Early Childhood
Early Learners, Preschool, Pre-K, and Kindergarten
The Early Childhood Center (ECC) incorporates a healthy blend of work and play with a variety of activities and experiences to help children develop greater confidence and independence. In addition to the core curriculum detailed below, children spend time every week working with special teachers in music, physical education, Spanish, and library. Life skills are practiced every day in chapel, the classrooms, learning centers, during lunch, and on the playground.
Learn more about our ECC curriculum and special programs below.
Ready to see our classrooms in action? Let us know what grade level you are interested in, and we will be happy to show you around our special school.
As part of their project based learning unit that asks the question, "How can we create recipes with locally grown ingredients?", kindergarteners visit the Overland Park Farmer's Market. Students select and pay for fresh food that they use in cooking class to make recipes that utilize seasonal, local ingredients. For many kindergarteners, it's their first time representing St. Paul's and riding a bus on a field trip.
Pre-K students spend several weeks learning about the solar system, gravity, the atmosphere, space exploration, and constellations. Students even make and name their own planet! The unit culminates in an open house where students show off their outer space projects to family and friends.
While bathing their baby dolls, changing their diapers, and swaddling them in soft blankets, students are strengthening several core skills. This unit encourages toddlers to follow multi-step directions, take responsibility, practice fine motor skills, and build their social-emotional learning. Plus, it’s fun to see these Early Learners be such big kids in the classroom!
Using “The Mitten” by Jan Brett as the inspiration, students practice measuring skills to compare the sizes of animals featured in the book. The polar bear and brown bear are the biggest, but we (humans) are bigger than all the other animals. It’s also fun for students to learn about each animal’s habitat and discover what they like to eat.
Early Learners practice their cooking skills so they can help their families prepare the Thanksgiving feast. First up is conquering mashed potatoes. Students learn sequence, measuring, and cause-and-effect in this activity. The bonus: the gratification and excitement of eating what they've made together!
St. Paul's Early Childhood students all attend weekly creative movement and music classes. They also perform in regular music programs for family and friends.
Early Childhood Students:
- Gather for Daily Chapel
- Perform in Christmas and grade level musical programs
- Take weekly music and physical education classes
- Starting in Pre-K, students attend Spanish classes twice a week
- Participate in Field Day, which is planned and staffed by St. Paul's 7th graders
- Enjoy the St. Paul's Buddy Program through buddy activities and events
- Explore during outside time and recess
- Participate in curriculum-linked cultural arts events
Curriculum
The nurturing Early Childhood Center environment creates a balance of work and play with a range of creative materials and manipulatives for learning. ECC teachers provide opportunities to develop independence, confidence, and cooperation as they build important academic readiness and social-emotional skills.
ECC Highlights
In between core content, ECC students enjoy learning about art, music, Spanish, and even cooking. ECC students participate in a range of St. Paul's traditions, like Field Day, Pet Blessing, and more. Our youngest students join in school-wide service projects, like the Annual Food and Toy Drives.
