Welcome to the Fours
The Fours Program builds on the interests, accomplishments, and skills of the three year old. Teachers continue to support children’s growth in all domains: social, emotional, cognitive, physical, and creative. Many children begin to build knowledge about letters and the sounds they make, especially those in their own name, and grow their understanding of print as a means of communication. A four year old begins to develop perspective and is better able to appreciate the ideas of others, allowing them to navigate collaborative projects and play with greater depth. Daily meeting times provide an opportunity for children to develop confidence sharing their ideas with a group and to practice the skills of a thoughtful listener. Teachers construct curriculum by exploring topics that are meaningful to the children and provide hands-on learning experiences to encourage further research. Our Fours Program includes weekly music and science classes and physical education and yoga classes twice a month.
Program Snapshot
Age
Children must be 4 by September 1st of the year in which they attend.
Ratio
15:2 (with additional part time support)
Schedule
Students meet 5 days per week: 8:30 – 12:45
Program Approach
The Cow Project
As a community building idea to start the year, the Fours teachers adopted a newborn cow from a local farm. When they introduced this cow to the class, the children became very curious to know more and The Cow Project took off. Through books, videos and a visit to New Pond Farm, the children investigated cows, following the aspects that most interested them. Initially, the tags in the cow's ears grabbed their attention but as they gained more exposure, other physical characteristics (like the udder and the bumps on a cow's head) became their focus, along with questions about what cows eat and how big they grow. The class enjoyed regular updates on their adopted cow from the farmer, receiving photos and information about how she was growing and changing. The children then put their new knowledge to use as they worked together to build a cow out of recycled materials. The finished product was full of authentic details that displayed the deep learning that took place over the course of the project.
Happy Chatter
All four of our children have attended LCDS and it has been such a wonderful place for our family. The growth and transformation in the Fours year is particularly remarkable. The teachers and staff do a wonderful job gently preparing the children for the challenges and opportunities of kindergarten and beyond. LCDS is such a special place.
Brianne Ippolito | Parent
I can’t express enough how incredible LCDS has been for my children, especially in the Fours Program. When my son started Kindergarten, he came home a few months in and said “ You know, my teachers at LCDS really cared about me.” While we always knew our kids were loved and cared for, it was heartwarming to see how much the staff’s attention and support resonated with the students. Each day felt like a new adventure, where learning and fun seamlessly intertwined. It was truly remarkable to witness all the achievements and growth that occurred in just one year. LCDS will always have a special place in our hearts, and we are endlessly grateful to the staff and community for providing our kids with such a wonderful start to their educational journey.
Tess Fantegrossi Farhat | parent
Program Approach
The Cow Project
As a community building idea to start the year, the Fours teachers adopted a newborn cow from a local farm. When they introduced this cow to the class, the children became very curious to know more and The Cow Project took off. Through books, videos and a visit to New Pond Farm, the children investigated cows, following the aspects that most interested them. Initially, the tags in the cow's ears grabbed their attention but as they gained more exposure, other physical characteristics (like the udder and the bumps on cow's head) became their focus, along with questions about what cows eat and how big they grow. The class received regular updates on their adopted cow from the farmer, receiving photos and information about how she was growing and changing. The children then put their new knowledge to use as they worked together to build a cow out of recycled materials. The finished product was full of authentic details that displayed the deep learning that took place over the course of the project.
Take a look inside the Fours program
