Miss Malika's Kindergarten

Kids make the best naturalists. They have an innate curiousity about nature - animals and the world around them. That is why nature is a foundation for learning in the Village Charter School kindergarten class.
Through studying ecosystems children learn about where animals live and how they fit in to their surrounding environment. They learn about the plants and geological formations that make certain ecosystems unique.

Students also enjoy hands on, self-directed activities which teach them a variety of subjects such as geography, math, reading, and art. With varied opportunities to explore, the children do as scientists and artists do - trying different materials and methods, and solving problems alone or together to find out about the world.

Rhythm plays an important role in the children's education as well. Every day the kids participate in music and movement, whether in song or in language arts. The children learn rhymes and chants to understand the sounds and rhythms in the spoken language. Their learning is enhanced through the use of visual, verbal, and kinesthetic cues.

Another key element in the children's education is parental participation. Parents play a key role in enhancing the learning experience by bringing their own unique skills to share.