The Senior Kindergarten program at SK Jewish Daycare in Thornhill is based on play based, intentional learning that combines structure and exploration. Every day is structured with Circle Time, center based activities, small group work, and reflection. This helps children to feel safe while they are stretching their abilities. Teachers create experiences that foster communication, cooperation and respect while reinforcing literacy and numeracy early on through age appropriate, hands-on activities. The goal is clear and simple: a confident, smooth transition to grade school.
We implement comprehensive Jewish programs for all students. This includes celebrating Jewish holidays, adopting traditions, and taking part in a joyous Hebrew circle. These activities introduce children to Judaism and its richness in an age appropriate, fun way. They also foster a positive connection with their heritage.
Circle Time is a great way to start the day, as it helps build group identity and promotes language development. Children can read, sing, play games, look at the calendar and share ideas related to class themes. This group setting allows children to practice listening, turn taking and speaking in front of their peers, habits that will carry over directly into SK. Children connect content with prior experiences using teacher prompts. Jewish culture weaves itself into Circle Time with Hebrew songs, blessings and seasonal themes taken from the Jewish Calendar. Children can sing “Shalom chaverim,” or discuss the parsha story using simple language. They could also practice saying “todah,” which is “thank you” in Hebrew.
Play is transformed into rich learning in centers. Drama Centers are based on themes, such as a doctor’s office, grocery, hair salon or school bus, so that children can practice their real life roles, increase vocabulary and learn how to negotiate social situations. They plan scenarios, solve problems using language, and work with their peers. The Block/Building Centre encourages design thinking. Children experiment with size, shape, and space. They test out structures and make adjustments to their plans. This naturally introduces spatial reasoning, sequencing, and persistence critical for both numeracy and executive function in SK.
What Learning Looks like: Literacy and Numeracy in Action
Weekly Jolly Phonics is a weekly program where a teacher specializes in sound symbol relations, letter recognition and early reading readiness. Children can blend and segment sounds. They can trace and form letters. And they can connect phonics with meaningful reading and writing. Sharing readings during Circle Time, and doing simple writing exercises like labeling pictures or adding captions can build stamina. These experiences make literacy fun and tangible.
Music helps to improve memory and rhythm in language learning. Weekly, a music teacher comes to introduce new songs and instruments. Children learn to listen for patterns, echo melodies and coordinate movements. These skills also help with attention, sequencing and oral language. The parallel paths of growth offered by Yoga and Movement are complementary. Children can learn to focus their energy and improve their gross motor skills by using ribbons, balls and creative movements.
In centers and moments led by teachers, numeracy is organically developed. Children compare lengths and count blocks in the Block/Building Centre. The Drama Centre offers a cafe or shopping play that encourages simple math operations, counting and matching. Science & Sensory encourages inquiry based learning: water and sand games introduce comparisons of measurement (more/less or heavier/lighter), texture exploring, and cause and effect reasoning. These investigations encourage curiosity and provide a conceptual foundation for formal math.
The environment is designed to promote self regulation. Children can reset and refocus in the Library/Quiet Area, a calm, soft space that includes multicultural books, puppets and gentle music. Teachers model calm, relaxed approaches and promote strategies that will help children get back to a state of readiness for learning. This constant attention to regulation promotes attention, impulse control and emotional awareness.
The spaces, both indoors and outdoors, are designed with purpose. On days where the weather is not conducive to outdoor activities, large indoor gymnasiums are available. The outdoor Playgrounds invited nature exploration, running, climbing, and imaginative play. These environments encourage healthy risk taking and social cooperation as well as gross motor development.
A family partnership ensures that learning is aligned, transparent and open. Monthly program plans and weekly idea plans outline themes and activities. Photo and video updates highlight the day’s milestones and discoveries. This ensures that at home discussions can reinforce what the children learn in class, and keep the learning experience cohesive.
The Play to Skills Pathway: Centers that Build Big Skills
Arts & Crafts provides both child directed as well as teacher directed activities. Children freely access materials to create original art building fine motor strength, planning, and self expression while teacher guided projects connect to current themes. This combination deepens knowledge of content and teaches the children how to follow multiple step instructions. Jewish themed art projects like decorating paper challahs, making paper Menorahs or crafting pomegranates blend creativity with cultural symbolism as well as fine motor skills.
The use of floor toys and puzzles helps to develop persistence and logic. Children can choose their own tasks, try out different strategies and feel the satisfaction of completing them. Toy rotation keeps children engaged and introduces them to new challenges, problem types and problems. This broadens their cognitive flexibility. Science & Sensory promotes observation and investigation with a variety of materials that stimulate sight, touch, and smell. At Science & Sensory, holiday linked explorations like smelling cloves for havdalah spice bags or comparing oil and water during Hanukkah.
Nutrition and safety are important for learning. Healthy homemade meals with no nuts or pork are a good fit for children’s health and allow them to be comfortable. A safe environment, age appropriate furniture, and toys that are appropriate for students will allow them to play and explore. We offer a menu that is kosher and completely pork free. This aligns with Jewish dietary requirements while also promoting healthy eating. We are proud to provide nutritious meals that reflect excellence and care.
The Senior Kindergarten system is cohesive: Circle Time develops community and language, centers encourage inquiry, creativity and problem solving, specialists enhance literacy, music and movement, quiet spaces and routines promote regulation, and indoor/outdoor learning environments are extended through active play. Each element is deliberate and supports the habits and abilities that children will take into grade school.
Are you ready to see how play with purpose prepares children for the future? Visit the Jewish daycare at Thornhill to see curiosity transform into ability. Join us at SK Jewish Daycare in Thornhill to build school readiness through play.