“Why?” “How?” “What happens if…?” Preschoolers ask a lot of questions—and that is a wonderful thing. Questions are one of the ways children make sense of the world. When a child asks why something floats, how a plant grows, where rain comes from, or what will happen if two materials are mixed together, they are showing curiosity and a desire to understand. At Dream-I, we see curiosity as an important part of learning. Questions Lead to Investigation A question does not always

What if a preschool project could involve science, math, literacy, art, communication, teamwork, and problem-solving all at the same time? That is one of the strengths of project-based learning. At Dream-I, Project Based Learning (PBL) is combined with our STEAM+ approach, which connects Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math with Language/Literacy and Social Studies. Rather than teaching every skill in isolation, children can explore connected ideas through meaningf

Young children are naturally hands-on learners. They want to touch, move, build, mix, sort, investigate, and try things for themselves. There is a reason for that. Hands-on experiences give children opportunities to connect new information with something they can actually see and experience. Learning Through Experience Think about the difference between telling a child that some objects float and some objects sink versus giving the child a container of water and a collection

What happens when preschoolers get the chance to explore what it might feel like to visit one of the coldest places in our solar system? As part of our Outer Space theme, our students explored the fascinating world of Uranus and Neptune, two planets known as the solar system’s “ice giants.” Instead of simply learning about these distant planets through pictures and books, we created a hands-on icy environment where children could investigate, observe, and experiment with diff

A pretend grocery store. A classroom restaurant. A doctor's office. A construction site. A pretend home. To an adult, these may look like simple games. To a preschooler, dramatic play is a powerful learning experience. When children pretend to be someone else or recreate a familiar setting, they are practicing skills that extend far beyond play. Language and Vocabulary Dramatic play gives children a reason to communicate. A child playing restaurant may need to greet a custome

As adults, we naturally want children to succeed. We want to see the tower stay standing, the picture turn out beautifully, and the answer be correct. But if we always prevent mistakes, we can accidentally prevent children from experiencing one of the most important parts of learning: figuring out what to do next. Mistakes Give Children Information When a child tries something and it does not work, the result provides information. A block structure falls. A child discovers it

Fine motor skills involve the small muscles and coordinated movements of the hands and fingers. They are important for many everyday tasks, from buttoning clothing to using utensils, drawing, writing, opening containers, and manipulating classroom materials. Fine motor development is much broader than cutting and coloring. Building and Manipulating Blocks, puzzles, connecting pieces, small construction materials, and other manipulatives give children opportunities to grasp, r

At Dream-i Education, we believe that young children are naturally curious about how their bodies work. When children ask questions, we want to give them opportunities to explore, observe, create, and discover. Recently, our classroom transformed into a mini science laboratory as our young scientists explored the fascinating world of blood cells through a hands-on STEAM experience. Check out our Amazon store front for links to the products we use. As an Amazon Associate, I ea

Preschool is one of the first places where many children spend a significant amount of time with a group of peers. It is a place where children learn not only academic concepts, but also how to communicate, cooperate, express themselves, and navigate relationships. Social skills are not simply something children either have or do not have. They develop through practice by: Learning to Communicate Children need opportunities to express what they want, explain what they are thi