Early Childhood

Park City Academy embraces the youthful spirit of children in creating a program that is developmentally sound, hands on, and a fun learning experience.  The Academy’s Early Childhood program consists of 3 grade levels; preschool (3 and 4 year olds), Junior Kindergarten (4 and 5 year olds), and Kindergarten (5 and 6 year olds). We provide a safe, nurturing environment, where each child is able to grow and develop socially, cognitively, emotionally, and physically.

Our curriculum is derived from the latest scientific research on how young children learn and incorporates best practices from around the world.  The Academy utilizes The Core Knowledge Sequence and The Creative Curriculum Method, which, together, provide a solid foundation of knowledge and skills for later learning.

We teach developmental skills at each level that build on each other as the child grows and matures.  Our curriculum includes:
- Social skills and Work Habits
- Children’s Literature
- Dramatic Play
- Oral Language
- Phonological Awareness, ABC’s and Beginning Reading
- Mathematical Reasoning and Number Sense
- Scientific Reasoning and Knowledge
- History and Geography
- Movement, Coordination, and Music
- Visual Arts
- Physical Education

Children learn more through a program that is integrated across domains.  Some examples of this are:

In preschool we love to read classic children's books! During Christmas time we read The Gingerbread Man. We start by reading the storybook and discussing it. We then retell the story, with the children's help, using puppets. After the children have heard the story in different ways we explore our science by making our own gingerbread men! We go together and place them in the oven. When we return the gingerbread men are gone!! They have run away and have left clues all over the school for us. We read the clues and search for our delicious treats. When we finally find them we decorate them and eat them before the can run away again.

In Kindergarten we learn about the 7 Continents.  When studying each continent we learn about climate and location, languages, traditional dress, art, music and dances from the area, and cultural food.  After spending 2 to 3 weeks studying a continent the children experience what we call “Around the World in 7 Days”.  The teachers and parents simulate an airplane experience complete with pilots and flight attendants to spend a day on each continent.  Exploring, engaging in art or music activities, sampling food etc., as a way of learning through hands on, play experiences.

Prospective parents are invited to schedule some time to observe our school in action.  Prospective students can likewise schedule time to experience actual classroom activities.  After enrollment, we offer parents a variety of opportunities to “get involved” through our Parent Faculty Association and many varied classroom opportunities.

Marlene Naftz
Early Childhood Director