Our studies for this school year:

*Bakery: 

This study is part of our ongoing effort to build early learning skills through meaningful, hands-on experiences that connect to the world around us.  Throughout our bakery study, the children will explore a variety of concepts across different learning areas, including:

Literacy – Reading books about baking, writing shopping lists and recipes, and learning new vocabulary such as “ingredients,” “knead,” and “measure.”

Math – Measuring ingredients, counting baked goods, comparing sizes and shapes of pastries, and exploring simple addition and subtraction through pretend play.

Science – Observing how ingredients change when mixed or baked, learning about heat, and exploring textures and states of matter (solids and liquids).

Social-Emotional Learning – Working together in our pretend bakery, taking turns, sharing responsibilities, and expressing creativity through role play.

Art and Fine Motor Skills – Decorating baked goods with playdough and craft materials, drawing bakery signs, and using tools like rolling pins and cookie cutters.

We will also be inviting guest bakers (real and pretend) and baking simple no-bake recipes in class.

*Habitats

This study gives children the opportunity to explore the natural world around them while developing important skills across all areas of learning.

Through this habitat study, we will be learning about a variety of environments—such as forests, oceans, deserts, grasslands, and arctic regions—and the animals and plants that call them home. Here are some of the educational goals we will be focusing on:

Science & Nature – Exploring different types of habitats, learning what living things need to survive, and understanding the relationships between animals, plants, and their environments.

Literacy – Reading nonfiction and fiction books about animals and habitats, expanding our vocabulary with words like “shelter,” “camouflage,” and “environment,” and practicing storytelling by creating our own animal characters.

Math – Sorting animals by habitat, counting animal groups, creating simple habitat-themed patterns, and measuring items found in nature.

Creative Arts – Building animal homes using natural materials, painting habitat landscapes, and designing animal masks or puppets.

Social-Emotional Learning – Developing empathy by thinking about what animals and people need to feel safe and cared for, and learning how all living things are connected.

This study helps children build curiosity, observation skills, and an appreciation for the world around them.

*Garden

This hands-on study allows children to explore the natural world while developing important early learning skills across a variety of subjects.

Here is a look at some of the educational goals we are focusing on during our garden study:

Science & Nature – We are learning about how plants grow, what they need to survive (like sunlight, water, and soil), and identifying parts of plants such as roots, stems, leaves, and flowers. We are also observing insects and other creatures that live in or help the garden.

Literacy – We are reading fiction and nonfiction books about gardens and plants, learning garden-themed vocabulary (like “sprout,” “harvest,” and “pollinate”), and even creating our own garden stories.

Math – Children are counting seeds, measuring plant growth, comparing sizes and shapes of leaves and flowers, and creating patterns using natural materials.

Art & Fine Motor Skills – Through garden-themed crafts, painting flowers, planting seeds, and using tools like tweezers and trowels, we’re strengthening creativity and coordination.

Social-Emotional Learning – Gardening teaches patience, responsibility, teamwork, and care for living things. Children are learning to work together, take turns, and observe changes over time.

This study encourages curiosity, a love of nature, and respect for our environment.

*Music

This study offers a fun and engaging way for children to explore sound, rhythm, movement, and creativity while supporting key areas of early development.

Here are some of the educational goals we’re focusing on during our music study:

Language & Literacy – Children are learning new songs, rhymes, and musical vocabulary (like “beat,” “tempo,” and “melody”), as well as developing listening and speaking skills through musical storytelling.

Math – Music naturally introduces counting (beats, rhythms), patterns, sequencing, and comparisons (fast/slow, loud/soft).

Science & Sensory Exploration – We are exploring how sound is made, how different instruments work, and experimenting with pitch, volume, and vibration.

Creative Arts – Children are expressing themselves through singing, dancing, dramatic play, and even creating their own instruments using everyday materials.

Cognitive Skills – Music supports memory, focus, and auditory processing as children listen for patterns, follow rhythms, and recall songs.

Social-Emotional Learning – Making music together encourages cooperation, turn-taking, confidence, and self-expression. It’s also a joyful way for children to connect with one another and celebrate different cultures.

Throughout this study, we will be exploring a variety of musical styles and instruments from around the world.