Primary Program Children between the ages of 3 and 5 years can start The Gan Primary program. The school day is 8:45 am - 3:00 pm. Before and after care options begin at 7:45 am and extend until 5:30 pm.

Curriculum

Practical Life

The child is attracted to activities that give him or her independence and control of his own life. One of the most important needs of a young child is to develop his or her muscles and coordinate his movements. This need is addressed through practical life exercises such as sweeping, polishing, carrying and pouring water, and other common activities. Special materials enable the child to practice tying, buttoning, snapping, and the use of many other fastening devices. The purpose of these exercises is to develop concentration, the ability to pay attention to details as the child follows a regular sequence of actions and learns good working habits. These activities provide the very foundation on which the child approaches more intricate academic exercises.

Sensorial

Sensorial materials in the classroom are designed to sharpen the senses of the young child and enable the child to understand the many impressions he or she receives through them. Each of the sensorial materials isolates one defining quality such as color, weight, shape, texture, size, sound, or smell. The sensorial materials help the child to distinguish, categorize, and relate new information to what he or she already knows.

Language

The child begins reading when he is ready and proceeds at his or her own pace. His or her experiences in Practical Life and Sensorial education serve as a preparation for this. With cut-out letters, the child builds his or her own words on a mat. The materials free him or her from the fatigue of his or her still developing writing skills, and yet still gives the opportunity to pursue his or her interest in words. These activities serve as a preparation for the time when the child assimilates what he or she knows and begins writing.

Mathematics

The materials for mathematics introduce the concept of quantity and its symbols, the numbers 0 through 9. The quantity is introduced by a series of rods which the child can count and compare. The child matches sets of symbol cards with the rods. Using a variety of beads and symbol cards, the child becomes familiar with the numbers as a decimal system, including concrete experiences with the operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. These exercises not only teach the child to calculate, but they provide a deep understanding of how numbers function.

Judaic Curriculum

Our Judaic curriculum is designed for children to learn independently. We use lots of hands-on materials to learn important lessons, stories, and skills. We teach our students every day through circle time and by presenting lessons to the class. The materials are then available for the children to explore and learn independently. All students learn about Hebrew letters, the upcoming chagim, and the customs and mitzvot of Judaism.