dough". Students measure and mix ingredients to form dough. They will create something out of dough. When their creation dries they will paint them and add sequins, glitter, etc…
Cooking: "Making pudding". Children will make several flavors of pudding. They will work together measuring and mixing the ingredients. Everyone will taste the pudding and discuss their favorite flavor.
Music: "Creating an instrument". Students make shakers using small plastic bags of rice which are placed inside 2 paper plates. The teacher staples the plates together after the students have designed them. (15-30 minutes)

Children work together on cleaning up the classroom materials at the end of the day. They find their jackets and anything they've made to bring home.

North Salem Preschool goes on several field trips every year.