What Does a Preschool Day Look Like at GMPS?
A predictable rhythm with plenty of room to play, explore, move, create, and connect
Every GMPS classroom follows a familiar daily rhythm that helps children know what to expect and feel secure. The exact timing may vary by class, weather, projects, or special events, but each day balances play, movement, group experiences, hands-on learning, conversation, and growing independence.
The Rhythm of Our Day
- Welcome
- Play & Explore
- Gather Together
- Create & Investigate
- Snack & Connect
- Goodbye
Welcome to School
The day begins with a warm hello at car line. Children are helped from the car and welcomed by familiar GMPS adults who help them transition into the classroom and begin their morning routine.
A familiar routine helps children move from home to school with confidence.
Outdoor Play & Movement
Outdoor time is an important part of the GMPS day. Depending on the class and the season, children may run, climb, dig, ride, build, investigate, garden, explore the meadow, or take a nature walk.
Our outdoor campus includes the playground, Trike Track, Mud Kitchen, garden, meadow, courtyard, and watershed trail. Snow, leaves, puddles, changing plants, birds, and wildlife all become part of the experience.
When weather keeps us indoors, our large gym provides plenty of room for trikes, scooters, movement games, and obstacle courses.
Circle, Stories & Music
Children come together as a classroom community to talk, listen, sing, move, share ideas, and prepare for the day. Circle experiences may include stories, rhymes, fingerplays, weather, classroom jobs, creative dramatics, and conversation, and our music specialist visits each class weekly for singing, movement, and instruments.
The structure grows with the children. Circle times are shorter and more flexible in the younger classes, then gradually become more structured in the 3’s and 4’s as children are ready to listen longer, participate in a group, and engage in more intentional early learning. Math Counts, Heggerty Phonemic Awareness, and Handwriting Without Tears are introduced developmentally as children move through the program.
Free Choice Play
Free choice is where children have time to follow their own ideas and where much of the day’s learning is practiced, extended, and made meaningful.
Children choose among areas such as blocks, dramatic play, sensory experiences, science, math, art, and quieter spaces. Children may paint, build, investigate materials, or take part in process-art experiences that encourage experimentation, decision-making, and creativity. Teachers intentionally arrange the environment, observe children, join play when helpful, introduce new vocabulary or materials, ask questions, and support problem-solving and social interactions.
Learn more about Process ArtThe play grows more complex as children grow. Younger children are developing confidence, independence, and comfort playing alongside others; by the 3’s and 4’s, play increasingly includes collaboration, longer projects, storytelling, early math and literacy, negotiation, and shared problem-solving.
Learn more about Play-Based Learning at GMPSChildren choose the play. Teachers help extend the learning.
Clean Up & Independence
Cleaning up is part of the learning, too.
Children work together to return materials, organize the classroom, follow directions, and take responsibility for their shared space. These everyday routines build independence, cooperation, and a sense of ownership in the classroom.
Snack & Conversation
Snack is a relaxed part of the school day where children practice independence, conversation, and table manners.
Our daily snacks are primarily fruits and vegetables. Children bring reusable water bottles, and at times they help prepare food or set the table. Teachers sit and talk with children, making snack another opportunity for language and connection.
Time to Say Goodbye
At the end of the morning, teachers help children gather their belongings and transition to dismissal. Children staying for Enrichment are brought to their next classroom.
Want a Longer Day?
For children in the 3’s and 4’s, Enrichment provides an optional extension of the preschool day. Children bring lunch and stay for additional time with friends and hands-on themed experiences.
Learn more about Enrichment at GMPSSame Rhythm. New Experiences Every Day.
Young children thrive when they know what comes next — but that doesn’t mean every day looks the same.
Each classroom follows a familiar rhythm while leaving plenty of room for children’s interests, special activities, visitors, projects, weather, and the unexpected discoveries that make preschool fun.
About the Author
Written by Karen Coan, M.A. in Education, Director of Glenview Methodist Preschool
Karen has served as Director of GMPS since 2016 and works closely with teachers and families on curriculum, school transitions, behavior guidance, safety, staff development, and program planning.
Last updated: October 2026