545 Zor Shrine Place, Madison, WI 53719
Call Us(608) 622-1771

4K Program

OUR 4K PROGRAM

 

Our goal in everything we do is to foster confidence in children, preparing them for their next great adventure.

 

4K children gardening
4K students grow plants and vegetables which they harvest and use in snack recipes.

We implement play, movement and exploration-based learning that meets both the Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards (WMELS) and fits our mission to create a healthy, nurturing environment that inspires. Our curriculum combines the values of world-renowned educational theorists Maria Montessori and Sir Ken Robinson with a homeschooling approach to teaching and learning. We focus on both social-emotional development and the academic building blocks that prepare you child for Kindergarten. 

Our learning activities are designed to get our young scholars moving. Movement is vital to the intellectual and creative development of children; through movement they learn to strategize (what’s my next move?), think critically (how can I solve this problem?) and express themselves. Our mantra is “We don’t teach at tables.”

Our lessons are interactive, encouraging the children to learn early literacy, math, social studies and science skills through play. Each day is a mixture of child-led learning and teacher-guided activities.

Imagination Playground
Children explore the Imagination Playground play system.
What sets us apart from other 4K programs?
  • Our 4K program is run throughout the entire day, not in a condensed 3-hour period. Our young students are able to receive a broad-based education, get many chances for the vital “brain breaks’ they need, and our teachers have the time to teach creatively with purpose.
  • We operate 5 days a week instead of the normal 4-day-a-week 4K program on a full-year rolling calendar, so students can begin their experience with us at any time.
  • We offer wraparound care on-premise. No need for transportation to another destination!
    • Well Outdoor Classroom
      Our shaded outdoor learning area

      Our center space has areas for quiet reading, creative and dramatic play, community building activities, and exploring our indoor gym. We even have an Imagination Playground play system

    • Our “backyard” features a mud kitchen, hills and tree stumps for climbing, gardens tended by our students, an outdoor classroom, a giant sandbox and a log cabin!
4K Students with Chicken
Students learn about hens during an “on-site” field trip with Heartland Farm Sanctuary

Our 4K teachers prepare developmentally appropriate activities that stimulate the interests of our students, building their skills and knowledge. Each month follows a broad theme designed to build awareness of the world around us. Within that theme, teachers facilitate activities that expand students’ curiosities, from learning how dairy farms not too far down the road from us work, to how children celebrate holiday traditions in countries far, far away. We frequently venture out on walking field trips to practice skills like mailing letters and picking out healthy ingredients at the local market to make smoothies.