Preschoolers Learn through Play

Lakota’s youngest learners, the District’s three-to-five year old preschool students, have been very busy learning about different types of jobs. "We have been learning about community helpers," said teacher Morgan O’Connell. Throughout the week, O’Connell explained, that the students engaged in various activities centered around this theme, learning about firefighters, police officers, construction workers, garbage collectors, teachers, farmers and dentists.

Lakota’s preschool teachers emphasize the importance of learning through play in their classrooms. By engaging in play, the students are able to practice and strengthen their cognitive, physical, communication and social/emotional skills in ways that traditional worksheets or screen time cannot provide.

Preschooler Sadie shared her excitement, saying, "I’ve been to the dentist with my mom." There was no competition for her favorite activity: brushing plastic teeth with a play toothbrush because "it makes a fun sound!" The students rotated through different activity stations, each one themed around the dentist, making the learning experience both educational and enjoyable.

“Over the past few years, Ms. Morgan's class has particularly enjoyed learning about dentists,” said Preschool Director Diane Keene. “The students' interest was sparked when one of their classmates shared that their parent is a dentist. Through this theme, students not only developed various pre-academic and social skills but also gained valuable knowledge about dental health.”

One of the highlights of the week was the generous donation from Laura Doss, DDS, from Village Pediatric Dental who provided dental cleaning kits and fidgets, including toothbrushes, for the students to use in their activities. The preschoolers creatively used the toothbrushes, such as using them as paint brushes to make pictures and "brushing away" dry-erase germs on laminated teeth. They also practiced their letters and spelling their names with letters written on paper teeth.

“The students love engaging in this unit because they can relate it to their own lives,” said O’Connell. “They love talking about their dentist visits, a time they saw a police officer out and about, or waving to the garbage collector. When the students can relate what they are learning about in school to their own personal experiences, it becomes much more meaningful.”

Lakota’s preschool has been serving students since 1990. The program is designed to serve both students with a range of disabilities as well as typical preschool students who pay tuition to attend. The model is built on the premise that preschool-aged students with disabilities, as well as those with typical learning styles, can both benefit and grow academically by learning alongside one another.