A Day In The Life: SUNFLOWERS

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A SUNFLOWER

Drop off for the Sunflowers is between 7:30 and 8:45. After saying goodbye to their parents, many Sunflowers like to wave goodbye out the big window. They hang their belongings on their hooks and put their shoes on the shoe shelf. The Sunflowers help themselves to cereal, pour their own milk and visit with their friends in the kitchen. As they finish, they scrape their bowls and wash their bowls in the child-sized sink and head to their classrooms. 

By 9:00, the Montessori work period has begun. During this period, the children are free to explore the carefully prepared environment. The children work with many different materials throughout the work period. They can refine their practical life skills by scooping grains or pouring liquids back and forth. They build towers with the sensorial materials while learning about gradation and if a three year old boy is involved: gravity! 

The math materials provided begin with simple number recognition and graduate up to counting to one hundred. The students can also explore addition, subtraction, multiplication, division... The possibilities are endless. Children begin to learn to write and recognize letters in the language program seamlessly leading to learning how to read. Science, geography and culture are studied using the Montessori maps and our very own teachers' cultural backgrounds and world traveling experiences. 

Around 11:30, the work period wraps up and the kids gather for their circle. In circle, they talk about the monthly geography curriculum, sing songs, read books and play games. Everyone is excused from circle to wash their hands and join their friends at the tables for lunch.  Lunch is served family style. The lead teacher talks about what is for lunch and shows how to serve oneself. As food is passed around, each child practices their manners and serves up lunch. "Bon appetit! Now you may eat!" 

After lunch, everyone gears up for some outside time. Around 1:00p, everyone returns to the classrooms for rest time until snack time.  Snack is prepared by fellow Sunflowers in the morning in practical life activities and served up buffet style in the kitchen; as each child gets up from rest time they serve themselves snack and visit with friends.  

Between 3:30 and 4:30p, the Sunflowers enjoy a specialist activity. Depending on the day and the month, kids enjoy art, music, dance, gymnastics, and language. From 4:30 on the kids enjoy some free time doing art, playdough, or blocks.  Our day is over at 5:30p, when the students head home to practice their new skills.