The Preschool Program builds upon the base that is begun in the Toddler Program. The Practical Life, Sensorial, Arts and Craft and Snack areas are all familiar to the students. The difference between the two classrooms has to do with the scale of the items used (Preschoolers are learning to manipulate smaller items in order to improve their manual dexterity) and the distinctions that the children are now able to grasp (Preschoolers are learning to make finer distinctions between shades of color).
The Preschool classroom has five additional areas: math, language, social studies, science and computer. Regardless of the subject studied, each Montessori experience is concrete so that the children are introduced to concepts that are very real. (This is one block.) When they understand the real, they are then introduced to the abstract. (This says "one" - the numeral.) They are carefully introduced to one concept after another but only as they understand the preceding basics. When their personal development allows, they will begin blending sounds into words, perhaps telling time or maybe counting to 9,999 in their kindergarten year. No one ever forces a child's personal developmental cycle.
Math includes counting, telling time, fractions, addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
Language is a very phonetic introduction to the skills necessary for reading. The children begin with a sensorial, concrete introduction to sounds through objects and sandpaper letters and trays. As their knowledge and neurological maturity are ready, they begin building words, then phrases, etc. Some children are not "auditory" and thus do better with other language approaches. The staff observes and tries various methods until they find one that is most successful for each child. Vocabulary is enhanced and the love for reading is expanded through story reading.
Social studies include geography and cultural studies from maps and landforms to the way people live in various parts of the world.
Science is a continually changing area with biology and physics being introduced through the study of the entire animal kingdom. Plant study includes seeds, flowers, trees, leaves, etc. Sinking/floating, magnetic/non-magnetic, living/non-living and much more is covered.
A wide variety of programs are loaded on the computer from which the children may choose to work. Programs reinforce the concepts covered in each of the four previously outlined areas. Additionally, through the use of the computer mouse, children develop better hand-eye coordination.