At the Dalian American International School Early Childhood program, we view our classrooms as a learning community. Our students are viewed as members of a peer group who are active participants in learning through play. Learning activities are student centered, with teachers acting as facilitators of the learning. Classroom environments allow children to explore, to question, to work independently, within a group, or with an adult. Through the development of the “whole child” our objective is to create critical thinking young children.