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Your children are continuously "sprouting" physically, emotionally, and cognitively.  Our preschool nurtures these little sprouts by providing what they need; outdoor time and activities that foster curiosity, inquiry, and exploration.  Your children will participate in hands-on investigations of their surroundings, making the environment an exciting and engaging place.  Since each sprout is different, we actively listen to their interests and plan activities accordingly.

Here at Little Sprouts, we believe in family and community.  Please let us know if you would like to be a guest speaker in our classroom, the children enjoy learning about all careers and occupations.  Family members are always welcome, we encourage you to join us if you have the time!  There will also be many opportunities throughout the year to attend family events at our school.  Thank you for making Little Sprouts part of your "family"!

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What do children learn in the Creative Art Center?

Creativity

Independence

Self-esteem

Cause and effect

Imagination

Self-expression

Sensory stimulation

Self-esteem

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What do children learn in the Language & Literacy Center?

Listening skills

Comprehension

Receptive language

Expressive language

Emergent literacy

Phonological awareness

Word patterns

Letter recognition

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What do children learn in the Dramatic Play Center?

Cooperation

Role-playing

Communication

Self-Control

Conflict Resolution

Vocalization

Engagement

Verbal Stimulation

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What do children learn in the Math & Numbers Center?

Matching

Counting

Sorting

Algebraic thinking

Measuring

Mathematical terminology

Mathematical symbols

Geometry

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Featured Activity: Painting with Vehicles!

Materials:

Assorted toy vehicles with various treads

Assorted colored paints

Art paper

Aluminum baking dishes

Newspapers

Brief Description:

1.      Place a layer of newspapers on a large table.

2.      Pour paints into baking dishes (one for each color) and set on table.

3.      Have children place vehicles’ tires in the baking dishes and roll them across their paper.

4.      Children may choose to paint pictures with the vehicles, or may enjoy noticing the various tread patterns.

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What do children learn in the Block Center?

Small motor development

Hand-eye coordination

Oral language

Conflict resolution

Sorting

Problem-solving

Self-control

Self-esteem

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Story Based Center Activity: Matching Airport Staff!

Book: Maisy Goes on a Plane by Lucy Cousins

1. Cut out pictures of various airport staff with corresponding accessories.

2. Print words of all pictures.

3. Laminate all pictures and printed words.

4. Glue laminated pictures with corresponding words onto two-piece jigsaw puzzles (in sets with their accessories).

5. Have children match the airport staff with their accessories.

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Featured Activity: Fill the Dump Truck!

Objective: Children will develop their understanding of numbers 1-10 through a construction matching activity.

Materials: Brown Play-dough and laminated activity cards

Brief Description:

1.      Print and laminate construction activity cards.

2.      Activity cards will include a written number (1-10) that corresponds to the number of pieces of “dirt” in the dump truck.

3.      Have children mold pieces of brown Play-dough and place them in the squares of the activity card.

4.      The number of Playdough pieces should match the number on dump truck.

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Featured Activity: Let's Pack!

Objective:
Children will enhance literary skills by matching clothing to the corresponding word and picture.  They will also develop fine motor skills by folding articles of clothing, gathering toiletries, and packing them into a suitcase.

Brief Description:

1.      Props will be placed in the dramatic play center including luggage, clothing, toiletries, and accessories.

2.      Leave a stack of printed packing slips in the dramatic play center near the luggage.

3.      Have children decide what they would like to pack in their suitcase for a vacation, using the packing slip as a guide.

4.      Children may pack their suitcase with various items, matching the items to the pictures, and adding additional items as desired.

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What do children learn in the Science & Discovery Center?

Scientific method

Observation

Documentation

Compare and contrast

Scientific vocabulary

Curiosity

Environmental consciousness

Sensory enhancement

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Featured Activity: Create Your Own
Map!
Objective:

Children will develop social skills by working together in creating a platform for various vehicles.

Brief Description:

1.      Wrap several blocks of varying sizes in blue paper.

2.      Add a bin of props including boats, cars, signs, etc.

3.      Have children design a city map with streets, grass, and buildings on cardboard.

4.      Have children add the blue water blocks near the city map.

5.      Children can play with various vehicles on land or “water.”

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Featured Activity: The Power of Magnets

Objective:
Children will develop skills of inquiry by exploring magnetic attraction and polarity.

Brief Description:

1. Glue magnets to the bottom of a various toy vehicles.

2. Have the children design a winding road on cardboard, wide enough for the vehicles.

3. Place the cardboard track on a wooden table.

4. Hold a magnet under the table, and “drive” a toy vehicle along the road.

5. Have children take turns driving the vehicles down the winding road.

6. Discuss why the car is moving along with the magnet.

7. Keep all supplies in the science and discovery center for children to use.

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Our classroom includes many brightly colored rugs to capture children's attention and provide a comfortable place to play. The brightest rug is located in the center of the classroom, which is where our circle time and movement activities will take place. The furniture, along with the rugs, helps separate spaces. This creates less distractions, helping children to become deeply engaged in their activities. Each area has plenty of room, satisfying children's need for independence and exploration.

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A loft in the Dramatic Play Center provides many opportunities for role-playing and engagement.  During our Vroom Vroom Vehicles theme, the loft is transformed into an airplane!  Children play in the "airport" downstairs and take the stairs to board the "airplane". Children love to re-create situations in their everyday experiences. Being able to add an extra dimension to this center provides a more exciting and engaging experience for them.

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Beaty, J. (2019, 2014). Preschool appropriate practices: Environment, curriculum, and development. Cengage: Boston: MA.

Childcare. August 15,2019. Retrieved from: https://childcare.extension.org/creative-art-helps-children-develop-across-many-domains/.

Kaplan Early Learning Company (2022). Make Your Dream Classroom a Reality. Retrieved from: https://www.kaplanco.com/resources/floorplanner.asp.

New York State Child Day Care Regulations. October 13, 2021. Retrieved from: https://ocfs.ny.gov/programs/childcare/regulations/418-1-DCC.pdf.

New York State Office for Children and Family Services (June 2020). Group Childcare Regulations 418 http://ocfs.ny.gov/main/childcare/daycare_regs.asp, OCFS: NYS.

Sciencing. April, 2017. Science Transportation Activities for Preschoolers. Retrieved from: https://sciencing.com/simple-machines-for-preschoolers-to-make-12741856.html.

Teaching with Children’s Books. November, 2020. Construction Site Counting Mat: Building Numbers 1-20. Retrieved from: https://teachingwithchildrensbooks.com/construction-site-counting-mat/.