Oakhurst Cooperative Preschool Daily Rhythms: How our cooperative preschool program is structured.

Preschool children learn primarily through play. At OCP, we nurture a sense of wonder and curiosity so that children can freely and actively explore their surroundings. We encourage the development of a child’s imagination and fantasy rather than academics. Nature, sensory exploration, music and movement are integrated into our daily rhythms.

• Upon arrival, each child is greeted by the teacher and invited into a welcoming environment that engages the child and is safe for exploration.
• Circle time is a special part of the morning where the children gather to greet one another and welcome the day through a welcome game, seasonal song, poem, story, or finger play.
• The planned activity of the day may be rooting spider plants or painting a flower pot for the plants to live in, baking biscuits in various shapes, making and playing with play-dough or “goop”, yoga movements, or a parent playing guitar and singing.
• Snack time is a time of coming together. Children are invited to share in the preparation of the wholesome snack; spreading jam on biscuits they made together, or coring apples to dip in yogurt. We talk about food and its relevance to nature and everyone helps in cleaning up afterwards: clearing the table, washing dishes, et cetera.
• Outdoors on the playground, the children are free to run, play on the wooden play structures, kick or throw balls, play hide-and-seek, ride trikes, or experiment with sand and water.
• Free play allows children to develop their imagination and creativity while they also learn about sharing, taking risks, role modeling, and resolving conflict. Our physical space is divided into interest areas (books, blocks/manipulative, music, dramatic play, and toys) that accommodate a few children at a time.
• At lunchtime, the children come together around the table to eat a lunch they bring from home. We talk about what we’ve each brought to eat, and about the day’s experiences. This is a wonderful time for the children and teachers to interact and bond with each other as a group.
• Our nature walk allows children to explore the outdoors. The children may carry baskets to collect nature items to bring back to the classroom where the treasures may be displayed, discussed, and/or integrated into an art project.