On Our Way To School – Playgroup Guide

In school, children do lots of activities. They write, draw, paint, and build with different materials. As children do these things, they use tools–scissors to cut paper, paintbrushes to mix colors, and pencils to write letters and numbers.

At home, children can often get one-on-one help with what they need. At school, teachers have many children to care for and may not be able to assist right away. This is why it is important for children to learn to do tasks like zip jackets, put on shoes, and open snack containers. These everyday tasks use fine motor skills—small movements of the fingers, hands, and wrists.

Patience is about learning to wait for a turn, be with the group, and stay calm. These skills help children join class activities and make friends.

Listening to and following directions happens throughout the school day. A typical school day includes circle time or morning meetings, where the class learns what happens during the day. During activities, they need to know what steps to follow. These skills help children feel like part of the group. When children feel that they belong, it’s easier to make friends, work together, and be ready to learn in school.

Children spend lots of time with friends at school. Being kind and understanding others’ feelings helps children have positive interactions.

Starting school is exciting! But it might also feel a little scary. Children can start to connect with their new friends at school by talking about themselves and their families.

You can use or adapt this playgroup structure to maximize playful learning about early math during your playgroup. Be sure to also visit the Math Everywhere collection to download the accompanying Family Activity Sheets. This playgroup guide includes:

You can incorporate nature-based education anywhere! You don’t need to live in a rural area, or have a forest in your neighborhood, or even have a yard at all. Nature can truly be discovered in unexpected places.