Curriculum | Lower School | St. Anne's Episcopal | Denver

IN THIS SECTION

Pre K Overview

Our pre-kindergarten curriculum provides an immersive educational journey tailored for four- to five-year-old learners. This experience encourages self-expression, fosters letter and number acquisition, promotes scientific exploration, nurtures musical aptitude, supports physical development, and instills an appreciation for diverse cultures and beliefs.

The pre-kindergarten curriculum includes instruction in:

  • Spanish
  • Science
  • Music
  • Physical Education
  • Library
  • Religion
  • Outdoor Education

Through structured and open-ended play experiences, children develop critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and social competencies such as cooperation and communication. Social-emotional learning is embedded throughout, promoting positive relationships, self-awareness, and empathy.

Our inclusive and supportive environment celebrates each child's uniqueness, fostering a love for learning and laying a strong foundation for success in kindergarten and beyond.

Writing
Pre-K writing builds a strong foundation for early literacy and provides developmentally appropriate instruction for early learners, ages four to five.  Pre-K combines cross-curricular activities, the early-literacy curriculum, and daily handwriting practice to prepare students for Kindergarten.
Emergent Reading
Pre-K emergent reading combines letter identification, letter-sound association, and contextual clues to develop pre-reading and comprehension skills. 
Word Study 
The Pre-K math program aims to introduce students to numbers 0–20. Key learning objectives include:
  • Counting with one-to-one correspondence
  • Recognizing, duplicating, and extending simple patterns

Understanding measurement concepts such as:

  • Length
  • Distance
  • Weight
  • Mass
  • Identifying and naming attributes of simple shapes
  • Comparing, ordering, and sorting objects

Analyzing simple data using:

  • Bar graphs
  • Picture graphs
  • Tally marks
  • Ten frames
  • Daily calendar use to reinforce core concepts
Math

Throughout the year, preschoolers are introduced to a variety of math concepts.

Students learn to:

  • Count with one-to-one correspondence to 10
  • Rote count to 10
  • Identify numbers up to 5
  • Understand and create simple patterns
  • Sort objects into categories
  • Recognize two-dimensional shapes and their attributes
  • Compare and contrast objects
  • Use key math vocabulary to describe their thinking
Science Overview
Pre-K science focuses on developing children’s natural curiosity about the world around them, enhances their problem-solving skills, and encourages them to explore and discover new things.
Social Studies
The Pre-K social studies program focuses on fostering social-emotional well-being for every child by:
  • Celebrating each student’s culture, family, and sense of self
  • Encouraging positive relationships with peers and adults
  • Emphasizing each child’s individual strengths and unique gifts
  • Providing daily opportunities to express kindness, empathy, and inclusivity

Using teacher guidance and peer interaction to develop:

  • Healthy relationships
  • Self-regulation
  • Confidence in new situations
This program builds a strong foundation for respectful, emotionally aware, and socially responsible learners. 
Pre-K Music 
The Pre-K music curriculum is designed to develop and strengthen each child’s ability to sing, dance, and play rhythm instruments with their classmates.  Skills taught during music class include steady beat, matching pitch vocally, and moving and responding to music.  
Spanish 
The Pre-K Spanish program engages students in play-based and exploratory activities that promote language acquisition through hands-on experiences, music, movement, stories, and art with increased opportunities for creative movement, collaborative play, and self-directed efforts.
PE 
The Pre-K PE program focuses on movement concepts and skills, understanding basic health-related and skill-related components of fitness, and how these relate to personal fitness, demonstrating respect, and the ability to follow directions.
Library 
Our early education library curriculum involves fostering a love for books, storytelling, and early literacy skills. Activities, story times, and books are tailored based on students’ interests, development, and feedback.  The librarian collaborates with teachers and provides library materials for units of study to ensure a holistic approach to early literacy development.
Religion (Preschool–Kindergarten)

Introduction to the Bible, Church Calendar, Chapel, and World Religions

In the first three years at St. Anne’s, students begin to develop awareness of the Bible as a special book that contains important stories about God, people, character, miracles, and mystery. Relying on Godly Play, storytelling, and exposure to imagery, objects, and sacred spaces, young learners visit and revisit major narratives and characters of the Hebrew Bible. In the seasons of Christmas and Easter, students learn the story of Jesus of Nazareth and his ministry. We respectfully use other celebrations in world religions as an entry point into learning about them. All faiths are approached with reverence, and while we often turn to mindfulness and prayer to learn the rhythms of gratitude and care, no one way of practice is elevated above others and always remains invitational.
Outdoor Education

Pre-K students will expand their outdoor education adventure by adventuring into and investigating the outdoors and natural spaces around them, beyond the outdoor classroom space. Students will be encouraged to explore new things, step out of their comfort zone, and find an appreciation for other people's interests beyond their own. Exploration will be done through the lens of “Everyone is a scientist!” with different topics