The following is a sample daily routine for our 4 year old and young 5 year old students attending Eastminster Preschool four afternoons out of the week (Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays).
Daily Class Routine
12:15 – 12:30 Outside play/inside play or activity if inclement weather
Children play outside on play structure, using balls, riding toys, sand box, sidewalk chalk, etc.
12:30 – 12:35 Hang-up coats
Hang outerwear in small group room or assigned coat hook area according to small groups
12:35 – 12:55 Bunch time
Gathering song is sung to let children know that it is time for Bunch Time which is a whole group experience, activities are both pre-planned by teachers and open to children’s interests; can include discussion and sharing time, story reading, storytelling, Brain Gym & S’cool Moves, calendar, weather bear, new dramatic play intro, etc.
12:55 – 1:40 Choice Time
Children play freely based on plan they have made; activities include pre-planned art activities, art, sensory area, discovery area, toys & games, puzzles, dress-up, dramatic play, blocks, kitchen, etc.
1:40 – 1:45 Transition/Pick-up toys/Transition
Children are given a 5-minute warning prior to Pick-Up song being sung to children to indicate that it is time for children and teachers to cleaning up the play spaces. Once completed a gathering song is sung to bring children to Bunch Bench area for next activity
1:45 – 1:50 Review
Play time is reviewed by children in an assortment of ways (i.e. describe an activity you did, describe or chart your favorite activity chart, pantomime an activity you liked, use a pointing stick to show where you played, etc.). This may include the whole class or be an activity where children volunteer to share.
1:50 – 2:05 Calendar/Jobs/Me Bag
Calendar activities are followed by the children taking care of certain responsibilities around the classroom. One child daily shows-and-tells about 5 items they have brought in the Me Bag. Extension activities include memory game about what was brought, guessing game about who has the bag next,
2:05 – 2:25 Music/Large Motor/Science
Pre-planned and extemporaneous singing, instruments, movement based on theme & children’s interests. Children participate in games and activities involving the large muscle groups. Science experiments are explored.
2:25 – 2:30 Wash hands
Use hall bathrooms for handwashing with soap and water – singing songs to ensure good washing.
2:30 – 2:45 Snack
Family-style snacks and water/milk provided for children to eat/drink if they choose. Lively table discussion.
2:45 – 3:00 Small Group Time
Pre-planned (based on children’s interests or needs) or extemporaneous (based on children’s suggestions) activities in small groups that remain constant throughout the year. These activities can include games, stories, fine-motor activities, gross motor activities and are planned based in children’s needs, interests, or related to knowledge acquisition surrounding learning topics.
3:00 – 3:15 Outdoor play/inside play or activity (if inclement weather)
Children play outside on play structure, using balls, riding toys, sand box, sidewalk chalk, etc.
Child to Teacher Ratio
The 4 year old classes and Young 5s class have a child to teacher ratio of 8 children to 1 teacher.