A Day in the Life
of Our 3s & Pre-K
For our 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds, each day balances the sensory rhythm of early childhood with growing independence, sustained project work, and deeper inquiry.
From Exploration
to Deeper Inquiry
At First Presbyterian, the 3–5 preschool day balances the child-led sensory rhythm of early childhood with expanded, long-term project work and deeper inquiry.
Children have opportunities to make choices, work collaboratively, revisit ideas, and build on their discoveries over time.
A Rhythm Designed for Growing Independence
The day provides a familiar structure while giving children increasing responsibility for their choices, materials, relationships, and learning.
Follow a Day at First Pres
Our schedule creates a rhythm for the day while leaving room for children's questions, interests, and discoveries to shape what happens within it.
Arrival & Morning Gathering
Children begin the morning with a self-directed check-in and settle into the classroom.
The class comes together for a morning greeting and brief group conversation, helping children connect with one another and map out the inquiry options available that morning.
Arrival / morning gathering
Emergent Inquiry & Studio Time
The heart of the morning is collaborative project work and studio exploration.
Children work across specialized centers using light tables, clay, loose parts, and process art media as they explore ideas and develop their investigations.
Morning Snack & Conversation
Children gather for a family-style snack that is about more than eating.
Pouring, serving, conversation, and clean-up give children opportunities to practice independence while participating in their classroom community.
Outdoor Classroom Exploration
The classroom extends outdoors as children move, investigate, build, observe, and engage with nature.
Experiences include garden maintenance, nature observation, large-scale construction, and gross-motor physical play.
Group Music, Reflection, & Story
Children come back together to revisit the morning's experiences, share their thoughts, and move along to music.
Teachers and children review photo documentation, listen to rich literature, and frame open questions that can carry their thinking forward.
Lunch & Departure / Extension
Children gather for a community meal while continuing to practice self-help routines and independence.
After lunch, half-day children prepare for departure, while children staying beyond the morning transition into a quieter part of their day.
Questions Become Investigations
As children move from the toddler years into preschool, their exploration can become increasingly sustained.
“What are you wondering?”
Tactile experiences can grow into long-term investigations as children revisit ideas, collaborate with others, represent their thinking, and build new questions from what they discover.
From Toddlers to Preschoolers
The preschool experience builds naturally on the foundations children develop in our younger classrooms.
Self-Help Independence
Building on simple toddler routines, preschoolers increasingly independently serve snacks, manage their belongings, and care for their workspace.
Expanded Project Work
Tactile exploration evolves into sustained, multi-week investigations based on children's questions and documentation.
Complex Loose Parts
Simple sensory experiences grow into intricate building materials, natural loose parts, and symbolic representation in the studio.
A Gentle Transition Into the Afternoon
Half-day children prepare for departure after lunch, while children staying beyond the morning transition into a quieter rhythm.
The afternoon provides space for rest, reconnection, and continued exploration at a pace that responds to children's needs.
Learning Doesn't Have to Look the Same Every Day
A predictable rhythm gives children a sense of security. Within that rhythm, their questions, relationships, discoveries, and ideas help shape where the day goes next.
Want to See It for Yourself?
The best way to understand our classrooms is to step inside. Come meet our teachers, explore our environment, and bring your child along for the experience.
Schedule a Tour