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PreK-Grade 12 International Day and Boarding School in Kobe, Japan | Since 1913

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Welcome to the world of Early Childhood - a place for wonder, excitement, and discovery!

 

Our Early Learning Program at a glance...

Nurturing and Safe Environment

At Canadian Academy, your child will explore the world around them in a warm, caring, and child-centered environment. We focus on creating an environment in which the social and emotional wellbeing of each student can flourish. Our small class sizes create a sense of community and ensure a safe experience; Early Childhood assistants are always with the children including class time, lunch time, and outdoor play times.

Play-based Learning

Most learning in Early Childhood happens through play - when children's intellectual and learning capacity is at its highest. In all types and stages of play, children are refining what it means to create, innovate, explore, and develop as active learners.

Developing Self Confidence

We listen carefully to our children’s thinking, theories, and questions to guide their natural curiosity. Children move on from the Early Learning Center confident and capable, seeing the world as an exciting place to explore and make discoveries. 

Purpose-Built Facilities

Our Early Learning Activities Center (ELAC) is a space dedicated to our youngest learners. Classrooms are linked together for collaborative learning, and each room opens onto a playground reserved just for our youngest students. The Early Learning library, music room, and art room are located close by.

Curriculum

The Canadian Academy Early Childhood Curriculum follows the International Baccalaureate program of study. 

A typical Early Childhood school day consists of reading books, writing stories, inquiring into sciences and systems, and practicing numbers. Literacy and numeracy are introduced in age-appropriate ways in our 3 and 4 year old programs, and more formally in our Kindergarten B class. Every day students will also meet either a visual art, music, Physical education, Japanese, technology teacher, or librarian who will enrich the learning for that day.

Plenty of play time is built into our 3 and 4 year old schedule, as we know children of this age learn through play and social interactions. Play, alongside engaging instruction, challenges students with multiple opportunities for cognitive growth to reach a variety of learning objectives.

Use the table below for an overview of IB PYP Units of Inquiry by Grade Level. 

Units of Inquiry

This year's 2023-24 curriculum is Cycle 1 for PreK-KA. 

Age & Grade Level Placement

Age 3 Age 4 Age 5

Children aged 3 on October 1st can join our PreK-3 Class

Japanese equivalent = HOIKUEN
British equivalent = NURSERY

Children aged 4 on October 1st can join Kindergarten A

Japanese equivalent = yochien
British equivalent = reception

Children aged 5 on October 1st can join Kindergarten B

Japanese equivalent = yochien
British equivalent = Year 1