our curriculum
Burr Cooperative celebrates the importance and the value of the preschool years, providing rich learning opportunities which prepare children to be successful as they head off to kindergarten after their final year with us.
Play is the central tool for learning in the preschool years, and through this tool teachers offer children opportunities to explore all the subject areas (physical education, language and literacy, science, math, and history, culture, and identity). Friendships play a central role in the Burr Co-op experience for children. Through the joys and challenges of preschool friendships, children gain the social and emotional skills that are considered the foundation for educational success.
Our curriculum is designed around themes and projects, which allow children to explore topics in-depth, and integrate their learning in a meaningful way, and the teachers select the themes based on the interests and needs of the children. For example, when children became interested in treasure one year, teachers buried "jewels" in the sand table, loaded treasure into the water table, and made glittering playdough. The kids drew treasure maps, counted and weighed treasure "jewels," and read many books about the subject. This style of curriculum design is called emergent curriculum because it builds on kids' interests to create learning opportunities in all developmental areas.
Children learn math at the manipulative table, physics in the block area, and how to cooperate at the playdough table. Our classroom projects allow children to learn to work collaboratively, to take initiative, to make thoughtful decisions, and to solve complex problems. Our outdoor play area encourages development of motor skills as well as provides additional opportunities to learn to play together and cement friendships.
Specialists
On a regular basis special programs are included in the daily classroom routine. These include visits by music, movement, and other specialists as well as such events as live animal interaction. These programs are always a favorite of the students (and parent helpers!). Periodic field trips are also a fun and educational break from the normal classroom curriculum.
