Appletree’s Pre K-3 Program
Appletree’s Pre-K 3 Program is designed for children ages 3½ to 4½ and focuses on building strong pre-kindergarten foundations through an engaging, structured, and purposeful curriculum.
Appletree’s Pre-K3 Program
At this stage, children are becoming more independent thinkers, confident communicators, and active participants in their learning. Our Pre-K 3 program introduces more formal academic concepts while still honoring creativity, play, and social development.
Our Lead Teachers implement thoughtfully prepared lesson plans that support early literacy, math, handwriting, and problem-solving skills, helping children gain confidence as learners and preparing them for Pre-K 4 expectations.
What Makes Our Pre K-3
Program Special
Appletree’s Pre-K 3 curriculum bridges early learning and school readiness through teacher-led instruction, hands-on activities, small groups, and purposeful play to build academic skills and independence.
Our curriculum supports development in the following areas:
A structured, engaging curriculum designed to prepare children for kindergarten readiness.
Introduction to early math concepts and logical thinking.
Emphasis on fine motor development and handwriting readiness.
Opportunities for creativity, critical thinking, and self-expression.
Continued focus on social skills, manners, and cooperative play.
Strong focus on early literacy, phonics, and language development.
Our Pre K-3 Curriculum
Appletree’s Pre-K 3 curriculum is intentionally designed to bridge early learning and school readiness. Through a combination of teacher-guided instruction, hands-on activities, small-group learning, and purposeful play, children build the skills needed for academic success and independence.
Our curriculum supports development in the following areas:
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Letter recognition and letter-sound correspondence
Introduction to beginning consonant sounds and phonemic awareness
Recognizing rhyming words and early sight words
Beginning reading and writing of first and last names
Expanding vocabulary and sentence structure
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Counting, writing, and recognizing numbers 1–20
Comparing quantities (more vs. fewer)
Creating and recognizing patterns
Introduction to measurement concepts such as length and weight
Completing and retelling simple stories
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Answering “why” and “how” questions
Learning to explain thinking and reasoning
Remembering and discussing past events
Engaging in activities that promote prediction and sequencing
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Playing cooperatively with peers
Using manners and respectful communication
Sharing ideas during group discussions and activities
Building confidence when speaking in front of peers
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Strengthening fine motor skills for writing and classroom tasks
Developing gross motor skills through movement and outdoor play
Encouraging independence in daily routines
Learning Through Structure & Creativity: A Pre-K 3 Day in Action
Throughout the day, children participate in activities that reinforce learning and independence, including:
Teacher-led lessons and small-group instruction.
Phonics, literacy, and math learning centers.
Art, science, and social studies projects.
Storytime with comprehension discussions.
Handwriting and fine motor practice.
Free play to encourage creativity and individuality.
Outdoor play and movement activities.
Pre-K 3 Developmental Milestones
The milestones below highlight key skills supported in our Pre-K 3 classrooms. While children develop at different rates, these benchmarks help guide instruction and individualized support.
- Recognizes letters A–Z
- Counts and writes numbers 1–20
- Understands basic comparisons (more vs. fewer)
- Creates and recognizes patterns
- Understands basic measurement concepts
- Completes and retells simple stories
- Remembers and discusses past events
- Walks in a single-file line
- Jumps with both feet
- Balances on one foot
- Throws and catches a large ball
- Rides a tricycle
- Uses the bathroom independently
- Traces, draws shapes, and builds hand-eye coordination
- Builds block towers
- Opens containers, lunch boxes, and zip-lock bags
- Holds a pencil using proper finger placement
- Uses non-dominant hand to stabilize paper
- Threads small beads onto a string
- Cuts around simple shapes
- Completes 4–10 piece puzzles
- Dresses independently
- Writes first and last name on a dotted line
- Draws a recognizable person
- Screws and unscrews caps
- Understands positional and time-related words (before, after)
- Demonstrates phonics and letter-sound recognition
- Shows phonemic awareness through rhyme
- Answers “why” questions
- Uses complex sentences (because, so, if, when)
- Participates in show-and-tell and group discussions
- Follows multi-step directions
- Speaks clearly using a broad vocabulary
- Assigns or takes on roles during pretend play
- Acts out stories and scenarios
- Uses imagination during dramatic play
- Engages in storytelling and role-play
Building Confidence for Kindergarten Readiness
Pre-K 3 is a pivotal year for developing academic confidence, independence, and a love of learning. Our goal is to prepare children socially, emotionally, and academically so they feel capable, curious, and excited about the next stage of preschool.