Preschool & Kindergarten Prep

We share the love of Christ while providing a nurturing environment.

Preschool: 3 Year Old

Discovery and exploration are key as they embrace being a three year old. Using themes, children engage in many different experiences as they learn about the world that God created around them. Using a variety of activities, children will explore math, literacy, science, creative representation, music, and social skills.

A gym and an outdoor playground are incorporated into lesson plans as well. Parent involvement is encouraged through volunteering for classroom helpers, field trip chaperones, and parties.

3 Year Old Curriculum

RELIGION

God is our friend. He loves us. We can respond to God’s love by praying and showing God’s love to each other. We will listen to stories from the Bible and sing songs in praise to God. Students will also take part in group and echo prayers.

Our Religion materials are from Concordia Publishing House One in Christ. Preschoolers daily participate in Jesus time or chapel.

SCIENCE

The children are encouraged to develop their sense of wonder and to make observations and predictions while exploring different materials to discover God’s world around them.

MATH

Children are naturally curious and have a built-in desire to learn first-hand about the world around them. They want to make sense out of things and find out how things work. Math concepts are taught throughout the themes that we teach as well as using practical application through our everyday activities. Math concepts, such as patterning, graphing, calendar, sorting, and counting are introduced.

LANGUAGE ARTS

Children are exposed to a variety of literature including nursery rhymes and poetry. Writing materials are available to develop pre-writing skills and stories are dictated and shared with the class. Listening and speaking skills are developed through the use of stories, poetry, reading their own stories to the classroom, group discussion, following oral directions, and taking turns at circle time. Language development is encouraged in all play areas and on an individual basis.

ART AND CREATIVITY

Preschoolers have opportunities to create with a variety of art medium. Children are encouraged to create their own unique works of art and have access to the Art Table supplied with art materials. The focus is on the process rather than the product.

Music covered in the classroom includes Christian based and theme based songs, rhythm instruments, shared movement, and music enjoyment.

LARGE AND FINE MOTOR DEVELOPMENT

Large motor skills are developed with classroom games and movement activities, recess, and gym activities including running, hopping, galloping, marching, dancing, balancing, ball skills, parachute, bean bag activities, scooters, and group games.

Fine motor activities include lacing, stringing (beads, buttons, etc.), drawing, painting, working with play dough, using sensory tables, completing puzzles, using puppets, and constructing with blocks, legos, and other manipulatives.

SOCIAL GROWTH

Children are encouraged to develop their social skills, share, and communicate their feelings and wants. They are encouraged to begin to develop empathy. Self-help skills such as dressing and cleaning up after oneself are also stressed. The three-year old students are paired up with a buddy from an older grade and will create a special friendship with them.

Field Trips:

Pumpkin Patch
Laux Farm
McDonalds
Frog Pond
Wilderness Zoo

Preschool: 4 Year Old

Four year old preschool can be the first experience into school for many children. We strive to make these first steps positive, Christ-filled, safe, and fun! At St. Lorenz Lutheran Preschool, we will strive to share the love of Christ in all we do.

4 Year Old Curriculum

RELIGION

Our Religion materials are from Concordia Publishing House One in Christ. Preschoolers daily participate in Jesus Time or Chapel.

Listen to stories from the Bible

Sing songs in praise to God
Take part in group & echo prayers
Come to know Jesus as their friend who died and rose for them
Know God the Father as their Creator who always loves them
Taught to show God’s love to others throughout the day

SCIENCE

The preschool children will use their senses to discover God’s world around them.

Hands-on activities exploring scientific concepts
Experiencing the life cycles of monarch butterflies and frogs
Observing insect life
Learning about weather
Growing their own plants
Exploring science tools such as magnets, droppers, and magnifying glasses
Being able to experience animals in the classroom
Learning about nutrition, exercise, and dental health
Experiencing a week-long hands-on Outdoor Education at our St. Lorenz Churchgrove

MATH

Shape recognition
Lining up
Patterning activities
Sorting, matching
Teacher dictated story
Fingerplays and rhymes using manipulatives
Numeral recognition

LANGUAGE ARTS

Preschoolers are provided with experiences with oral and written language. Using the Handwriting Without Tears curriculum, children will learn a new letter each week, learn its sound and identify words that start with each letter. Children will also be able to write the letters of the alphabet and be able to recognize them.

Engage in conversations about real life experiences and current events.
Learning opportunities are provided for children to enhance their ability to listen.
Children are given opportunities to speak to the whole class (leader, show & tell).
Countless exposure to the written language, where children are read to on a daily basis, thereby learning to appreciate good literature. Books are available throughout the classroom.
Children will participate in emergent literacy activities including fingerplays, rhymes, and songs.
Preschoolers will begin to recognize words that have meaning to them.
Pen, paper, and blank books and other art material are available for opportunities for various pre-writing and pre-reading experiences.
Children will illustrate stories that they have written or dictated to the teacher.

ART AND CREATIVITY

Preschoolers have opportunities to create with a variety of art medium experience with mixing colors.
Use a variety of children’s instruments.
Experience with mixing colors.
Use a variety of children’s instruments.
Access to the art table to make their own creations.
Children are encouraged to create their own unique works of art.
The focus of art is on the process rather than the product.

SOCIAL STUDIES

The preschool classroom environment encourages each child to have a healthy sense of self and a positive self-esteem. The social skills of children are fostered through daily activities.

Children are coached into self- regulating their emotions and behaviors.
Children are taught how to effectively communicate with others.
Preschoolers are paired up with a buddy from an older grade and share a special friendship together.
Through educational themes the children learn about themselves, their friends, their families, our country, our Christian school, holidays, and people in other countries.

LARGE AND SMALL MOTOR DEVELOPMENT

Children daily take part in activities that promote large and small motor development.

Large motor activities include running, jumping, throwing, catching, walking, hopping, galloping, marching, and balancing.
Children participate with parachutes, scooters, balls, beanbags, and other equipment.
Fine motor activities include lacing, stringing (beads, buttons, etc.), drawing, painting, working with play dough, completing puzzles, using puppets, and constructing with blocks, legos, and other manipulatives.
Children learn to correctly use pencils, scissors, brushes, crayons, play dough utensils, and markers.

FIELD TRIPS:

Pumpkin Patch
Fire Truck Visit
Star of the West
DaVinci’s Restaurant
Frog Pond
Jellystone Park

Kindergarten Prep

Students in kindergarten prep receive a Christ-centered education. With an emphasis on academic and spiritual development, the kindergarten prep program is designed to support young students who may not be age-eligible, socially ready, or academically ready for a traditional kindergarten program. Another year in kindergarten prep allows students to enter kindergarten in a position of strength. Together with the family, we prepare our students for success in the classroom and beyond by encouraging a deep understanding of God’s great love for them.

Kindergarten Prep Curriculum

RELIGION
Our Religion materials are from Concordia Publishing House One in Christ. Students will daily participate in Jesus Time or Chapel.

Listen to stories from the Bible
Sing songs in praise to God
Take part in group & echo prayers
Come to know Jesus as their friend who died and rose for them
Know God the Father as their Creator who always loves them
Be able to express their love for Jesus
Taught to show God’s love to others throughout the day

SCIENCE
The children will use their senses to discover God’s world around them.

Hands on activities exploring scientific concepts
Explore science tools: magnets, prisms, magnifying glasses
Observe insect life
Investigate animals, the homes they live in, and the foods they eat
Experiencing the life cycles of butterflies and frogs
Learning about weather
Growing their own plants
Learn about nutrition, exercise, and dental health
A week of hands-on Outdoor Education at our St. Lorenz Churchgrove

MATH
Children are naturally curious and have a built-in desire to learn first-hand about the world around them. They want to make sense out of things and find out how things work. Math concepts are taught throughout the themes that we teach as well as using practical application through our everyday activities.

Shape recognition
Lining up
Be able to identify patterns
Sorting, matching through various attributes
Directional words teacher dictated story
Fingerplays and rhymes using manipulatives
Numeral recognition
Calendar, months, days, special days

LANGUAGE ARTS
Kindergarten Prep students are provided with experiences with oral and written language. Using the Handwriting Without Tears curriculum, children will learn a new letter each week and learn its sound and identify words that start with each letter. Children will also be able to write the letters of the alphabet and be able to recognize them.

Engage in conversations about real experiences and current events.
Learning opportunities are provided for children to enhance their ability to listen.
Children are given opportunities to speak to the whole class (leader, letter box).
Countless exposure to the written language, where children are read to on a daily basis, thereby learning to appreciate good literature. Books are available throughout the classroom.
Children will participate in emergent literacy activities including fingerplays, rhymes, and songs.
Students will begin to recognize words that have meaning to them.
Pen, paper, and blank books, and other art materials are available for opportunities for various pre-writing and pre-reading experiences.
A variety of writing and other art materials are available for opportunities of various pre-writing and pre-reading experiences.

ART AND CREATIVITY

The children will have opportunities to create with a variety of art medium.
Experience with mixing colors.
Use a variety of children’s instruments.
Access to an art table to make their own creations.
Children are encouraged to create their own unique works of art.
The focus of art is on the process rather than the product.

SOCIAL STUDIES

The Kindergarten Prep classroom environment encourages each child to have a healthy sense of self and a positive self-esteem. The social skills of children are fostered through daily activities.

Children are coached into self-regulating their emotions and behaviors.
Children are taught how to effectively communicate with others.
Children practice problem solving skills in social situations.
Children are paired up with a buddy from an older grade and share a special friendship together.
Through educational themes the children learn about themselves, their friends, their families, our country, our Christian school, holidays, and people in other countries.

LARGE AND SMALL MOTOR DEVELOPMENT
Children daily take part in activities that promote large and small motor development.

Large motor activities include running, jumping, throwing, catching, walking, hopping, galloping, marching, and balancing.
Children participate with parachutes, scooters, balls, beanbags, and other equipment.
Fine motor activities include sensory tables, lacing, stringing (beads, buttons, etc.), drawing, painting, working with play dough, completing puzzles, using puppets, and constructing with blocks, legos, and other manipulatives.
Children learn to correctly use pencils, scissors, brushes, crayons, play dough utensils, and markers.