Age groups

Sunbears

16 months to 3 years old.  

Every day we do The Morning Circle (9:30-10:00) and introduce themes through storytelling, music, dance, cognitive games, singing, rhymes, sensory activities, experiments, yoga, theatre and puppetry. The themes vary and can be Love Grows, Innovative Technologies, Cultures Around The World, Festival of Light, The Arts, Theatre and Fairytales, Circle of Life and Ocean to name a few. 

After the Circle, the Sunbears have Outdoor Free Play Time (10:00-11:00). The goal is to foster creative imagination, build physical resilience, strengthen physical and mental health and provide the opportunity to earn through observation.

The Afternoon Activities (14:15-15:00) include Language Arts, Cognitive Skills, Visual Arts and Physical Education.

A holistic language approach supports children in their development of communication and literacy for a international, multilingual lifestyle.

Cognitive skills are integrated in daily play and routine through games, puzzles, stories, movement and music. In PS1, focus lies on geometry, construction and logic building.

Focus on the arts expands the mind, body and soul while developing the child as a creative thinker and self initiator.

Physical Development is explored through dance, yoga, outdoor play and regular PE on the weekly schedule. Children explore and learn about their bodies, extending their play naturally into learning.

 

Hummingbirds

3 to 6 years old.

Our Hummingbird program takes fun and holistic approach to children’s learning and development. We provide a loving and supportive framework within which children have the opportunity to develop their knowledge, skills and individual interests.  Our program is guided by six core values: give, love, care, joy, learn and expand.

A day in the life of a Hummingbird:

8:00-9:30: Focused Play

The children are able to move freely around the classroom and engage with others at the different stations that have been set up by the teachers.  These stations are aimed at strengthening fine motor skills, cognitive abilities, teamwork, creativity and imagination. 

9:30-10:00: Circle Time

Each morning we gather as a group for circle time.  Circle time is at the core of our program and the teachers use this opportunity to touch base with the children each morning and explore various aspects of the monthly theme using language, art, drama, storytelling, movement, music, games, or experiments.  We often build upon, and further develop, our circle time activities during our weekly learning programs.  On Fridays we either hold a Joint Circle together with our Sunbear friends and teachers or we hold a special Themed Circle that relates to a specific holiday, school event or an additional theme. 

10:00 – 10:15: Fruit Time

10:15-11:00: Learning Programs

From Monday to Thursday the children spend 45 minutes each morning in their small groups carrying out focused learning activities with one of our teachers.  Our morning learning programs include: Language Arts, Literacy, Yoga and Movement, and Cognition.  You can find detailed information about each learning program under the heading Education on our website.  Fridays are reserved for special events, field trips and/or free play. 

11:00 – 11:20: Story Time

Interactive story time with a teacher where the children have the opportunity to improve their listening and comprehension skills as well as make comments and ask questions about the reading material. 

11:20 – 11:45: Lunch

We eat lunch in small groups where children are encouraged to try a variety of foods and socialize with their friends.

11:45 – 12:00: Quiet Time

Children are given time to rest, relax and digest after eating. We play soothing music and ask children to either lie down quietly on the carpet or read independently.

12:00 – 1:30: Outdoor Play

Outdoor time is a very important for our Hummingbirds and we go outside each and every day to ensure that the children get fresh air and have the opportunity to develop their gross motor skills!  Our outdoor time is largely unstructured, however the teachers often set up obstacle courses, creative stations or introduce fun and interactive games that the children can easily take ownership over and play independently.

1:30 – 1:45: Story Time

Afternoon story time is either used to read from a picture book or to tell/act out stories verbally.  Often the stories they hear at this time inspire the artwork they create in the afternoons during our Art and Storytelling program.     

1:45 – 2:15: Snack

Afternoon snacks keep the children energized and ready to participate in afternoon activities.  We offer a healthy selection of foods that range from bread and butter, to cereal with milk or porridge.

2:15 – 3:00: Afternoon Activities

Each small Hummingbird group has Art and Storytelling at least once per week in the afternoon.  Our art room is a magical place where children have the ability to create their very own masterpieces!  The remaining children are engaged in teacher led activities such as Physical Education, Dance, Theme Work or Arts and Crafts.  Through these activities we focus on developing both fine and gross motor skills.  We encourage social awareness, cooperation, teamwork and empathy as well as creative thinking and problem solving.

3:00 – 4:00: Free Play

During this time children have a chance to unwind from the activities of the day and take time to focus on their own unique interests.  Children are able to pick and choose what activity they would like to do (and with whom) and are given the time to explore, play and learn independently. 

4:00 – 4:20: Child Care and Clean-up

4:30: School Closes