Morning Arrival and Outdoor Play
Children arrive between 9:00 and 9:30, greeted by the opportunity for free play outdoors, weather permitting. This time allows children to run, build, gather, and socialize, setting a positive tone for the day. We observe and support their play, allowing the children to engage in big activities together. Sometimes, this outdoor play extends until 11:00, depending on the children’s engagement.
Morning Gather and Indoor Transition
When it’s time to head inside, children put away their personal belongings and wash their hands. We then gather for our morning session, which sets the stage for the day’s learning activities. This may include books, driving questions, or mini-lessons that spark curiosity and prepare them for their tasks.
Choice-Based Learning
Following the morning gather, children are given the freedom to choose the order of their activities, though not the tasks themselves. Choices often include:
• Math Activities/Lessons: Skill-based tasks tailored to their individual needs.
• Language Activities/Lessons: Engaging exercises often related to our current unit of study
• Sensorial Skill-Building: Activities like metal insets, cutting, sewing, or art work.
All work is individualized and skill-based, ensuring it meets the developmental needs of each child.
Nutrition Breaks are Taken as Needed
Our flexible approach respects children’s hunger cues and need for focus. By eating in response to natural signals, children learn to recognize when to refuel, aligning with their body’s rhythms and developing interoception. This method honours their individual needs, teaching that caring for their body is as important as feeding their mind.
Creative and Learning Labs
Once they complete their tasks, children have the option to engage in free-choice work in the Creative Lab or Learning Lab.
The Creative Lab offers investigative activities related to our project topics, while the Learning Lab provides puzzle work and other enriching activities.
Outdoor Exploration
After completing their morning tasks, we head back outside for more exploration, which can last from 30 minutes to an hour and a half. This outdoor time is crucial for physical activity and environmental connection, often involving nature walks, forest exploration, or visits to the stream.
Quiet Time
Upon returning indoors, children wash their hands and enjoy a nutrition break while listening to an audiobook. Even if a child isn’t eating, they join the group for about 10 minutes to promote community and routine.
After eating, they choose quiet activities like board games, card games, or puzzles.
If no group project is scheduled, they can engage in free choice again.
Closing Circle and Staggered Pick-Up
Our day concludes with a closing circle, where children share items from home related to our learning topics, discuss recent trips, or showcase amazing finds. This sharing time helps solidify their learning and build community.
We then gather our belongings and head back outside for staggered pick-up, ending the day with more outdoor play.