The content in the S.T.R.E.A.M Blocks provide students with the skills most important for accruing knowledge in the areas of: Science, Technology, Reading and Writing, Engineering, Fine Arts, and Math.
The content in the S.T.R.E.A.M Blocks provide students with the skills most important for accruing knowledge in the areas of: Science, Technology, Reading and Writing, Engineering, Fine Arts, and Math.
This subject focuses on the way children learn and share who they are in the world, their interest, and how and what they like to play with. Students will examine our world through an introduction to learning about the human bodies, the environment, seasons, weather, the Earth, planets, geography, geology, plants and animals. This subject extends to understanding about our families, school and community, the larger world around us, holidays, and historical figures.
Students understand technology as a tool for learning and documentation.
This subject focuses on the basics of a child’s development of personal and interpersonal communication skills; learning actively to read, write, speak and listen in a way that lets us communicate effectively and make sense of the world. Reading involves the introduction of storybook reading and storytelling through read aloud, poems, rhymes, and phonics. Phonics is essential for beginning to read and write, as students will learn to recognize and articulate sounds of letters and words, and the ability to write them. Literature is often used to introduce themes that will be integrated in all of the STREAM Blocks.
Students investigate, innovate, build and use natural and man-made materials to explore age-appropriate science, technology, engineering, and math concepts.
● Art: Students will be introduced to art tools and creative works that will help them acquire a relationship to art, and develop critical thinking skills.
● Music: Students will be exposed to live and recorded music, sing common children’s songs, and hear different genres and styles of music around the globe They will learn about tempo, rhythm, beat, repetition, sequencing, musical note reading, and about different instruments and their sounds.
● Drama and Movement: This subject introduces the beginning skills of performance, speaking, singing, dancing, and choreography. In Movement, students will actively participate in age-appropriate activities that focus on the development of gross motor skills, teamwork, and sportsmanship. Students will learn the importance of being physically active, nutrition, hydration, rest and recovery.
Students are introduced to basic concepts that includes daily calendar skills, recognizing and writing numbers, patterning, shapes, and sorting. Additionally, the students will explore problem-solving skills that include graphing, quantity and counting, money, and measurement.
Students will participate in playful learning as they make choices of what and how to play, have peer interactions, and fun.
Open play for students to participate in playful learning as they make choices of what and how to play, have peer interactions, and fun.
The classroom is divided into STREAM centers which provide children with a structured activity as well as a choice. Students will be able to choose an activity that they want to focus on. The activities focus and review skills introduced in the STREAM Blocks.
Students will be able to sleep and lay down to rest in their own space. Students that do not want to sleep, will be allowed to participate in a quiet and calming activity and/or work on individual skills with the teachers.
The STREAM Block lessons are organized in units with a common theme (plants, animals, community helpers, etc), lasting up to 5 to 15 days. When appropriate, the school organizes a professional visit from a field related to the theme of the unit to demonstrate the materials and concepts the students are currently learning in a new and exciting way to provide further opportunity for a hands-on experience.
At Building Blocks, students take part in a range of play-based activities including structured activities that integrate The STREAM Blocks, Enrichment, and open play. Play and learning are not mutually exclusive. Through play, students learn to develop problem-solving, physical, and social and emotional skills.
The STREAM Blocks of learning have distinct educational goals based on age groups and developmental learning stages. We consider the multi-age structure of our school to be an excellent tool to practice social and communication skills, as well as the opportunity to expose the students to a variety of learning practices- observation, imitation, demonstration, and guidance. The method utilized for instruction depends on the goals and content of the specific part of the lesson unit. In some cases, it is best to organize the instruction in mixed groups to enable learners of all developmental stages. In a mixed group, students’ differentiated knowledge supports daily hands-on experiences. Together, they collaborate and share their discoveries, allowing them to build on each other’s success and exposure of varied learning practices.
The developmental blocks of learning at Building Blocks Preschool are divided into three stages; Emerging, Discovering, and Foundational. The developmental stages represent a strong learning foundation inspired by STREAM learning. STREAM integrates Science, Technology, Reading/Writing, Engineering, Arts, and Math into experiences and discoveries that are inspired by the world around us. The most essential skill is for students to enjoy the acquisition of knowledge and developing a lifelong love for learning.
