Daily Schedule

We begin the morning outside in our playground and garden where we have time to connect with one another and the world around us. We join together for our first circle of the day where we say good morning and work on our gross and fine motor skills through singing, moving and following the teacher's movements.

We are now ready to get to work, we go inside for focused instruction in literacy, science and math.Children learn the rhythms and sounds of English through a large repertoire of beautiful songs and seasonal rhymes. These are embodied in accompanying movements/gestures and therefore easily learned. Stories and puppet shows rich in imagery and content are also a core part of the language arts curriculum. Exposure to such rich language builds children's speaking and listening skills--so important in later reading development. It enhances their vocabulary knowledge too.  Learning the letters of the alphabet is easy and fun!Children are natural scientists and so curious about our world.  At Cairn Hill Nature Preschool science topics include soil, hibernation, solids and liquids, birds, crystals, and the water cycle, to name a just a few. Math concepts, such as counting, sorting and measuring are easily integrated into scientific study-- and our nature setting provides the perfect context for both.

Our daily activities include painting, making soup, drawing, baking bread and cleaning the classroom.After our work, we have time for free play in the various activity centers of the classroom where the children learn social skills through play.Then it's time for a nourishing, healthy snack. Our tummies full, we are ready again to build and play in nature. In the afternoon, we share lunch together and half day students prepare to go home while full day students get ready for rest time.​​The strong and steady rhythm of the day helps the children feel secure in themselves and in the world. It builds up healthy habits and a sense of belonging and purpose.