The project approach, modeled after the municipal preschools of Reggio Emilia, Italy, is a renowned educational approach based on children's learning through play, art, music, technology, parent participation and modern day documentation and research.  It is through play that young children construct their early knowledge and develop the critical thinking skills that enable them to become independent, socially responsible and intellectually competent individuals.  Using an emergent curriculum that builds upon the the interests of children, teachers facilitate children's learning, encouraging them to take an active part in constructing their ideas and knowledge.  It is RPNS's philosophy that the critical thinking skills gained through playing, constructing, imagining, experimenting and dialoguing with others prepare children for a life long love of learning.

Classroom pets often provide ideas for discussion and projects.

With the adaptation of technology such as digital photography, light tables, color copiers, projectors, palm pilots and secure websites for each of the 30 classes, staff provides documentation of children's work as they play, creating a framework for both parents and teachers to see what the children are learning in the school's environment.  This information is also used as a research tool for teachers to analyze and extend the learning process.  The excitement and creativity derived from children and teachers discussing, listening, researching and developing new ideas, along with the documentation of their progress, creates an incredibly joyous journey into the capabilities of young children.

 Tearing scraps to make paper.

These are some of the skills that are being developed as the children "learn through their play".

• Language Arts...........Reading Readiness: Book and poetry reading, matching and differentiating, sequence of events, phonetics, picture clues, comprehension and word families. Writing: recording individual story dictation, printing when a child is ready. Talking: vocabulary, telling a story. Listening: sound discrimination, comprehension.
   
• Mathematics..............Comparing, grouping, counting, recognizing sets and value quantities, measuring, sorting, classifying, shapes
   
• Science.........................Experimenting and observing, animal study/care, plant care, cooking (observing physical and chemical changes)
• Creative Arts………Expression, creativity and fine motor development through the use of graphic arts such as clay, painting, papermaking, printing, drawing, collage, etc.
  
• Current Events..........Daily calendar, daily news, where appropriate
   
• Music and Dance.....Creative movement, instruments 
   
• Physical Activity......Climbing, swinging, balancing, jumping, riding, running, sliding, skipping, riding bikes and pedaling 
   
• Block Building..........Imaginative creations, concepts of balance and size, organization of design.
   
• Dramatic Play...........Role playing, dramatizing nursery rhymes, poetry, stories.
   
• Carpentry...................Building, creating, experimenting with tools.
   
• Self Care.....................Hand washing, toileting skills, dressing self, safety procedures, healthy eating, manners, clean-up & responsibility for classroom.
   
• Social Skills...............Recognizing and verbalizing feelings, conflict resolution skills, problem solving, empathy, cause and effect.

   An “emergent curriculum”, that evolves from the interests and ideas of the children, incorporates all of these activities and skills.   Our goal is to help each child to develop their critical thinking skills, while becoming independent  and successful learners.

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