Programs Built for Modern Day Families

Curriculum

Children are encouraged to explore their curiosities by participating in various activities throughout the school day. Our classrooms emphasize hands-on, experiential activities, with a curriculum built on:

Intentional Teaching

Methods & Environment

At The Discovery Center, we emphasize a comprehensive curriculum to nurture development. We cover a wide range of areas, including dramatic play, creative arts, music, science, mathematics, literature, self-reliance, cultural awareness, communication skills, creative movement, social and emotional skills, and outdoor activities. Within this structure, we diligently strive to provide each child with the optimal balance of attention, support, intellectual stimulation, independence, and opportunities to choose activities. Our goal is to give every child the best possible foundation for growth and learning.

Teachers spend time every day interacting with while also observing the children in their classrooms. This natural format allows children to explore the curriculum freely, while allowing all aspects of the child’s play to be observed thoughtfully.

The Discovery Center offers full day and half day preschool programs. Classes are of mixed genders and ages, and range from 2 years and 9 months through 5 years. The multi-age combination provides opportunities for children to learn and grow with one another by creating a leader and learner environment. Early childhood research suggests that children are wonderful role models for one another in the development of language, cognitive, and social skills. Multi-age classrooms also create an atmosphere similar to that experienced in family and community life.

A few of the reasons why families love The Discovery Center:

  • We provide a dynamic, multi-age preschool experience

  • Our nature playground provides children with a unique outdoor experience

  • With busy schedules in mind, we have several program options to support families

  • Our teacher to student ratio is 1:8 maximum (the state mandate is 1:10)

  • We offer an enriching Pre-K classroom as a transitional option between preschool and kindergarten

A Day in the Life: The Discovery Center Programs

  • Preschool

    7:30am-9:15am Arrival

    9:15am-9:30am Morning greeting

    9:30am-10:00am Gym/large motor activities

    10:00am-11:00am Indoor choice activities

    (10:00am-10:45am) Snack/special music, or storytelling

    11:00am-11:10am Clean up

    11:10am-11:55am Outdoor free play

    11:55am-12:10pm Group story time

    12:10pm-12:45pm Lunch

    12:45pm-1:00pm Prep for relaxation

    1:00pm-3:00pm Rest

    3:00pm-3:45pm Outdoor free play/indoor choice activities

    3:45pm-4:15pm Gym/large motor activities

    4:15pm-4:35pm Snack

    4:35pm-4:50pm Group/story time

    4:50pm-5:10pm Indoor choice activities

    5:10pm-5:15pm Clean up

    5:15pm-5:30pm Prepare for end-of-day/final departures

  • Pre-K

    7:30am-9:00am Arrival/independent choices

    9:00am-9:15am Meeting time

    9:15am-9:45am Group activities:

    Monday - Nature area (large group)

    Tuesday - Show and tell

    Wednesday - Nature area

    Thursday - Small groups

    Friday - Journals/nature area

    9:45am-10:00am Snack

    10:45am-11:00am Story time

    11:00am-12:00pm Choice time (teacher directed/independent choices)

    12:00pm-12:30pm Rainbow Room/outside play

    12:30pm-12:35pm Chapter book

    12:35pm-1:00pm Lunch

    1:00pm-2:00pm Rest

    2:00pm-2:30pm Independent choices

    2:30pm-3:10pm Rainbow Room

    3:10pm-3:30pm Story time

    3:30pm-3:45pm Snack

    3:45m4:30pm Outside play/nature area

    4:30pm-5:15pm Teacher directed choices

    5:15pm-5:20pm Clean up

    5:20pm-5:30pm Final departures/lobby

Special Guests

We’re thrilled to welcome some very special guests to our preschool! We feel incredibly fortunate to have talented artists in the Ann Arbor community who are passionate about their craft. Read more about them below.

Ms. Laura

Discovery Center kids are my favorite listeners!” -Laura

Laura is TDC’s and Ann Arbor’s beloved storyteller. Students enjoy their monthly visit from Laura when they gather in our lobby and listen to exciting tales, then sing and dance to fun and engaging songs.

Laura has been sharing stories with us at The Discovery Center since 1976. We’re so grateful for her creativity and energy!

Two adults sitting with a group of children in a classroom decorated with colorful paper flowers and butterflies. A sign above reads "Celebrate The Month of The Young Child." The date on the image is April 26, 1996.
Person in a green shirt holding a plush dog toy, standing in a room with a collage of photos on the wall and green couches in the background.

Gemini

Ann Arbor’s nationally recognized children’s music duo!

“Gemini writes and plays acoustic music for children and families, celebrating the fun, warmth, and humor of family life. Their recordings and concerts are filled with rousing sing-alongs, hand-motion tunes, folk tales, and music from around the world.'“

Two men playing string instruments in a room with a collage of photos and papers on the wall. One man is playing a guitar, the other a mandolin. There are microphones in front of them.

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