Red Rose Garden & Star Garden – 4 to 6 years old
Tucson Waldorf School’s kindergartens provide a rhythmical schedule and sensory rich environment for children ages four to six where they can explore and engage in their expanding world. Teachers provide opportunities for learning through a variety of creative, hands-on experiences that emphasize the process rather than the product. Through imaginative play and healthy movement the child develops social graces and physical competency that creates a solid foundation for future academic work in the grade school.
We provide the essential foundation for academic learning:
- Healthy physical development through play and movement opportunities that emphasize development and consolidation of motor skills and the integration of the physical senses (balance, movement, touch).
- An enriched language experience through daily immersion in story, song and verse that supports the development of comprehension and visual imaging necessary for reading and abstract thought.
- The development of imaginative capacities through play with open ended, natural materials enabling a child the freedom to transform his or her surroundings as an individual and in collaboration with others. Play is the foundation for creative and flexible thinking, and encourages cooperation and social engagement.
Benefits of a mixed-age kindergarten for older children:
- Children usually attend our kindergarten program for two years. The mixed age group enables a child to experience a more complex social dynamic.
- For the older child, a mixed-age Kindergarten provides particular challenges for the older child in taking more responsibility and developing leadership capacities by setting the example for younger peers in a familiar setting.
- The relationship between the teacher, child and the child’s parents deepens during two years of working together, enabling better support for each child’s unique developmental path. Teacher-led activities challenge each individual’s developing capacities and physical skills.
- Younger children are often inspired by the older children’s expertise and the older child has the opportunity to encourage and support younger peers while continuing to consolidate necessary skills for grade school.
- The rising first grade children from both kindergartens have the opportunity to work together on special projects, strengthening fine motor skills while supporting the development of relationships between the classes in anticipation of forming the next first grade class at Tucson Waldorf School.
- A comprehensive developmental assessment is undertaken for each child in the spring of their final year of kindergarten.
- 8:30–9:50 Outside activities including: child directed play and seasonal gardening, walks, wood work, jump rope, games and more
- 9:50–10:00 Transition to classroom
- 10:00–10:20 Circle: a seasonally based teacher led activity including: rhythmic movement, singing, circle games, fine and gross motor challenges
- 10:20–10:50 Snack: whole organic grains always served with fruits or vegetables
- 10:50–12:00 Inside activities: child-directed play, teacher-led activities including crafts, painting, drawing, modeling and baking
- 12:00–12:10 Clean up
- 12:10–12:30 Story telling by teacher
- 12:30 Dismissal
Extended Care Rhythm
- 7:30–8:30 Early morning care provided
- 12:30 Lunch (provided from home)
- 1:00–2:00 Rest
- 2:00–3:00 Outside play
- 3:00–5:30 Snack and play
- 3:00 to 5:30 Pick-up time