What Preschool School Students Learn: A Holistic Approach to Early Education

Editorial Team

Are you curious to know the incredible foundation laid in the earliest stages of your child’s education or what your child will learn in Nursery School? 

Did you know that by the age of three, a child’s brain has already formed about 1,000 trillion connections? So you will be shocked to see them absorbing information so fast in their first years.

Yes, they learn to communicate, build social skills, and even begin laying the groundwork for critical thinking. 

Read this article to uncover the incredible holistic approach that nursery education provides, shaping your child’s future.

Nursery Education

The nursery school curriculum introduces children to a myriad of subjects laying the groundwork for future learning. Here, children are exposed to a diverse curriculum that focuses on academic readiness and nurtures their social, emotional, and physical development.

1. Foundations of Literacy

One of the primary focuses of nursery education is the introduction to literacy where they begin to grasp the basics of communication, vocabulary, storytelling, rhymes, and engaging activities that develop early literacy skills. 

It prepares students for learning languages, letters, and reading readiness. Here’s how nursery students are introduced to these foundational elements.

  • Language Development

  1. Verbal Interaction: Teachers give activities that help children absorb language naturally such as engaging conversations, storytelling, and rhymes.
  2. Vocabulary Building: Students are introduced to new words through daily activities, object labelling, and discussions which expands their vocabulary.
  3. Listening and Speaking Skills: Children are encouraged to express themselves or through role-playing activities which fosters communication and comprehension abilities.

  • Introduction to Letters

  1. Letter Recognition: Children are introduced to letters through alphabet songs, alphabet blocks, games and more.
  2. Letter Sounds: Children associate letters with their sounds (phonemic awareness) which aids in early reading development.
  3. Multi-Sensory Learning: Through tactile experiences such as tracing letters in sand or clay, etc., children improve their retention.

  • Basic Reading Readiness

  1. Pre-Reading Skills: Students are introduced to print concepts (left-to-right, top-to-bottom), predicting stories, and recognizing familiar words.
  2. Storytelling and Picture Books: They are engaged with colourful picture books which help them understand story structure enhancing their imagination power.
  3. Environmental Print Awareness: Children are introduced to logos, signs, and symbols which helps them understand that print and symbols also convey meaning.

  • Importance of Play

  1. Role-Play and Pretend Play: International School Nagpur children are asked to do role-play which supports language development and creativity.
  2. Storytelling and Dramatization: There are also storytelling sessions which help them understand story elements.
  3. Games and Activities: The school incorporates literacy-focused games such as puzzles, which make learning enjoyable and help reinforce concepts.

2. Introduction to Numeracy

Introduction to numeracy in the nursery helps in shaping a child’s mathematical understanding of numbers, shapes, patterns, and counting. Here’s how the foundational concepts and skills are taught.

  • Numbers and Counting

  1. Number Recognition: Children are introduced to numbers through games, activities, and visuals which help retain them.
  2. Counting Skills: Students learn to count and understand quantities through hands-on activities. They learn that each number represents one object thus enhancing their counting skills.

  • Shapes and Spatial Awareness

  1. Basic Shapes: Students learn to identify shapes like circles, squares, triangles, and rectangles through interactive experiences like using blocks, solving puzzles, and building materials. 
  2. Spatial Relationships:  They get to understand concepts like inside, outside, above, below, beside, and between using shapes and real-life examples.

  • Measurement and Comparison

  1. Comparing Sizes: Students understand measurement through hands-on activities or words such as big, small, tall, short, long, etc. 
  2. Using Measurement Tools: Nursery schools introduce simple measurement tools like rulers or measuring cups for exploring size and quantity.
  3. Comparing Quantities: They also learn the concepts of quantity such as more, less, and equal.

  • Patterns and Sequences

  1. Identifying Patterns: Students are given simple patterns (e.g., ABAB, AABB) through visual aids, toys, and activities which enhance their critical thinking. 
  2. Creating Patterns: Children are also encouraged to create their patterns using various objects or colours which improves their creativity and critical thinking.
  3. Sequencing Activities: Students learn to arrange objects or sequences. 

  • Integration of Math in Play

  1. Math Games: Incorporating games and puzzles makes math learning enjoyable.
  2. Outdoor Exploration: Taking them out and using the environment for activities like counting natural objects or identifying shapes help in a better understanding of the concepts. 

  3. Creative Arts and Expression

Students of International School Nagpur are engaged in various artistic endeavours, from finger painting to musical activities, fostering imagination and artistic development. 

  • Emotional Expression

Artistic activities such as drawing, painting, or music, give a channel for children to express their emotions such as joy, sadness, excitement, or curiosity, aiding their emotional development and self-awareness.

  • Cognitive Development

Engaging in creative activities such as drawing and painting helps with fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and spatial awareness. Music stimulates auditory perception, rhythm recognition, and memory.

  • Innovation

Creative arts enhance children’s imagination and help them explore their creativity and out-of-the-box thinking abilities.

  • Communication Skills

Artistic activities facilitate communication where they have to tell stories through drawings or convey emotions through music which strengthens language development and the ability to express feelings.

  • Cultural and Sensory Awareness

Through creative arts, children are introduced to different art styles and diverse cultural expressions which enhances sensory development and fosters cultural sensitivity and appreciation for diversity.

  1. Physical Development and Motor Skills

Physical development is a crucial aspect of nursery education which aims at enhancing fine and gross motor skills and is integrated into the curriculum. Here’s how children explore different activities and exercises that promote both fine and gross motor skill development.

  • Fine Motor Skill Development

  1. Manipulative Play: Children do various activities such as building blocks, puzzles, or threading beads which improve hand-eye coordination and dexterity.
  2. Drawing and Coloring: Teachers teach children to hold crayons or pencils to draw shapes, lines, and patterns which enhances their fine motor control and precision.
  3. Playdough and Clay: Activities like squishing, rolling, and shaping playdough or clay aid in strengthening hand muscles and refining finger movements.
  4. Scissor Skills: Cutting paper along lines or shapes assists in refining hand movements and coordination.
  5. Pincer Grasp Activities: Picking up small objects with tweezers, or sorting items with fingers helps strengthen the pincer grasp which helps them in writing.

  • Gross Motor Skill Development

  1. Outdoor Play: Activities like running, jumping, climbing, and playing games promote overall physical strength, balance, and coordination.
  2. Ball Play: Activities like kicking, throwing, and catching balls improve hand-eye coordination, spatial awareness, and gross motor skills.
  3. Dance and Movement: Children have dance sessions or simple movement routines which enhance coordination and rhythm.
  4. Balance Activities: Children have to do tasks such as walking on a balance beam, hopping on one foot, or using balance boards which develop stability and body control.
  5. Yoga and Stretching: There are yoga sessions where children do simple poses or stretching exercises which promote flexibility, balance, and body awareness.

  • Sensory and Motor Integration Activities

  1. Sensory Bins: Children get to explore various textures (rice, beans, sand) with their hands which enhances sensory awareness and fine motor skills.
  2. Water and Sand Play: Children love play activities where they pour, scoop, and build in water or sand trays developing their hand-eye coordination and sensory exploration.
  3. Obstacle Courses: There are many activities outdoors where children have to crawl under, climb over, and balance on objects which challenges gross motor skills and spatial awareness.
  4. Musical Instruments: Playing simple instruments like drums, shakers, or xylophones encourages coordination between hands and rhythm.

  5. Nature and Environmental Studies

Nursery programs often introduce young learners to the wonders of the natural world through exploration, observation, and simple experiments which develop an appreciation for nature. 

  • Outdoor Exploration

  1. Nature Walks: Teachers take children on nature walks in local parks or nature reserves which expose them to various plants, trees, animals, and natural elements.
  2. Gardening Activities: Children are involved in planting seeds, watering plants, and observing growth which teaches them more about plants and their life cycle fostering a sense of responsibility.
  3. Observation and Discovery: Observing insects, birds, and other small creatures in their natural habitats sparks curiosity in children to know more.

  • Nature-Based Activities

  1. Nature Crafts: Children are asked to create DIY crafts through natural materials like leaves, twigs, and flowers which promotes creativity and connects them to the natural world. 

  • Environmental Awareness

  1. Recycling and Sustainability: Children also learn about recycling, reducing waste etc., which instils an understanding of the importance of protecting the environment.
  2. Animal Habitat Awareness: They get to know different animal habitats which encourages conservation, empathy and environmental stewardship.
  3. Weather and Seasons: Children also learn about weather and seasons making them more aware of the environment they live in.

 

Closing Thoughts

The early years of your child’s life are like seeds planted in fertile soil, shaping their foundation years for a better future. The holistic approach in an International School Nagpur doesn’t just educate; it nurtures curiosity, and resilience, and develops a love for learning in them.

Embrace these formative years, engage them, ask questions, and actively participate in their wondrous phase.

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