Appletree’s Pre K-4 Program
Appletree’s Pre-K 4 Program is designed for children ages 4 1⁄2 to 5 1⁄2 and provides the academic foundation, confidence, and independence needed for a successful transition into kindergarten.
Appletree’s Pre-K4 Program
This program builds upon the skills developed in earlier preschool years and introduces more advanced academic concepts, critical thinking, and responsibility within a structured, engaging classroom environment. Our Pre-K 4 curriculum intentionally supports social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development, ensuring children are not only prepared for kindergarten but also excited for it.
Our experienced Pre-K 4 teachers follow thoughtfully prepared lesson plans that challenge children to think deeply, communicate clearly, and take pride in their work, while still allowing room for creativity, exploration, and play.
What Makes Our Pre K-4
Program Special
Appletree’s Pre-K 4 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:
Continued focus on social skills, confidence, and leadership.
Strong focus on literacy, phonics, math, and writing.
Emphasis on independence, responsibility, and self-management.
Higher-order thinking through discussion, questioning, and problem-solving.
Collaborative learning through small groups and partner work.
Kindergarten-readiness curriculum with clear academic goals.
Our Pre K-4 Curriculum
Appletree’s Pre-K 4 curriculum is comprehensive, structured, and intentionally designed to prepare children for the academic and social expectations of kindergarten.
Through teacher-guided instruction, hands-on learning, small-group activities, and independent work, children strengthen their skills across all developmental domains.
Our curriculum supports growth in the following areas:
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Recognizing, writing, and reading upper- and lowercase letters
Letter-sound correspondence, beginning and ending sounds, and sight words
Developing phonemic awareness through rhyming and sound manipulation
Writing first and last names and beginning sentence writing
Listening to and discussing story books and longer stories
Learning to read decodable books
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Counting and recognizing numbers (including higher number ranges)
One-to-one correspondence
Comparing quantities (greater than, less than)
Introduction to addition and subtraction using concrete objects
Patterning, sorting, sequencing, and graphing
Understanding time concepts (days, months, seasons)
Measurement and comparison
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Following multi-step directions independently
Asking and answering thoughtful questions
Comparing and contrasting ideas
Understanding cause and effect
Retelling and sequencing events from stories
Connecting stories to real-life experiences
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Working cooperatively with peers
Participating in group discussions and activities
Managing emotions and resolving problems appropriately
Taking responsibility through classroom jobs and routines
Demonstrating leadership, confidence, and self-control
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Refining fine motor skills for writing and classroom tasks
Mastering proper pencil grip and scissor use
Developing gross motor coordination through structured movement and play
Increasing stamina, balance, and control
Learning Through Structure & Independence: A Pre-K 4 Day in Action
Throughout the day, children engage in meaningful learning experiences that promote independence and accountability, including:
Literacy and math instruction.
Phonics and handwriting practice.
Science and social studies exploration.
Journal writing and creative expression.
Cooperative learning centers and partner work.
Assigned classroom jobs and responsibilities.
Outdoor play and movement activities.
Pre-K 4 Developmental Milestones
The milestones below highlight key skills supported in our Pre-K 4 Voyagers classrooms. Children develop at individual rates, and these benchmarks help guide instruction and readiness.
- Understands similarities and differences
- Draws a person with five or more body parts
- Understands daily routines and sequences
- Follows multi-step directions
- Counts and recognizes numbers
- Understands fiction vs. non-fiction
- Identifies sequence of events
- Recites name, address, and phone number
- Recalls and discusses story details
- Asks and answers comprehension questions
- Demonstrates cause-and-effect reasoning
- Runs, jumps, and navigates obstacles with control
- Participates in relay races and obstacle courses
- Catches a ball from a distance
- Balances on one foot for extended periods
- Pedals and steers a tricycle or bicycle
- Traces, draws shapes, and completes detailed work
- Cuts, glues, and colors with precision
- Demonstrates proper handwriting posture and grip
- Dresses and undresses independently
- Comprehends and responds to stories and texts
- Expands vocabulary and sentence structure
- Participates in Show & Tell discussions
- Retells stories in sequence
- Demonstrates phonics and sound awareness
- Writes in journals and practices early writing
- Uses language for problem-solving and social interaction
- Creates original art
- Expresses ideas through movement and music
- Engages in dramatic and imaginative play
- Participates in teacher-guided creative activities
- Uses language to describe artwork and ideas
- Observes life cycles and natural processes
- Experiments with materials and makes predictions
- Learns about weather, seasons, plants, animals, and the senses
- Explores hygiene, nutrition, and healthy habits
- Learns about national holidays and traditions
- Understands community helpers and neighborhoods
- Develops self-awareness and identity
- Demonstrates one-to-one correspondence
- Recognizes quantities beyond ten
- Understands greater than and less than
- Applies basic addition and subtraction
- Creates and extends patterns
- Sorts and orders objects by attributes
- Represents data through simple graphs
- Understands positional and time-related concepts
Ready for Kindergarten — and Beyond
Pre-K 4 is a pivotal year. Our goal is to ensure every child leaves Appletree feeling confident, capable, and excited to begin kindergarten with strong academic skills, independence, and a love of learning.