Telephone
(210) 344-3472In conjunction with units being studied, the children extend their learning with enrichment activities. These include outdoor play, field trips, cooking, and a variety of extracurricular activities.
Children go outside every day – weather permitting. Our well-designed playground contains sand areas, a Mud Kitchen, pitcher pump, children’s garden, swings, large and small climbing structures, wheeled toys, a playhouse, picnic tables, a shaded grassy area, basketball hoop, garden gazebo, covered patio and a tricycle track. The large play structure consists of steps, platforms, ladders, dual slide, climbing wall, bridge, and tire swing. In this environment, the child is able to partake in healthful outdoor exercise and develop large motor skills. Outside play provides a crucial physical outlet as well as the opportunity to build on social, cooperative, and imaginative play experiences. When outside play is not possible, large motor activities may still be possible on the covered patio or breezeway, or if the Music or Motor Skills Rooms are available.
All classes garden in our raised flower and vegetable garden beds. Children observe what soil is comprised of, prepare garden beds, plant seeds, water and weed their tiny seedlings, document growth, search for butterfly larvae, dig for worms or taste what they’ve harvested! Together with their Garden Buddy class, children plant, tend and harvest a Fall and Spring crop. Garden Buddies nurture relationships between older and younger age groups, bring literacy activities outside, and give everyone a chance to play in the dirt! Our garden is Nature’s classroom.
Taken in conjunction with units of study, field trips provide an opportunity for the child to apply new information to life outside the classroom. Field Trips may include the Witte Museum, downtown San Antonio, special exhibits or presentations, the San Antonio Museum of Art, an underground cavern, the Magik Theatre, nearby city parks, the Zoo, the Botanical Gardens, a nearby bakery, the Post Office, a fire station, the Scobee Planetarium, the McNay Art Museum, the Produce Terminal, nature trails or wildlife conservancy, Mission San Jose, the Public Library, medical or veterinarian clinic, and local theatrical productions. Field trips are dependent on the availability of Parent drivers. Any adult driving a student other than their own family member, is required to complete a DFPS background check prior to the field trip, provide a valid driver’s license and proof of insurance. All adult chaperones are under the direction and supervision of the Teacher.
In addition to off campus excursions, we also bring special guests or traveling exhibits such as Zoomagination, San Antonio Fire or Police Dept. vehicles, or artifacts from museums or the Institute of Texan Cultures.
The children cook several times a month. These rich sensory experiences tie into units and topics being explored in the classroom, as well as providing an opportunity to work with measurement, mixtures, discussing proper nutrition, discriminating new flavors, and trying different foods. While cooking, Teachers stress proper sanitation, expand on the children’s language, introduce math and science concepts, and involve the children in the preparation, enjoyment, and cleanup of their cooking project.