Daily life in Russian kindergarden

(by O. Melnik and O. Sidlovskaya)

 

This kindergarten is known as “The Sun”. Almost 160 children, ages 2 to 7, make up eight classes of children. Each class is grouped together by age.

In the kindergarten, there are spaces created just for children: an art room, a gym, a music room, and a “museum” for professionals’ and children’s paintings. In addition to the regular classrooms, there are bedrooms, cloakrooms, and bathrooms for each group.

The kindergarten opens at 7:00 a.m.; however, the majority of the young children are brought to school by their parents anywhere from 8:00 a.m. until 9:00 a.m. Whenever the child arrives, she or he is always greeted with a smile. From 8:00 a.m. until 9:00 a.m., the children do their morning exercises, then wash their faces and brush their teeth. Next, they eat their breakfast.

Around 9:00 in the morning, the game activities begin. These activities vary – young children have one lesson a day, while older children have two to three lessons. The lessons are designed to develop math and communication skills, and to introduce the children to nature and the world. In addition, the children might pursue ecology, music, theatre, drawing, modeling, applique work, design, sports and English lessons. During the winter, children as young as 5 skate and ski. In summer, they ride their bicycles.

As soon as the lessons, which vary during the week are over the children go for a walk. They observe nature, play, and go on excursions theaters, museums and expositions. Young children have a lunch break at noon; an hour later, the older children have their lunch. The children take a nap after lunch, which usually lasts 2-1/2 to 3 hours for the young children and 1-1/2 hours for the older children.

After the nap the children do breathing and health-improvement exercises, as well as gymnastics. After these health-improvement exercises, children have their midday meal. They drink milk or juice, and eat stewed fruit. Then the children play. They can choose from an array of organized activities, such as art class, crafts club, and so on.

Children also eat dinner in the kindergarten. While parents can take the children home at any time, the majority of the children go home between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00p.m. The kindergarten is open until 6:00 p.m.

The following specialists work in the kindergarten: kindergarten teachers, two for each group; kindergarten teachers’ helpers, who are responsible for making all the meals, keeping everything clean, and helping the teachers in the classroom; a psychologist; a teacher who organizes all the sport activities; teachers who develop aesthetic and musical skills; and the English teacher. Once a week, the psychologist gives advice to the parents on child-raising issues.

Each Russian kindergarten has its own unique features and differences, and each day differs from the previous one. But one thing remains unchanged: all the people who work in the kindergarten do their best to help develop healthy, creative, smart and happy children and to reassure parents that their children are in good hands.

(from Childhood Education, International Focus Issue,

2002, Vol.78, N 6, p.341)

1) In the kindergarten there are spaces created just for:

a) parents

b) children

c) teachers

2) The games activities include:

a) making meals

b) helping the teachers

c) drawing pictures

3) Older children have a lunch break at:

a) half past twelve

b) noon

c) one o’clock

4) The children have their midday meal after:

a) their nap

b) their gymnastics

c) their health-improvement and breathing exercises

5) The game activities lessons are designed:

a) to help children to become better

b) to help parents to bring up their children

c) to help children to develop communication skills

6) The following specialists work in the kindergarten:

a) two psychologists for each group

b) two epistemologists for each group

c) two kindergarten teachers for each group

7) Each Russian kindergarten has its own:

a) building

b) playground

c) unique features

5. Answer the following questions:

1. How long does a kindergarten day last?

2. Why are the children greeted with a smile at the beginning of each day?

3. What is the main purpose of working in the kindergarten?

4. What way should kindergarten specialists use in their everyday work?

5. What thing remains unchanged in each Russian kindergarten? What for?

6. What activities are used in the kindergarten?

7. What skills are developed by the kindergarten teachers?

8. What lessons can be pursued by children?

9. Why do the children do breathing and health-improvement exercises?

10. What meals are given to the children?

11. Who are kindergarten teachers helped by? What are their duties?

12. What time are children taken home?

13. How long does the nap last?

6. Read the sentences and guess what is meant there:

1. It is a suggestion about someone should do.

_____________________________________________________________

2. This is a large room that is used for doing exercises or training.

_____________________________________________________________

3. It is time when you learn things at school.

_____________________________________________________________

4. It is a game or a competition where you use your body.

_____________________________________________________________

5. It is a father or a mother.

_____________________________________________________________

Revision of Passive Voice