The Shambhala School Pre Primary is a warm and nurturing environment that serves the developmental needs of three and four year old children. The curriculum is delivered through daily activities, the materials available to children and the classroom environment. All areas of child development are considered important.

Rhythms and Cycles

Rhythms and cycles are a constant part of nature and human life. The classroom routine works in harmony with daily, monthly and seasonal rhythms. Stories, songs and verses and activities enrich the experience of the seasons.
Social development is most important at this age and is nurtured throughout the day. Children are treated with respect and learn to be respectful. We use descriptive, rather than judgmental, language when commenting on a child’s work. We honour children’s ideas and personalities. Children have choices within firm, but friendly boundaries. Boundaries help children feel secure and when they feel safe, they are available for learning.
Children learn to identify feelings. They discover that it is normal and healthy to have negative feelings and begin to learn how to manage them properly. Throughout all the children’s social interactions, they learn that they are an important part of our Pre Primary community and are supported daily in becoming good citizens of the world.

Cognitive Development

Cognitive development is stimulated through many activities. Morning circle is a time when children are encouraged to participate in a rich language experience. This is a time when we put verse into action as well as song. The learning and repetition of verses and songs, along with movement, enhances vocabulary, articulation, memory, visual imaging and sequencing. Every morning, a story is told at the end of circle, offering children a forum to practice listening skills as well.

Circle

Circle is also when French is introduced in verse and song. Children have the opportunity to practice new words and French sounds along with the actions of the verses. This lays the foundation for the elementary French program which is a gesture based approach to language learning.
Opportunities for experiencing math concepts abound each day. Skills such as correspondence counting, shape recognition, spatial awareness and measurement are practiced during activities like unit block building, puzzles, stringing beads, sand and water play and art, to mention to just a few. Science concepts of observation, questioning, experimenting and hypothesizing occur though the observation and manipulation of natural materials.
Physical development is a continuous practice in the Pre Primary classroom. Circle is a wonderful opportunity for children to exercise and strengthen both large and small muscle groups and to develop a sense of rhythm and balance. The materials on our shelves are aesthetically pleasing and attract children to exercise and strengthen their fine motor muscles, through their use.

Outdoor Play

Outdoor play is an essential part of a child’s day. The core of outdoor play is expansive movement, challenging their gross motor skills. Outdoor play allows the children to participate and experience the seasons and all the gifts that they have to offer.
As in creative play, the teacher is an observer and facilitator rather then a playmate, allowing children the opportunity to solve problems and supporting them when they need help.

Indoor Play

Once a week, children participate in an indoor physical education class which includes a variety of gross motor activities. They work with balls and beanbags, learning basic skills and also learn to work cooperatively with a parachute through songs and games. Children exercise their bodies through different kinds of locomotion, dance and yoga to help stimulate and strengthen the physical senses.

Aesthetic Development

Aesthetic development is valued and expressed through the environment and choice of natural materials used in the classroom. Children learn about the world through their senses and these materials offer rich learning opportunities. The learning would not take place without the children's own delight in the substances themselves. It is pleasure that provides the motivation for play.
Our costumes are made of silk and cotton, wooden toys and natural wood stumps are available to the children daily. In housekeeping, foods are felted and soft to the touch or wooden and decorative and we use real china. Wooden blocks, wood stumps and stones provide the basis for architectural marvels.
Once a week, artist quality watercolour paint, paper and brushes are provided for children to explore colour through the process of wet on wet painting. A young child’s interaction with this painting process can allow them to feel the effects and quality of colour within themselves.
It nurtures the soul to be surrounded by things that appeal to the senses.