Getting to Know the International Christian Kindergarten
As parents, I am sure you are interested in knowing more about our curriculum and instructional guide that we use to teach your child at the International Christian Kindergarten.
Our Curriculum
- Practical Life (Indoor and outdoor)
- Sensorial
- Language
- Mathematics
- Bible & Creation
- French
- Kiswahili
- Geography & Science
- Physical Education:
- Dance and Movement
- Ballet
- Swimming
- Tae Kwon Do
- Rollerblading
- Monkeynastix
- Speech and Drama (LAMDA)
- Soccer
- Music
- Art and Craft
- Pony ride
- Computer Classes
Our curriculum is based on a specialized spiritual, intellectual, physical and social developmental program for children. Academically, the children attain the goal by being gauged their performance using the British curriculum.
Over the years, our children have been well prepared and have a good foundation, which has ensured they perform well in the 8-4-4 system, British and American systems.
Language – We teach and encourage the development of language ability and skills through activities such as:
- Listening
- Speaking
- Social interaction
- Role Playing
- Listening to and following instructions
- Pre-writing readiness
- Pre-reading readiness
Our writing and reading preparation is based on a solid phonetic approach. This involves use of sandpaper letters, the moveable alphabet and teacher prepared materials.
The children are taught and exposed to language skills everyday. We further develop and enhance the development of these important skills by involving the children in activities such as circle time and outdoor playtime.
These activities build communication as well as social skills with others.
Every Monday at 8:30am to 8:45 we hold Assembly for the whole school, during which we sing our National Anthem, recite our school creed, pray, sing songs, read stories and discuss school activities.
Supplementary workbooks are used as the child begins to read and write.
Mathematics – The children learn the language of numbers, measurements and space by being taught:
- Quantity first
- Symbols
- Association of the two
Object learning such as beads, buttons, etc. are also used so that the child associates the name and the symbol to the quantity.
The child’s individual needs and developmental level is provided for by our school, our teachers and the school’s environment in the following areas:
Teaching Demonstration
The teachers first give a demonstration to the children using the Montessori equipment before the child is able to work with the equipment. The teachers emphasize on the skills required to begin, continue and complete an exercise.
Practical Life
This includes the following:
- Care of self
- Care of the environment
- Grace and Courtesy
The projects relate to real life experiences and help develop independence, concentration and order in the child. The children develop hand-eye coordination, body coordination and learn to correct themselves through these exercises both physically and mentally. This prepares the child for other Montessori learning. These activities include: washing, cleaning, pouring, hammering, polishing, sweeping, mopping, caring for plants, threading, sewing, dressing up frames, etc.
The children develop understanding of the environment and the five motor skills through these activities. They are also instructed in the care of the various materials used at school and that relate to home. The children learn responsibility to keep the environment orderly.
Sensorial
The primary aim of sensorial activities is to educate the five senses through awareness of the surrounding environment. The children are exposed to contrasting sensations in order to perceive their differences in the following ways:
- Similarities
- Variations
- Differences
The materials used by the children help them learn through observation.
Bible / Creation / Geography / Science
The children are given daily Biblical instruction to help them know God and Jesus. The Biblical approach helps the children to love God, themselves, others and the world around them. They are taught proper conduct, respect, love and how to share through Bible instruction.
Creation is also taught in the light of God the creator and covers everything that pertains to our world (the Earth, Sea, Plants, Animals, People, etc.).
The children are taught stories and songs about and from the Bible. From Blue class up, various sciences are presented to the children through experiments, games and projects. At this same time, the children are taught several geographic and historic events of creation.
Physical Education
These activities are taught in each class to develop principles of movement, space awareness, body awareness, effort awareness and relationship.
The children are taught coordination of body parts and respond by exploring and completing a physical task. Each term offers different activities.
These activities give a child every opportunity to develop their bodies through large muscular activities such as walking, running, jumping, and hopping. Eye hand and eye foot skills such as throwing, catching and kicking are all incorporated into our program.
Dance Movement - Instruction is given twice a week to each class.
Ballet, rollerblading and Tae-Kwon Do are taught to the three upper classes at least once a week.
Swimming is taught in toddlers at ICK in the paddle pool and upper classes at SON once a week.
Music
The simple enjoyment of Music is taught twice a week in each class. Our music curriculum includes:
- Bible songs
- Acting out songs
- Creating new songs
- Piano
Singing is also incorporated into our Bible circle time and in transition periods throughout the day. There are two piano teachers who offer individual piano classes to the children from an early age.
Art and Craft
The children are given the opportunity to express themselves creatively through experimentation and exploration of various materials used in creating art. Art is scheduled on the daily/weekly timetable for each class.
Pony rides are offered to all children once a week on Tuesday mornings.
Speech and Drama (L.A.M.D.A) is introduced to the children from 4 years and above. A specialist teacher comes once a week to teach the children breathing, self-expression, vocalization, etc. These skills lead to the London exams offered annually.
Computer classes are offered at a basic introductory level once a week to the Top Class children.
French - This is offered to the Blue, Red and Top Classes only and is at an introductory level. The French teacher incorporates songs, poems, pictures and stories into the learning process.
Kiswahili – This is offered at an introductory level once a week to the Top Class only. Their learning aides include songs, poems, stories and pictures. They learn simple conversation and writing.
I hope this gives you an idea of the wide and varied curriculum we offer your child at I.C.K. that is based on each individual child’s ability and their level of development in learning at each stage.
To maximize each child’s potential in learning, our teachers give special attention, instruction and supervision in order to develop interest, motivation and challenge in all areas of your child’s development.
Should you have any queries, comments or suggestions please do not hesitate to set up an appointment with your child’s teacher or myself for further clarification.