Recently, on a warm sunny day together, the children had the opportunity to plant marigolds on the playground. Klara arranged the outdoor table to hold potting soil, scoops, small plants and watering cans. Klara gave a lesson to show the friends how to gently transplant the flowers into pots to bring home. Since the first few weeks of school we have been prac[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1026" style='position:absolute;margin-left:206pt;margin-top:2in; width:199pt;heig

In celebration of Earth Day, some of the children, during afternoon enrichment, painted recycled toilet paper rolls to make into “nature viewers”. The children were very excited and each painted their viewer with many cheerful colors. Once their viewers were dry, a teacher helped form them into binocular like tools. The following Monday was sunny and warm and we prepared to head out on an adventure into the woods with our projects. Before heading out, first we reviewed our na

As our final months of school roll around, kids feel a surge in energy and the excitement of what comes with warmer weather. Spring brings end of year events, outdoor activities, whispers of summer vacation and summer camp. The longer days and milder temperatures typically allow us to embrace the abundance of energy that appears at this time of year. The children are older and socialize more; this is the time of year for checking their boundaries with adults and peers alik

Our classroom pet, Dory, passed away this past week. She was a sweet, little fish that the children loved feeding, observing, and making pictures for to decorate the area around her bowl (so she wouldn’t feel bored, according to the kids). The loss provided us with the opportunity to have a talk about life cycles and process our feelings about saying goodbye to a pet. Many kids shared that they felt sad that Dory died; others expressed confusion and curiosity as to why it hap

“The environment must be rich in motives which lend interest to activity and invite the child to conduct his own experiences.” -Maria Montessori Recently the toddlers have been busy having picnics in the classroom. This little picnic activity has been very enticing for friends over the last week. The children have multiple opportunities to use vocabulary and practice social skills. In the classroom we have observed children relive scenes from their own lives at home. Baby dol

“Who remembers which country we are studying?” a teacher inquired to the children. One child raised his hand and proudly shared, “Thailand!” The children have been learning about the beautiful and fascinating culture of Thailand. They’re been making Thai flags, exploring Thai play foods, learning about Thai textiles and more. One of our Preschool students recently visited family in Thailand and has been especially excited to share his knowledge of the country with his peers.

As milder weather rolls in, opportunity arises for longer time periods of outdoor play. One morning, the Pre-Primary class played on the playground until 9, then headed inside for circle and work time. The extra time pushed back the regular schedule, but the difference it made was palpable. The children sat calmly at circle, so focused and ready to participate. The presentation was the introduction to Africa as a new area of study in geography. They quietly listened to a

Recently, the kindergarten class celebrated Earth Day. In preparation for the event we have talked about having peace with nature and ways that we can take care of our earth. The children had several activities to choose from during work time: making earth colored bird feeders, earth shaped ornaments, and nature journals. All the materials we used were recycled materials, most found around our school! The children had a fun and productive work time doing each station’s activi