Fridays at the Education Center in Brookville are filled with energy, laughter, and discovery during Preschool Exchange, a favorite activity that supports social interaction, imaginative play, and independence.
Every Friday afternoon, preschoolers enjoy thirty minutes of open play, exploring themed activities in different classrooms and making new friends.
“In the first few weeks of the school year, we focus on getting the students acclimated to their classrooms,” Abbe Finz, Curriculum Coordinator, said. “Once they’re comfortable in that type of environment, then we start Preschool Exchange.”
During the Preschool Exchange, each classroom is set up with a specific activity where students can focus on different experiences, ranging from imaginative play to fine and gross motor skills. Students are empowered to visit different classrooms, entering and exiting classrooms as they choose.
Friendly guidelines help the activity run smoothly Each classroom has a capacity limit displayed on a poster by the door, where students attach a photo of themselves letting teachers know who’s in each room.
To move from room to room, students must grab their photo and stick it to the next room’s poster before entering. If the room is full, students must seek another activity to explore.
These rules help students build autonomy, practice problem solving, and work on turn taking. The exchange also supports socialization, as they can play with students outside of their typical classroom.
Emily Gordin, Special Education Teacher, picked movement as her classroom activity. On the smartboard she displayed energetic dance-along videos for students to casually participate in.
“They all love dancing. They love moving and sometimes sitting at the table or on the carpet becomes mundane,” Emily said. “They love movement and it’s so interactive. Just look at them. They’re so happy.”
The movement room was a very popular choice for students during the January 9 Preschool Exchange. Students jumped, danced, and sang before moving along to the next room.
Although the activity runs for thirty minutes, students managed to explore nearly every room due to their curiosity and eagerness to try new things. As Preschool Exchange continues throughout the year, students will develop essential skills that will serve them in school and beyond.
