Primary Environment (3 years to 6 years of age) Here the child gains a sense of order, concentration, coordination and independence through the carefully prepared environment, which includes activities in Practical Life, Sensorial, Math, Language, and a vast variety of Cultural Subjects. In this space, twenty children are led by Miss Grace & Miss Celie.
DAILY ROUTINE
7:50-8:15 – Arrival
Children arrive and begin the day with outdoor time. Each child has a designated hook outdoors for their backpacks, lunches, etc. Each child is expected to arrive at school having already eaten breakfast and dressed for the weather (sunscreen/bug repellant applied, too!).
8:15-9:15 – Nature Walk
We start our mornings with a walk around campus. We are outside as much as possible, enjoying our surroundings. During these moments we are identifying different animals and flora, collecting items for art/fine-motor work, foraging, and more.
9:15-9:45 – Morning Snack
Our morning snack (brought from home) is eaten outside unless we are experiencing inclement weather.
9:45-11:30 – Morning Work Cycle
Children receive lessons from their guide and complete independent or group work of their choice.
11:30-12:00 – Lunch
We start our lunch period with a mid-morning meeting, including some community building activities and guided conversation/updates. Our older children (5 and 6-year-olds) prepare our lunch tables by setting out their peers’ lunch boxes and calling friends who are showing they are ready for meal time.
12:00-12:30 – Outdoor Exploration
Children play outside on our beautiful campus. We generally play in the fenced-in area next to our building or nearby at our swings, but will sometimes venture to a different location on campus.
12:45-2:00 – Rest Time
Our children ages 2-4 will participate in a short rest period inside the classroom while our older friends are offered a rest or to continue working outside.
1:00-3:00 – Afternoon Work Cycle, Outdoor Exploration, & Snack
Children receive lessons from their guide and complete independent or group work of their choice. Our day ends with caring for our classroom environment before departure, done through daily/weekly job fulfillment. We incorporate an afternoon snack into this time, as well.
2:45-3:15 – Pickup
Children who do not participate in our Afterschool Programming are picked up for the day during this time.
3:15-5:00 – Afterschool Programming (Nature-led)
Children spend the majority of their afternoons outdoors — exploring our campus by tapping maple trees, investigating animal tracks & scat, foraging, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, harvesting from the gardens, working on activities in our nature center, participating in teacher-led games to build social emotional skills, and more. Afterschool pickup typically occurs between 4:30-5:00pm.
