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-K 4 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.
Kindergarten-readiness curriculum with clear academic goals.
Collaborative learning through small groups and partner work.
Higher-order thinking through discussion, questioning, and problem-solving.
Emphasis on independence, responsibility, and self-management.
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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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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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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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.
Outdoor play and movement activities.
Cooperative learning centers and partner work.
Assigned classroom jobs and responsibilities.
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.
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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
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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
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Traces, draws shapes, and completes detailed work
Cuts, glues, and colors with precision
Demonstrates proper handwriting posture and grip
Dresses and undresses independently
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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
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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
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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
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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 to Begin Your Appletree Journey?
See our classrooms, meet our educators, and experience the care that helps children thrive from the very start.