In the Children's House classroom, children truly make the environment their own, choosing independently from activities they have been shown by their teachers. They pass freely from practical activities such as spooning, washing a tabletop, or sweeping up a spill, to academic work such as practicing letter shapes and sounds, counting, learning the names of the countries of the world, and much more. Social interactions arise naturally as children work together or side by side, perhaps choosing to share a snack or to help one another with tying shoelaces or remembering a math fact. Teachers present lessons individually and to small groups, and gather children towards the end of the morning for songs and stories before heading outside to the playground. In the afternoon, younger children go home or to [Transitions](http://www.sunstonemontessori.org/extended_care) for lunch and a rest, while older children continue exploring and learning until dismissal at 3:00. 2009-10-19T20:49:06-07:00 The basic plan for Sunstone's preschool classrooms 8 12 false Children's House program 18 13 ![alt text][1] [1]: http://www.sunstonemontessori.org/system/attachments/6/original/image1.jpg?1256242208 ##Children's house program## * [Children's house staff](/childrens_house_staff) * [Tuition and fees](/tuition_and_fees) Dr. Montessori called her first classroom in 1907 the "Casa dei Bambini," or Children's House. Children as young as 2 years old took part in caring for the classroom, preparing meals, and working in the garden, as well as working with academic materials. 2009-10-19T20:49:06-07:00 childrens_house