Sparkplugs (4-5 year olds)

The Sparkplug class (4-5 yrs old) meets Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings from 9:00 to 12:00. The Sparkplugs begin their morning placing a sticker on an attendance chart, then choose how they spend their first 30 minutes from table activities that focus on their small motor skills, science table activities, easel painting, playdoh or playing with games, puzzles, legos, building sets, etc. from the toy shelf.

After cleaning up, they sit on the carpet for circle time. During circle, 8 helpers for the day are chosen, morning songs are sung, and they participate in an activity related to our weekly theme. Name, letter and number recognition, counting, sharing thoughts, ideas, taking turns, and listening to others are just a few areas that we work on during this time.

The "helpers" then put out name placemats, napkins, cups and a snack that has been provided by parents in preparation for their healthy snack. After snack time, the children have free play choices that include time to play in the large muscle room, housekeeping area, quiet book area, toy shelf, art cart, discovery tables (water and rice) and an art activity is also offered. The Sparkplugs are a very social group and enjoy this time to play with friends, choose their favorite activities, pretend, dress up and be creative.

After free choice time, the class comes together again for a short story time. The morning is conclude by spending time outside running, swinging, riding bikes, digging in the sandbox, shooting hoops or climbing on the geodome. If the weather does not cooperate, the class uses their large muscles in a different way with the parachute, bean bag songs or other fun games using their bodies.

The Sparkplugs also go on a field trip each month and enjoy other special days such as funny feet day, funny hat day, pajama day, and holiday parties. Academics are always part of their day, but are presented in such fun, non-threatening ways the children don't even realize they are learning.

Lenore Ward teaches the Sparkplug class. Click here to learn about our teachers.

Enrichment

The Sparkplug class offers an optional Enrichment program that begins in January. The class is held for 17 Wednesdays from 12-2:00 pm. This program is not an extension of the morning session. It is a separate program with its own theme. The Enrichment class is more structured than the morning program and includes such activities as cooking, science experiments, journal writing, creative dramatics, math skills, predicting outcomes, and introduction to some letters. Children eat lunch (brought from home), participate in 3 activity "stations" and begin and end the session with a group activity. There is an additional cost to attend (see Tuition & Fees) and children need to be mature enough to handle the additional 2 hour program.