Health & Wellness

    Due to COVID-19, SMART START has enhanced its existing health and wellness curriculum. Educating our young learners on maintaining the well-being of themselves and others is our priority. 

Read below to learn more about our recent comprehensive unit:

Hygiene 🧼

    Pupils have been sporting their PPE (personal, protective, equipment) while participating in overall good hygiene habits such as handwashing, sanitizing and covering coughs & sneezes. 

    The class enjoyed learning the necessity of these practices during outdoor storytime. All have been encouraging one another to do their part in order to prevent the spread of germs. 

Nutrition 🍎

     Novice nutritionists have been considering what comprises a healthy diet. Foods containing essential nutrients and how they affect the body were discussed. All applied acquired knowledge to create a meal using a plate template and stickers of the four crucial food groups: protein, fruits, vegetables & grains. 

     Chefs mixed a variety of snacks to make a delicious and nutritious trail mix. 

    Preschoolers enhanced their math skills playing "Count the Cookies", an addition and subtraction game while Prekindergartners and Kindergartners engaged in a literacy lesson making "Sight Word Sandwiches." 

    Books and other related materials were observed at the themed display. 

    Problem solving, sequencing and concentration skills were increased while completing fruit patterns. 

    Peers played "musical strawberries" to songs about the importance of eating fruits. This music and movement activity was a rendition of "musical chairs." 

    The group gathered in our outdoor classroom to listen and learn about all things nutrition

    Classmates classified food groups by sorting items into five categories: protein, dairy, fruits, vegetables and grains. 

Human Body 🧠

    SMART START scientists studied all about the anatomy and physiology of the human body. Internal organs and their functions were taught through an informational read aloud. Each had a turn to wear our "What's Inside Me?" costume which portrays inside parts such as the heart, intestines, the brain and more!

    Future physicians examined X-rays using magnifying glasses, matched organs using magnets and tended to the needs of their "patients". All used their newfound understanding of the human body during this hands-on activity. 

    Students used stickers of internal organs to precisely label their human body template. 

    Prospective surgeons strengthened their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination while playing the classic game "operation". This time also served as a pretend play opportunity as all wore gloves, medical masks and imagined they were performing an actual surgery.

    Friends had fun assembling and creating their own bodies using potato head toys. 

     

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All About Ava!

 

    September was all about Miss Ava! She did a phenomenal job creating her "All About Me" poster and presenting it at school. All were dazzled by Ava's dedication to this assignment and her stellar performance. Amazing job, Ava!

Ava's Poster

Class Presentations 

    The class had an awesome time at Ava's 5th birthday party at school! Ava shared delicious cupcakes and fun goody bags with her classmates. Friends sang "Happy Birthday" to Ava in English and Spanish and gifted her with a book on her favorite school subject: Science! 

    Ava has been coming to SMART START for about two years! She is insightful, intelligent and attracts the attention of her peers. Ava accomplished numerous of her goals this year. We are so excited to see what you will achieve next, Ava! 

💗SMART START💗

Back to School 2020/2021

    SMART START's academic year commenced early September. We highlighted each of our pupils by taking their picture with our "Back to School" sign. Our young learners are all unique and we wanted to showcase their individual talents, characteristics and interests. 

Here are the preschool, pre-k and kindergarten student spotlights for the 2020/2021 academic year: 

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Summer 2020

     SMART START was thrilled to reopen this summer after having been closed due to COVID-19. Students were eager to return to school and adjusted remarkably well to our new procedures. 

Protective Protocol 🖉

     Peers have been happily learning and playing in their new PPE (personal protective equipment) all summer long. Pupils fashioned their sunhats with attached visors, face shields and transparent masks. In addition, partitions are being used in order for all to remain protected when faces are not covered. Health and wellness is a primary focus at SMART START and the children are eager to do their part to prevent the spread of germs. 

Outdoor Classroom🍃

   Learning and playing in nature is an essential component of SMART START's curriculum. Our young learners fully embrace the outdoors and the benefits it yields such as: improves mental and physical health, promotes focus and concentration, enhances creativity and imagination and so much more! Being carefree and active on the play structures is a constant in our daily routine.  

Water Play🌊 

     Classmates cooled off by running through the sprinkler, gliding on the slip n slide and sliding down the waterslide!

Art 🎨

     SMART START artists searched for a special stick in the outdoor classroom for their summer art project. All used their creativity and various art supplies to decorate their nature treasure. The sticks turned out beautifully and imaginations transformed them into magic wands, telescopes, instruments and more!

Yoga & Mindfulness💤

     Young yogis brought their mats outside to practice their poses and participate in mindful meditation.

Picnic🧺

Pals picnicked outside sitting in their 6ft apart hula hoops.

Bingo✋

     The class was most enthusiastic to play BINGO! The first round consisted of a nature theme to enhance knowledge on animals and their habitats. Afterwards, a Spanish version was played to reinforce and teach new vocabulary. All had the chance to count five in a row, shout B-I-N-G-O and pick out a prize. 

Gardening🌱

     Green thumbs, watering cans, gloves and other tools were used to tend to the school garden.

 

Temperature 🌡

     Future meteorologists observed the rise in temperatures using a thermometer. All learned and 

practiced two forms of temperature measurement: Fahrenheit and Celsius. 

Books & Reading📚

      The group sat at the picnic tables to read and observe books about the season.

Blueberry Picking🧺 

     Pupils picked bunches of blueberries from the school blueberry bush during the month of July.

Class Pets 🐔🐇

     The chickens and bunnies were delighted to have their favorite caretakers back to assist in feeding, holding, petting and nurturing. 

Yard Games 🏏

    Gross motor and cognitive skills were challenged through a variety of games. Balance was tested walking on stilts, coordination improved through ring toss and hula hooping, strength increased attempting the monkey bars, strategy enhanced through connect four and more!

Slush 🍧

     The children put their chef hats on and headed to the kitchen to make slush! Each had the chance to put ice in the machine, fill a cup with ice shavings and pour flavoring on top. A delicious treat on a hot summer day!

     Tree Climbing🌳

All took turns climbing trees to experience and appreciate nature up close (and high)!

Green Beans 🥬

Farm to table friends reaped the benefits of their hard work with a copious crop of green beans! 

Bubbles ☍

     Blowing, chasing and popping bubbles are a staple summer activity. Our bubble machine brought much excitement this year!

Sandbox 🏰

Sensory play was most enjoyed in the sandboxes. 

Sunflowers 🌻

     Beginner Botanists studied the sunflower. They learned that this plant blooms in the late summer/early fall and were able to examine a few up close.

End of Summer Celebration 🍦

    Summer 2020 was most memorable! to commemorate, we had an ice cream truck drive by for a treat! Afterwards, classmates partook in a delicious dramatic play activity using their life like "Ice Cream Truck and materials. A sweet end to the season!

Click Below to View Summer Highlights

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All About Lucas!

    

     Lucas was thrilled to be our showcased student during the month of July! He did a fabulous job completing his "All About Me" poster and proudly presented it to the class. All admired the thought and effort Lucas put into this assignment. Wonderful work, Lucas!

Lucas' Poster 

Class Presentations

     Everyone was eager for Lucas' 5th birthday party at school! Lucas brought cake bars and light sabers to share with his classmates. All sang "Happy Birthday" to Lucas and gifted him with a book. The class later had a blast with water balloons. 

     This is Lucas' second year at SMART START. He was a star preschooler and is now one of our kindergartners. His caring nature and clever mind is adored by all of his teachers and classmates. You are capable of great things, Lucas!

💓SMART START💓

Stream to Learn- Online Education

     Due to the current coronavirus pandemic, SMART START transferred to an online learning program: Stream to Learn. Our virtual classroom provided students the opportunity to continue their education, friendships and acquire some technological skills.

Read below to learn more about our Stream to Learn curriculum:


Structured Learning Sessions
      Young learners were thoroughly engaged in our interactive zoom classroom. Each class consisted of a themed unit of study, activity sheets, hands-on projects, thoughtful discussions and collaborative games. Language arts, social studies, Spanish and S.T.E.A.M (science, technology, engineering, art & math) are among the subjects integrated into these sessions.

Virtual Field Trips 
      Field trips are an essential component of our curriculum. We had the opportunity to incorporate these into our Stream to Learn sessions. Miss Maura from MA Audubon Ipswich River Sanctuary attended a class to teach about amphibians and vernal pools. In addition, "Mother Goose" joined a session to share classic nursery rhymes and play music and movement games with the children. Also, students virtually explored the San Diego Zoo in CA, The Museum of Science in Boston, MA, The Butterfly Garden in Westford, MA, The New England Aquarium in Boston, MA, a recycling site in FA and Outer Space with NASA. These "trips" enhanced our teachings by presenting subject matter in a realistic setting.

Advisory 
     Once per week, students had a scheduled literacy session. Each child was individually assessed and placed into either our preschool or prekindergarten level of advisement. This time allowed for pupils to expand their knowledge and skills in areas pertaining to their personal development. Topics covered included matching letters to sounds, identifying sight words, reading using phonics and more. Strengths and needs were continually evaluated as all learners are unique and flourish at their own pace.

Friends Night
      Peers enjoyed being active and entertained at "Friends Night". This evening event involved virtually viewing a singalong together, having a snack made during a structured learning session, friendly discussions and playing games such as, Freeze Dance and Bingo.

Lunch With Friends
      Mealtime at school serves as an opportunity for friends to converse with one another about what their are learning and to develop friendships. For this activity, all brought their lunch, chatted, laughed and played games.

Special Events

     In preparation for Mother's Day and Father's Day, our SMART START mothers & fathers were invited to one of our sessions to decorate a special craft (matching hats for Mother's Day & matching socks for Father's Day) with their child(ren). Students were thrilled to bring their parents to class and enjoyed completing this activity together.

     All were excited to virtually celebrate our SMART START friend Lou Lou's 4th birthday. "Princess Elsa" joined the party for games, activities and to help the class sing "Happy Birthday" to Lou Lou while she opened her gift.

Click below to view Stream to Learn highlights:

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