3-Year-Olds and 4-Year-Olds

3-Day	3-Year-Olds	Mon/Tues/Wed	9:15 – 11:40	18 children/6 parents per day Parent participates 1 day per week
Pre-K	4-Year-Olds	Mon/Tues/Wed	12:15 – 2:45	18 children/6 parents per day Parent participates 1 day per week

Although the primary focus of the younger classes at our school is education for the parents, the primary focus of the multi-day classes shifts to the children’s curriculum. Rest assured, parents still participate in parent education, but our curriculum emphasis changes in response to our children’s growing developmental needs. The 3-Day and Pre-K curriculum is an exciting integration of curriculum philosophy with six-week themes focusing on the child and the world around him/her.

Overall themes are developed by the educator, and each theme is supported by a different curriculum team comprised of parents from both multi-day classes. The goal with each theme is to have the children experience deeper rather than broader learning, since a narrower focus provides a framework within which children can more easily ask questions to pursue the construction of their own knowledge. Specific concepts related to the theme are explored through art, music, stories, writing, cooking, math, science, dramatic play, block building, woodworking, sand and water play, and outdoor play.

Themes included in the 3-Day and Pre-K classes are designed in a two-year rotational sequence to allow children to have different experiences in Pre-K than they did in 3-Day. These two curriculum tracks are “Year A” and “Year B.” When September is in an even-numbered year, we use “Year A.” When September falls in an odd-numbered year, we use “Year B.”

Outdoor Play in the Multi-Day Classes

Although all of the classes at Woodinville Family Preschool (except for Infants) include outdoor play during each class time – rain or shine! – the outdoor play experience for the multi-day classes is especially enriching.  In addition to the climbing toy, playhouse, sandbox, tricycles, wagons, trucks, scarves and balls that all of the classes are able to use, WFP has an Outdoor Curriculum Specialist on staff who “brings the curriculum theme outdoors” for our preschool-age children.  For example:

• Turning a buoy into a giant wrecking ball to knock down cardboard structures during the Construction unit.
• Building “beaver dens” with large sticks during the Northwest Forest Environment unit.
• Milking a pretend cow during the Nutrition, Food, and Cooking unit.
• Creating a “tide pool” in the sandbox during the Marine Environment unit.

Year A My Community Nutrition, Food, and Cooking Our Bodies Construction The Northwest Forest Environment

Year B My School Fall and Weather Creativity in the Arts Animals The Marine Environment