This is primarily transition time prior to small groups. Units or themes are introduced to one or two classes at a time. The Music specialist visits all classes once a week. Three-day classes receive Spanish instruction. During this time, children may partake in music, finger plays, or motor skill activities.  Circle time is the time when units or themes are introduced.

Story Time

Once a day, a story is shared from a variety of well-chosen children’s literature.  Stories are  presented in a variety of media, including storytelling, books, flannel board stories, children’s literature tapes/cds.

Children work in small groups with the same teacher year round on activities elaborating on the unit introduced in the earlier large group sessions. Children engage in developmental activities that include Health and Safety, Social/Emotional, Physical, Cognitive, and Language Development and the Creative Arts. Children are grouped by age within a six-month range (when possible) for these activities.  Nursery School Classes are for children two years, nine months through three years who will be attending Sunshine for three years. Preschool Classes are for older three year-olds. Pre-Kindergarten Classes are for four- and five-year olds who will be entering Kindergarten the following year.

Art Gallery
Children experience the process of art, not the product.  This art project involved a fun, multi-step process. Each child was given a coffee filter and some markers. The first step was to color the filter any way they chose. Then, the filter was placed onto a white piece of paper. A spray bottle was then given to each child so that the filter could be sprayed with water. The children were able to watch the colors blend together! The result was a neat design on both the filter and the white paper. The children were fascinated by their observation of this color blending process!

A nutritious snack is provided each day. We offer mostly organic snacks, and accommodate individual children’s allergies. We are a NUT-FREE school.

Free Play

This is a non-structured opportunity for child–initiated play. Areas are set up with various developmental learning centers that include blocks, fine and gross motor activities, science and math, literacy and writing, art, sensory, and dramatic play.

Clean-Up Time
During this time, children develop organizational skills, responsibility and learn to follow directions when putting games, toys, and projects away. 

Outdoor Play
Each day, weather permitting, the children have scheduled outdoor play time. Under teacher supervision, they are free to use the climbing gyms, sandboxes, riding toys, slides, and other outdoor materials. It is important to note that we have met or exceeded the fall zone guidelines required by our governing agencies.