Coastal Gan Preschool

Transporting schema - lots of moving water from one place to another today. The children learn about journey, distance, and spatial relationships.

Yup. Stuff is happening (purses and backpacks and lunchboxes with scarves and treasures)

Sometimes you just need to watch a cement mixer… masa’it melet

Will we be seeing you this Rosh Hashanah?

This week at Coastal Gan, our little learners dived into hands-on fun!
We explored the squishy, fascinating world of oobleck, practiced fine motor skills with beads in preparation for our community windchime project, and even got cozy with some baby bath time. Play, creativity, and discovery filled every corner of our classrooms and our hearts!

This week we continued exploring Bronfenbrenner’s mesosystem inner circle, celebrating what makes each of us unique and special. We sang songs in Hebrew and English while learning the names of our body parts, practiced stretching and moving in new ways, and created watercolor-painted person stencils that will carry forward into our project work.

We’re also settling beautifully into our daily rhythm, and our group is blossoming into such a warm, connected community. One of our favorite parts of the day happens after outdoor exploration, when we gather on the rug for felt story time. Felt stories are a wonderful way to bring many areas of learning together:

Math & rhythm: counting, sequencing, and keeping a steady beat

Language & literacy: new words, concepts, and connections to books

Social-emotional growth: reflecting on characters’ feelings and choices

This week’s stories included Brown Bear, Brown Bear, Akendrum, 5 Monkeys in a Tree, and 5 Monkeys Jumping on the Bed which all sparked giggles, conversations, and joyful learning.

It’s been a week filled with self-discovery, creativity, movement, and growing connection.

Bridging Gan & Home
This week’s focus on body awareness and felt stories connects directly to several areas of child development:
Cognitive & math skills: Counting monkeys and repeating rhythmic songs builds number sense and pattern recognition.

Language & literacy: Naming body parts and learning new songs strengthens vocabulary and comprehension.

Social-emotional growth: Talking about characters’ feelings helps children build empathy and self-awareness.

Physical development: Stretching and movement support coordination and motor skills.

Ways to continue at home:
Sing “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes” in English and Hebrew

Read Brown Bear, Brown Bear

Act out “5 Little Monkeys” with stuffed animals or fingers for silly counting practice.

Encourage stretching with playful poses (reach tall like a giraffe, curl small like a mouse, etc.).

These simple, joyful moments help strengthen the home-school connection and reinforce the wonderful learning happening at Gan.

🌟 First week = success! Our little explorers painted, splashed, giggled, and made new friends.
We can already tell it’s going to be a year full of wonder, play, and discovery. 🌿✨

We’re thrilled to announce that Coastal Gan’s new website is LIVE!

If you’re looking for a nurturing, play-based Jewish preschool in Encinitas where your child can grow, explore, and thrive in a warm, family-like environment — we’d love for you to visit and learn more.

Explore our programs, meet our team, and discover how we support every child’s unique journey through nature, creativity, and meaningful Jewish traditions.

Check it out here: www.CoastalGan.com

We still have a few spots left for the 2025–2026 school year — schedule a tour today and join our Coastal Gan family!



http://coastalgan.com

Sounds like a great philosophy…

Are you searching for a nurturing, play-based Jewish preschool in Encinitas?
There's just a Few Spots Left for 2025–2026 at Coastal Gan Preschool!
At Coastal Gan, we honor childhood with a gentle, child-led approach that supports emotional growth, creativity, and independence.
Mixed-age classrooms for ages 6 months–5 years.
Nature-rich days and hands-on exploration.
Jewish values, Hebrew language, and vibrant traditions.
Home-cooked, nutritious meals served daily.
Cloth diapering and family-chosen potty learning methods.
Low ratios + personalized care.
Subsidies accepted (CDA, YMCA, military).

We’re a small program with big heart — and just a few spots left for the upcoming school year. Come see what makes our community so special.

📞 Call now or visit www.coastalgan.com to schedule a tour!

www.coastalgan.com

Cloth diaper buddies at the water table.

Emergent curriculum informed by the child’s lived experiences. Play-based. Child-led. Authentic learning.