Little Dragons

Preschool for 3 & 4 Year Olds

In Little Dragons, our class for 3 to 4 year olds, your child will be welcomed into a nurturing and supportive classroom environment focused on play-based learning. Each child’s creativity, independent spirit, and imagination are fostered during our daily activities.

Through an interdisciplinary curriculum with thematic units of study such as seasons, animals and animal habitats, our place in space, and many more, the children begin to learn about the world. Little Dragons center time is organized to support our thematic units and build upon the children's natural curiosity for investigation, exploration, and play. Literacy, math and problem solving skills are incorporated in ways that make learning fun and interesting everyday.

We promote the development of the whole child through social interactions and play while building friendships in the classroom and wider school community. Our students enjoy special events such as Pajama Day, field trips, Spanish class, dancing in the classroom, and time with our older buddies.

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Core Learning

List of 7 items.

Listening & Speaking
Being a part of a classroom group interacting with one's peers as well as attentive adults, allows students to sharpen their speaking and listening skills. Everyday classroom routines and activities such as circle time and singing specifically challenges students to:
Speak in complete sentences
Express ideas clearly
Use the correct pronouns when speaking
Listen attentively
Appropriately participate in class discussions
Formulate thoughts and meaningfully contribute to class discussion
Math Readiness
Creatively using everyday objects and the world around them, the students explore shapes and patterns, count, classify, and arrange items in various ways. Through these activities they begin to:
Recognize and order numbers to 20
Match numbers to 20 to sets
Count to 50
Count by 5’s and 10’s
Apply simple patterns
Apply spatial relations ( up/down, above/below)
Identify basic geometric shapes
Independently complete 24 piece puzzle
Personal Skills
Gaining independence and caring for oneself are explicit goals of the K-Prep program. Children gain a sense of responsibility for themselves and their belongings. With assistance from their teachers, they develop the ability to:
Demonstrate appropriate control of one's body
Execute and apply verbal directions to complete classroom activities
Engage appropriately in lessons and activities
Transition appropriately between tasks
Respectfully manage classroom supplies
Put materials and personal items away with teacher instruction
Regulate emotions in an appropriate manner
Show respect for one's peers
Chooses suitable behaviors in interactions with peers
Perform basic self-care skills
Pack up belongings and put on coat independently
Reading Readiness
There is dedicated time, multiple times per day, where the following skills are fostered and reinforced through active lessons, group story times, and one-on-one instruction:
Discern print word versus letter
Read left to right
Identify initial sounds in words
Associate letter/sound connections
Identify capital and lowercase letters
Identify rhyming words
Retell parts of a story (beginning, middle, and end)
Establish purpose for reading: make predictions, connect important ideas, and link previous experiences
Identify parts of a book: cover, author, and illustrator
Science
Students are naturally curious. Capturing their natural desire for exploration, we teach them how to be gentle observers of nature and how things work. Building upon topics that are of interest to the children, we introduce the scientific method--making a hypothesis, doing research, conducting an experiment and analyzing results--all in ways that are age and stage appropriate. Topics vary from year-to-year but may include:
Five Senses
Seasons
Energy
Weather
Magnetism
Plants and Animals
Human Body
Social Studies

In Little Dragons and K-Prep, the classroom community itself is part of the social studies experience. Meeting new friends, navigating the classroom, and learning daily routines are all a part of learning outside of one's home.

Beginning with the world children know, we explore places such as home and school, and then expand into neighborhoods, cities, and states using maps and globes. The children learn about community helpers and the ways in which all people contribute in a community. The goal is to create enthusiasm for the diversity in the world through the exploration of artifacts, books, music, and holidays.
Writing Readiness
Writing readiness is embedded within the curriculum and occurs not only when the children are engaged with paper-pencil tasks but through creative projects, use of the sensory tables, and other materials. Among other skills, they develop the ability to:
Identify first and last name
Write first name legibly
Demonstrate consistent hand preference
Control pencils and scissors
Express ideas in drawings
Label simple drawings
Write numbers to 20 with prompts
Write capital and uppercase letters with prompts

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Enriched Learning

List of 5 items.

Art

Art instruction at Harford Day School is interdisciplinary and related to topics being studied in social studies, science or other subjects. This holistic approach is no different in K-Prep and Kindergarten. Using different mediums from clay to paint, students learn about a subject from many different perspectives in an age appropriate manner. Apples, lady bugs, snowmen, trees--you name it. Amazing works are created as the art teacher skillfully breaks down each project into fun, creative steps that hone the children's fine motor skills.
Media Studies

The K-Prep 3 students learn how to use the library by reading wonderful books, discussing them as a group, checking out their very own selections, and enjoying a little quiet time to read with a buddy or teacher. They begin to learn our library rules and routines and enjoy visiting the Media Center every week.
Music

Early Childhood students experience the elements of music through singing, movement, playing instruments, and creating. They learn to read and write rhythms and pitches by playing games and improvising.
P.E.

Early Childhood movement is so important to development. In Physical Education classes, students engage in activities that develop their gross motor skills, spatial awareness, and knowledge of different sports and games. Students use balls, hoops, bean bags, blocks, play running games, and enjoy building age appropriate obstacle courses. Good sportsmanship and teamwork are always emphasized.
Spanish

The K-Prep 3 students leap into learning Spanish. Each class begins with the children singing and dancing to upbeat greeting songs. Children are introduced to colors, numbers, and family vocabulary through games, songs, and movement. Significant cultural celebrations such as “Los Días de los Muertos” and “Las Posadas" are also discussed. Classes read stories and complete fun practice activities to learn new vocabulary.

715 Moores Mill Road
Bel Air, Maryland 21014

Phone: (410) 838-4848

Harford Day is the only PK3 to Grade 8 independent school in Harford County accredited by AIMS (Association of Independent Maryland/DC Schools) and a member of NAIS (National Association of Independent Schools).

Non-discrimination Statement
Application to Harford Day School is open to all students without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, or disability. Harford Day School does not discriminate in the administration of its educational policies, financial policies, financial aid programs, and other administered extra-curricular or administrative programs.

The Harford Day Mission
At Harford Day School, learning is a joyful process rooted in respectful relationships, strong traditions, and an innovative program that fosters confidence, imagination, curiosity, and engagement with the world.