Pre-Kindergarten
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Bienvenue au Grand Jardin!
The Grand Jardin children form a vibrant community right in their own classroom! They exhibit strong self-help and social skills, and have become more independent and self-confident. They are inquisitive and eager to explore a wide variety of topics. Whether the children are participating in a science experiment about magnets or writing lowercase letters in their cahier d’écriture, the Grand Jardin children are increasingly developing a passion for learning. It is not unusual to see a child coming into school, asking eagerly, “What are we going to learn today?”
Children are born explorers, ready to discover their world. The Grand Jardin children are no exceptions. To harness their natural desire for discovery, the Grand Jardin thematic units are based on world travel. At the beginning of the school year, the Grand Jardin children receive a Teddy Bear Club passport, which allows them to “visit” a new country each month and get a stamp to remember their travels. Whether they go to China, Canada or Sweden, they have the opportunity to learn about the country’s culture, wildlife, landmarks and specialties, among many other things. Our destinations are generally selected based on the varied family backgrounds of our young travelers, and parents are welcome to come and share their knowledge about their respective countries with the class.
The following is an example of activities and academic concepts introduced to the Grand Jardin children while they were studying Japan.
Academic Activities
Literacy
The children will practice writing the lowercase letters m and n in their cahier d’écriture.
Math
The children will discuss attributes of basic shapes such as: squares, circles, triangles and rectangles, and more complex shapes such as: hexagons, trapezoids, and rhombuses. They will also create patterns and new shapes using pattern blocks.
Social Studies
Let’s travel to Japan! The children will learn about the people, language, culture, and animals of this island nation. They will color the map and make a flag to keep in their journal de voyage (travel journal), and put a stamp in their passports. We will read Konnichiwa! by Tricia Brown.
Science
Balance – The children will explore the concept of balance using various objects.
French
Move as a group in both French and English! In this game, the children will practice the directions en haut (up), en bas (down), à gauche (left), and à droite (right).
The children will also continue to build upon their skills with the word Où? (Where?) as well as with all of the names of the aires de jeu dans la classe (activity areas of the classroom).
Creative and Performing Arts
Art
The children will compare Japanese characters to the English alphabet as they paint the word “friend” in Japanese. Once their calligraphy is dry, they will glue on paper branches and tissue cherry blossoms
Movement
Japanese Dancing – We will dance with our handmade Japanese fans.
Music
The children will learn the Japanese song, “Ichi, ni, san.”
Drama
Sightseeing in Japan – Learn to follow the picture cues spread throughout the classroom to “visit” famous landmarks in Japan. Can you find Mount Fuji?
Practical Life
Who knows how to hold chopsticks? Are you able to pick the toy fish out of the water using the chopsticks?
Cultural Activity
The children will taste Japanese rice and seaweed for goûter!
Social Skills
The children will discuss friendship and what it means to be a friend. What are some ways to make new friends?
Song: “Make New Friends, but Keep the Old.”