Pre-Kindergarten
Curie's Pre-Kindergarten program strengthens school-readiness foundations through purposeful play, intentional teaching, hands-on learning, inquiry, literacy, mathematics, problem-solving, creativity, independence, and social-emotional development.
Placement is based on your child's age, developmental readiness, and program fit. We discuss placement individually with families when needed.
The Program
Curie's STEAM++ Curriculum + Strong School-Readiness Foundations
Curie's Pre-Kindergarten program is built around Curie's own STEAM++ Curriculum and strengthened by research-based early childhood resources and practices. Children have opportunities to think, explore, communicate, create, collaborate, solve problems, and develop increasing independence through purposeful play, intentional teaching, inquiry, and hands-on exploration.
In applicable Pre-K classrooms, Curie is implementing STREAMin³, developed by the University of Virginia's Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning (CASTL), to complement and strengthen Curie's STEAM++ Curriculum through additional research-based resources and practices.
4–5 years
Age range
STREAMin³
Research-based curriculum
Full & half
Day options available
Research-Based Curriculum
STREAMin³ at Curie
Curie Preschool is implementing STREAMin³, a comprehensive early childhood curriculum developed by the University of Virginia's Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning (CASTL), in applicable Pre-K classrooms. STREAMin³ adds research-based resources and practices that complement Curie's STEAM++ Curriculum and support intentional teaching, responsive teacher-child interactions, purposeful learning experiences, and whole-child development as children prepare for Kindergarten.
STREAMin³ complements Curie's STEAM++ Curriculum across the areas that matter most as children prepare for Kindergarten.
Areas of development supported by STREAMin³
- Social-emotional development
- Self-regulation
- Language and communication
- Literacy foundations
- Early mathematics
- Thinking and problem-solving
- Physical development
- Curiosity and engagement
- Independence
Whole-Child Development
Every area of development is woven into the Pre-K day — experienced as a connected, purposeful whole.
Social-Emotional Development & Independence
Identifying and expressing emotions, self-regulation, cooperation, friendships, resolving age-appropriate conflicts, classroom responsibility, confidence, persistence, and increasing independence.
Literacy & Language
Conversations, vocabulary, read-alouds, storytelling, phonological and phonemic awareness, letter and sound awareness, print concepts, early writing, drawing and dictation, and opportunities to communicate ideas.
Early Mathematics & Thinking
Counting, quantities, number relationships, patterns, sorting, shapes, spatial relationships, measurement, comparing, sequencing, reasoning, and problem-solving through hands-on experiences.
Science & Inquiry
Observing, asking questions, making predictions, experimenting, exploring materials, investigating nature, cause and effect, comparing results, discussing discoveries, and solving simple design problems.
Creativity & Physical Development
Art, music, movement, dramatic play, building, creative expression, fine-motor development, gross-motor activity, and outdoor play.
Classroom Community & Responsibility
Participating in classroom routines, caring for materials and belongings, listening, following directions, making choices, and contributing to a positive learning community.
Enrichment
Curie's STEAM++ Curriculum
Children learn by doing. Curie's STEAM++ Curriculum drives hands-on science, building and engineering, early mathematics, literacy and language, art, music and movement, nature exploration, creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving throughout the Pre-K day.
School Readiness
Ready for the Next Step
Kindergarten readiness is more than knowing letters and numbers. Children also benefit from developing confidence, independence, communication, self-regulation, curiosity, problem-solving skills, and the ability to participate successfully in a classroom community.
Teachers help children build the academic, social-emotional, communication, and independence skills that support a successful transition to Kindergarten. We discuss each child's growth and next steps with families throughout the year.
Daily Learning
A Day in Pre-K
A rich, predictable rhythm that balances structured learning with purposeful play and exploration.
Arrival & Classroom Routines
Children arrive, settle in, and choose their first activity at the learning centers.
Morning Meeting & Community
The class gathers for conversation, shared experiences, and community-building to start the day.
Literacy Experiences
Read-alouds, language activities, early writing, and small-group literacy experiences.
Mathematical Exploration & STEAM++
Hands-on math, science, engineering, and STEAM++ investigations through the late morning.
Outdoor or Gross-Motor Play
Children have scheduled outdoor play each day. When weather does not permit, indoor gross-motor activities take place in our Great Room.
Lunch & Rest (Full-Day)
A shared meal, then quiet rest time for our full-day children.
Afternoon Enrichment & Projects
Small-group work, creative projects, a second outdoor session (or Great Room time when weather does not permit), and reflection before dismissal.
Every single day
Outdoor play·Hands-on exploration·Read-aloud·Small-group teaching
Doors open 8:00 am · Morning Half-Day dismissal 12:30 pm · Afternoon Half-Day 1:30–6:00 pm · Full Day closes 6:00 pm
Times are approximate. Our teachers follow the children's energy — a great inquiry discussion sometimes runs long, and that's exactly as it should be.
"Madame Curie School has been an exceptional choice for our preschooler. The dedicated teachers and staff have played a pivotal role in nurturing his academic and overall progress. Their personalized approach to education has fostered little one's curiosity, creativity, and love for learning. The school's stimulating environment, coupled with innovative teaching methods, has helped him thrive both academically and socially. We are truly grateful for the enriching experience Madame Curie School has provided for our child. Thank you for shaping the bright future of our little one!"
Asish R.
Herndon Campus
Tuition & Scheduling
Flexible options to fit your family — with the full Curie experience in every schedule.
Morning Half-Day
A focused morning of Pre-K learning — ideal for families supplementing with afternoon care.
EnrollAfternoon Half-Day
An afternoon option for families with morning commitments.
EnrollFull Day
The complete Pre-K experience — morning through end of day, Monday through Friday.
EnrollSchedule options are subject to classroom availability. See our Admissions page for current tuition and fees, or contact us with any questions.
Common Questions
See Pre-Kindergarten at Curie
Tour our classrooms and see how Curie's STEAM++ Curriculum, purposeful play, inquiry, and research-based resources come together to build strong foundations every day.