PreKindergarten and Junior Kindergarten

students huddled around in circle on sidewalk looking at bug

It All Starts With Nature

Maumee Valley’s PreKindergarten and Junior Kindergarten students spend a portion of their day outside exploring our campus. All PreKindergarten and Junior Kindergarten teachers are certified outdoor educators. As a result, they are skilled at taking curriculum outdoors through all four seasons and encouraging, engaging, and inspiring children through positive outdoor experiences. Outdoor education allows students the time and space to develop their interests, skills, and understandings through practical hands-on experiences.

PK/JK LEARNING IN ACTION

PreKindergarten and Junior Kindergarten students use loose parts and natural materials found on the campus grounds for building, counting, forming letters, and other academic activities that align with curriculum goals. They are able to use their bodies in different sensory experiences and improve their gross motor skills while climbing trees, rolling down hills, and balancing on logs.

At this age, students are emergent writers and expressing themselves through nature drawings and journaling. Fine-motor activities such as weaving vines, picking up bugs with utensils, and creating art in the mud all strengthen their hands and improve their pencil grip. They connect to nature by observing plants and animals during their free exploration time and in different mindfulness practices.

2 students with eggs

FEATURES OF OUR PK/JK PROGRAM

Multi-aged classrooms using co-teaching models focused on young learners
Small group instruction
14:2 students-to-adults ratio
Two classrooms each with a full-time teacher and a full-time teaching assistant
Forest School-inspired program
Indoor and outdoor learning environments
Two snacks each day (one provided and one from home)Hot and cold lunch menu selections
Part-time and full-time enrollment options
Access to learning experiences (art, music, physical education, Spanish, and library)