954-909-0226
5135 S University Dr. Davie, Fl. 33328
954-909-0226
OUR PROGRAM: FOUR'S / VPK'S
As Children move into our VPK program children begin to understand their value as part of a group. They now have foundational skills fand have well-developed self-help skills and they are interested in small and large group learning.
A Strong Foundation for Lifelong Learning
At CarePlay our VPK program is designed with one primary goal: to ensure that our graduates are confident, academically prepared, and equipped with the intellectual habits necessary for success in Kindergarten, Grade 1 and beyond. Through our evidence-based, thoughtfully crafted curriculum, we foster positive attitudes towards school and inspire a love for lifelong learning.
Academic Readiness and Emotional Stability
Our dedicated VPK educators guide students towards academic readiness while nurturing emotional stability. With a focus on both intellectual development and emotional growth, we help children build social confidence and resilience, enabling them to thrive both inside and outside the classroom. We believe in allowing children the creative freedom to explore, express themselves, and take ownership of their learning.
A Confident Learner and Empathetic Citizen
A CarePlay graduate is not only a confident and capable learner but also an empathetic and engaged member of a supportive community. We focus on developing well-rounded individuals who are prepared for the outside world, equipped with the skills to collaborate, think critically, and approach problems with creativity and confidence.
Fostering Curiosity, Creativity, and Social Development
At this stage, children are intensely curious and naturally social. Our VPK program is designed to nurture these qualities by offering structured learning activities that become increasingly complex and abstract as children’s abilities grow. This progression supports their cognitive development and deepens their understanding of the world around them.
Academic Growth & Creative Expression
In addition to structured learning, students can engage in collaborative project work during their Core Knowledge classes. This fosters higher levels of creative expression and critical thinking. Our educators continually challenge students academically, while also being responsive to their individual needs, ensuring a balanced and personalized approach to learning.
Developing Social Skills & Emotional Intelligence
As part of our VPK program, children hone their social skills, develop empathy, and build emotional intelligence. By engaging in group activities and guided social interactions, students learn the importance of collaboration, respect, and communication. These experiences help them develop confidence, self-awareness, and a strong sense of community.
Our program is dedicated to nurturing these "great brains," ensuring that children are not only academically prepared but also socially and emotionally equipped to continue their journey toward becoming confident, lifelong learners.
Our curriculum Includes The following:
VPK Curriculum
Our program is dedicated to nurturing these "great brains," ensuring that children are not only academically prepared but also socially and emotionally equipped to continue their journey toward becoming confident, lifelong learners.Our curriculum Includes The following:
Language
In VPK, children engage in a variety of interactive activities designed to build essential literacy and communication skills. They develop phonemic awareness, letter recognition, vocabulary, and early writing skills, while also practicing listening, speaking, and storytelling. Through games, songs, and hands-on learning, children strengthen their understanding of language patterns, print concepts, and social language skills, laying a solid foundation for future reading and writing success.
Phonemic Awareness
What they Learn:
Phonemic awareness is the ability to hear and manipulate sounds in spoken words. VPK’S should practice identifying and isolating sounds in words.
Activities that our children participate in:
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Sound recognition: Listen to and identify the first, middle, and last sounds in words.
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Rhyming: Play rhyming games where children identify words that rhyme.
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Blending sounds: Practice blending individual sounds to form simple words (e.g., /c/ /a/ /t/ → "cat").
Letter Recognition and Alphabet Knowledge
What they Learn:
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Recognizing uppercase and lowercase letters, understanding that letters represent sounds, and learning the correct order of the alphabet.
Activities that our children participate in:
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Alphabet songs: Sing songs that help children remember the letters in the correct order.
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Letter matching: Match uppercase and lowercase letters using flashcards or worksheets.
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Letter hunts: Search for specific letters in books, classroom posters, or around the house.
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Tracing letters: Practice writing letters using writing materials sand, playdough, or paper.
Vocabulary Building
What they Learn:
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Expanding vocabulary by learning new words, understanding their meanings, and using them in context.
Activities that our children participate in:
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Read Alouds: Read books with rich language and discuss new words.
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Word Walls: Create a word wall with common or theme-based words (e.g., animals, colors, feelings).
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Vocabulary Games: Play games like "I Spy" or "Charades" to introduce and reinforce new words.
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Word Categorization: Group words into categories (e.g., animals, food, clothing).
Basic Sentence Structure
What they Learn:
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Learn how to form simple sentences and understand basic sentence structure.
Activities that our children participate in:
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Sentence Building: Use picture cards or word cards to build simple sentences.
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Model Sentences: Ask children to repeat sentences you say or write (e.g., "The cat is on the mat").
Listening & Comprehension Skills
What they Learn:
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Develop active listening skills and practice understanding and responding to spoken language.
Activities that our children participate in:
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Storytime: Read stories aloud and ask questions to check for understanding (e.g., "What happened first?", "Who is the main character?").
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Listening Games: Play games like "Simon Says" or follow simple instructions to improve listening.
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Picture Books: Ask children to describe what they see in pictures or predict what might happen next in the story.
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Retelling Stories: After reading, encourage children to retell the story in their own words.
Speaking & Oral Expression
What they Learn:
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Encourage children to express themselves verbally, describe objects, people, or events, and participate in conversations.
Activities that our children participate in:
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Show & Tell: Let children bring in items from home to talk about.
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Roll Play: Engage in imaginative play where children take on different roles (e.g., teacher, doctor, shopkeeper).
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Conversational Practice Practice taking turns in conversation, encouraging children to ask and answer questions.
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Describe Pictures: Ask children to describe pictures or scenes in detail.
Rhyming and Word Families
What they Learn:
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Learn about rhyming words and word families, helping children understand the patterns in language.
Activities that our children participate in:
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Rhyming Books: Read books that focus on rhymes, such as Dr. Seuss books, and ask children to identify rhyming words.
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Word family activities: Practice word families (e.g., -at words: cat, hat, bat, etc.) through games or flashcards.
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Rhyme-making games: Play games where children come up with as many rhyming words as they can for a given word.
Print Awareness
What they Learn:
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Understand that print has meaning and how reading works (from left to right, top to bottom, etc.).
Activities that our children participate in:
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Book handling: Teach children how to hold a book correctly and turn pages one at a time.
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Labeling items: Label objects in the classroom or home with words to reinforce the connection between print and meaning.
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Pointing to words: As you read aloud, point to the words to show that the text is read in a particular order.
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Environmental Print: Identify print in the environment (e.g., stop signs, store logos, food labels).
Writing & Pre-Writing Skills
What they Learn:
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Develop fine motor skills and practice writing letters, words, and eventually simple sentences.
Activities that our children participate in:
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Drawing & Scribbling: Allow children to freely draw and scribble to strengthen hand muscles.
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Letter tracing: Provide worksheets or activities where children trace letters to improve handwriting.
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Name writing: Practice writing their names and other important words (e.g., "Mom," "Dad," "cat").
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Create Books: Have children dictate or draw a simple story and help them "write" it down.
Story Telling & Narrative Skills
What they Learn:
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Practice telling stories, understanding story structure (beginning, middle, and end), and creating imaginative tales.
Activities that our children participate in:
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Story Sequencing: Use picture cards to help children put a story in order.
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Story starters: Provide a prompt or opening sentence to inspire children to finish the story.
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Puppet Shows: Use puppets or dolls to act out stories and allow children to create their own tales.
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Drawing Stories: Have children draw a picture that tells a story and then explain it verbally.
Social & Language Skills ( Conversation Skills)
What they Learn:
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Understand social rules of language, like taking turns, using polite words (please, thank you), and making eye contact.
Activities that our children participate in:
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Role Playing: Practice basic social situations, like greeting someone, asking for help, or sharing.
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Polite Conversation: Reinforce polite language (e.g., “Excuse me,” “May I,” “Please”).
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Group Discussion: Encourage small group conversations where children practice asking and answering questions with their peers.
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Using Visuals: Use social stories or visual aids to teach appropriate social language.
Letter-Sound Correspondence (Phonics)
What they Learn:
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Understand that letters represent specific sounds and practice blending sounds to read simple words.
Activities that our children participate in:
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Phonics Songs: Use songs and chants that reinforce letter-sound relationships.
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Letter-sound Matching: Match letters to pictures of objects that start with the same sound (e.g., "B" with "bat").
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Sound Sorting: Sort objects or pictures based on the beginning sound (e.g., sorting pictures of animals by their starting letter).
Math
In VPK, children participate in hands-on activities that build key math skills. They practice number recognition and counting, learn basic addition and subtraction, and explore number bonds through games and visuals. Children compare numbers, recognize shapes, and create patterns using everyday objects. They also engage in measurement activities, like comparing lengths and weights, and practice time concepts and coin recognition. Spatial awareness is developed through games involving positions and directions, while sequencing and data collection are introduced with number puzzles and simple graphing. These activities lay a strong foundation for future math learning.
Number Recognition and Counting
What they Learn:
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Recognizing numbers, understanding their order, and counting objects up to 20 or beyond.
Activities that our children participate in:
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Counting Objects: Count everyday items (e.g., blocks, apples, toys) and practice one-to-one correspondence.
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Number recognition games: Use flashcards or number puzzles to match numbers with quantities.
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Counting Songs: Sing songs that help children practice counting in sequence (e.g., "Five Little Ducks").
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Number Writing: Practice writing numbers from 1 to 20 (or beyond) using tracing sheets or drawing in sand.
Number Bonds (Understanding Parts and Whole)
What they Learn:
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Understanding how numbers can be broken down into smaller parts and combined to form a whole (e.g., 5 = 2 + 3).
Activities that our children participate in:
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Use Counters or Objects: Practice breaking numbers into parts using objects like counters, buttons, or blocks.
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Number Bond Worksheets: Create number bonds with visuals to help children understand combinations of numbers (e.g., circles representing 5 broken into 2 + 3).
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Interactive Games: lay games where children match number pairs that make a specific total (e.g., 1 and 9, 2 and 8).
Comparing Numbers
What they Learn:
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Understanding which number is greater, smaller, or equal to another.
Activities that our children participate in:
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Greater than/less than games: Use the symbols >, <, and = to compare numbers (e.g., 4 < 6 or 3 = 3).
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Number Line Activities: Use a number line to visually compare numbers.
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Counting and Comparing Objects: Place two groups of objects and ask children to determine which group has more or fewer items.
Basic Addition and Subtraction (within 10)
What they Learn:
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Simple addition and subtraction using objects, fingers, or drawings.
Activities that our children participate in:
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Count and Add: Use physical objects like toys, blocks, or counters to demonstrate simple addition (e.g., 3 apples + 2 apples = 5 apples).
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Subtraction with Objects: Take away items from a set to demonstrate subtraction (e.g., 5 cookies - 2 cookies = 3 cookies).
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Story Problems: Use simple word problems to practice adding or subtracting objects (e.g., "You have 4 cookies, and I give you 2 more. How many cookies do you have now?").
Understanding Shapes
What they Learn:
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Recognizing and naming basic 2D shapes (circle, square, triangle, rectangle, oval) and understanding their attributes (sides, corners).
Activities that our children participate in:
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Shape Hunt: Go on a shape hunt around the classroom or home to identify shapes in everyday objects (e.g., doors are rectangles, windows are squares).
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Shape Sorting: Sort objects by shape, and then discuss their features (e.g., how many sides, corners).
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Shape Drawing: Draw shapes using different materials (e.g., chalk, crayons, or paint) and talk about their properties.
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Shape Puzzles: Use shape-based puzzles to reinforce shape recognition and spatial understanding.
Patterns and Sequencing
What they Learn:
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Recognizing and creating simple patterns using colors, shapes, or objects.
Activities that our children participate in:
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Pattern Blocks: Use blocks or beads to create and extend repeating patterns (e.g., red, blue, red, blue).
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Pattern Songs: Sing songs or create rhythms using patterns (e.g., clap, snap, clap, snap).
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Pattern Recognition: Have children identify patterns in everyday life (e.g., stripes on a shirt, repeating color patterns on a rug).
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Creating Pattern Cards: Provide visual pattern cards and ask children to extend or complete the pattern.
Measurement (Length, Height and Weight)
What they Learn:
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Understanding basic measurement concepts such as length, height, weight, and volume.
Activities that our children participate in:
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Measure with non-standard units: Use everyday objects (e.g., paper clips, blocks, or pencils) to measure the length of objects.
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Compare Sizes: Compare the heights of two objects or how heavy one object is compared to another.
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Weighing Objects: Use a balance scale to compare the weight of different objects (e.g., which is heavier or lighter?).
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Cooking or Pouring Activities: Measure liquid in cups (e.g., "How many cups of water does it take to fill this container?").
Time (Basic Concepts of Time)
What they Learn:
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Understanding the concepts of time, such as morning, afternoon, night, days of the week, and reading an analog clock (to the hour).
Activities that our children participate in:
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Daily Schedule Discussion: Discuss the daily schedule and where certain activities fall (e.g., morning circle, snack time).
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Clock Activities: Introduce a toy clock or printable clock to show how time passes during the day, emphasizing the hours (e.g., “It’s 9 o’clock, time for school!”).
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Days of the Week Song: Sing songs that help children learn the days of the week.
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Time-related Games: Use timers for activities and discuss the passing of time (e.g., “We have 5 minutes to clean up”).
Money (Basic Coins and Their Value)
What they Learn:
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Recognizing and identifying coins (pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters) and understanding their values.
Activities that our children participate in:
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Coin Recognition: Show different coins and teach their names and values (e.g., a penny is 1 cent, a dime is 10 cents).
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Coin Sorting: Sort coins by type or value, or play pretend store to practice making simple purchases.
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Counting Coins: Practice counting small amounts of money using pennies or other coins (e.g., "How many pennies make a nickel?").
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Coin Rubbings: Place a piece of paper over a coin and rub it with a crayon to help children visualize the coin's shape and features.
Spatial Awareness
What they Learn:
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Understanding positions and directions (e.g., above, below, next to, in front of, behind).
Activities that our children participate in:
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Spatial Language Games: Use toys or objects to describe positions (e.g., “Put the ball behind the chair”).
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Treasure Hunt: Create a treasure hunt where children follow directions based on spatial clues (e.g., “Go left, then go up the stairs”).
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Building Blocks: Build structures using blocks while discussing spatial terms (e.g., “The tower is taller than the house”).
Number, Order and Sequency
What they Learn:
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Understanding number order and the concept of sequencing (e.g., counting forward and backward).
Activities that our children participate in:
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Number Lines: Use a number line to practice counting up and down.
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Number Sequence Puzzels: Use number sequence puzzles where children fill in missing numbers or arrange numbers in order.
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Skip Counting: Teach skip counting by 2s, 5s, or 10s, using objects, songs, or clapping.
Data Collection and Graphing
What they Learn:
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Simple data collection and how to represent information visually using bar graphs or pictographs.
Activities that our children participate in:
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Survey and Graphing: Conduct a survey in the classroom (e.g., “What’s your favorite fruit?”) and create a simple bar graph with pictures or stickers.
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Counting and Graphing Activities: Count objects and display the results on a pictograph or bar graph.
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Sorting by Attributes: Sort items (e.g., buttons or toys) by color, shape, or size, and discuss the results.
STEAM
In VPK, children dive into a world of interactive STEAM activities that foster curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving. They explore science concepts like simple machines, weather, and the natural world, while engaging in hands-on engineering projects and art-based experiments. With opportunities to build structures, experiment with light and sound, and create artwork inspired by nature and technology, children develop critical thinking skills and learn to approach challenges from different perspectives. These activities also strengthen their math and literacy skills through counting, sorting, and storytelling, providing a well-rounded foundation for future academic success.
Simple Machines
Science: Learn about basic simple machines like levers, pulleys, wheels, and inclined planes.
Technology: Use toy tools or simple engineering kits to understand how these machines work.
Engineering: Build simple machines using everyday materials (e.g., using a ramp to move objects).
Art: Create drawings or models of these machines or design simple machine-themed art projects.
Math: Count and measure objects used to build simple machines.
Weather and Seasons
Science: Explore the different types of weather (rain, sunshine, snow) and understand the four seasons.
Technology: Use weather apps or simple instruments (like thermometers or rain gauges) to observe and measure weather.
Engineering: Build a simple weather station or create a weather-themed project (like a windmill or rainwater collection system).
Art: Create weather-related artwork (e.g., a rainbow with different colors, cloud paintings).
Math: Compare temperatures, count cloudy days, or graph different types of weather.
Plants and Growing
Science: Explore how plants grow, the life cycle of a plant, and what plants need to survive (sunlight, water, soil).
Technology: Use simple tools like magnifying glasses to observe plant growth or explore online resources about plants.
Engineering: Build a simple garden or design a plant-growing system (e.g., a mini indoor greenhouse).
Art: Create leaf rubbings, plant collages, or draw pictures of flowers and trees.
Math: Measure plant growth over time, count the number of seeds in a pod, or sort plants by size.
Animals and Habitats
Science: Learn about different types of animals (mammals, birds, insects) and their habitats (forest, ocean, desert).
Technology: Use videos, apps, or virtual tours to explore animal habitats or watch animals in their environments.
Engineering: Create animal homes using natural materials (e.g., building a birdhouse or a bug hotel).
Art: Draw animals, create animal masks, or make clay models of animals and their habitats.
Math: Sort animals by size, shape, or color, or count animals in a specific habitat.
Floating and Sinking
Science: Investigate which objects float and which sink, and why that happens.
Technology: Use simple apps or tools to simulate floating and sinking experiments.
Engineering: Build boats or rafts from various materials and test them in water.
Art: Create art projects that show floating and sinking objects (e.g., a collage of sea creatures or boats).
Math: Count how many objects float or sink and compare their sizes or weights.
Colors and Light
Science: Learn about primary and secondary colors, and how light interacts with objects (e.g., shadows, reflections).
Technology: Use simple light sources like flashlights or light tables to explore colors and shadows.
Engineering: Build color wheels or light-changing devices (e.g., using transparent colored filters).
Art: Create colorful art projects using watercolors, markers, or colored paper.
Math: Sort or count objects based on color, or mix colors to create new shades.
Sorting and Patterns
Math: Learn about shapes, sizes, and patterns by sorting objects (e.g., circles, squares, or by color).
Science: Discover patterns in nature (e.g., leaves, flowers, animal tracks).
Technology: Use educational apps or games that focus on sorting and pattern recognition.
Engineering: Build pattern-based structures using blocks or other materials.
Art: Create patterns in artwork (e.g., using stamps or stencils) or design a patterned rug or quilt.
Space and the Solar System
Science: Explore the basic concepts of space, the sun, moon, and planets.
Technology: Watch videos or use apps that simulate space exploration.
Engineering: Build models of the solar system or rockets using simple materials like paper, clay, or blocks.
Art: Create moon phases charts, star constellations, or planet drawings.
Math: Count the planets, measure distances between objects in space (using simple scale), or explore size comparisons.
Building and Construction
Science: Explore how different materials (wood, metal, plastic) are used in construction.
Technology: Introduce simple construction tools or apps that simulate building and architecture.
Engineering: Build simple structures (bridges, houses) using blocks, LEGO, or other construction materials.
Art: Draw blueprints or design your ideal house or city.
Math: Measure and compare the height, width, and length of different structures.
Magnets and Forces
Science: Learn about the basic properties of magnets and how they attract or repel objects.
Technology: Use magnet-based apps or toys to experiment with magnetic fields.
Engineering: Build a magnetic car or simple magnetic levitation device.
Art: Create magnet-based art (e.g., magnetic sculptures) or explore how magnets work in daily life (fridge magnets).
Math: Count how many objects are attracted to magnets or compare the strength of different magnets.
Water and Liquids
Science: Explore how liquids flow, freeze, or evaporate, and how water changes form.
Technology: Use digital tools to simulate water cycles or the properties of liquids.
Engineering: Conduct experiments with different materials to test water absorption, or build a water flow system using tubes.
Art: Create underwater-themed paintings or make water-based art (e.g., using watercolors).
Math: Measure liquid volumes, count drops of water, or compare sizes of containers.
Sound and Music
Science: Explore how sound is made, how it travels, and how it is heard.
Technology: Use musical apps or simple sound-making toys (e.g., xylophones, drums) to explore sound.
Engineering: Build simple musical instruments like drums or maracas.
Art: Create musical compositions, sound collages, or instrument-themed artwork.
Math: Count beats, measure the length of sounds, or experiment with rhythms.