Children are offered breakfast to start their day. Our first meal of the day is typically eaten outside.

Children learn in lasting ways when engaged in their truest forms of play. This authentic relationship with learning emerges best when given the space and freedom to access it. Educators participate in a blend of guidance and observation which informs not only each individual day, but our school and classroom studies as a whole. During this time, children participate in discovery that is prompted by daily outdoor provocations, including, but not limited to, our mud kitchen, tree house, sensory space, log-center, climbing station, and environmental seasonal changes. Following the children’s interest, we supplement our days with meditation, forms of free and guided movement, and a range of process and sensory based art mediums that invite children to learn through the self initiated methods of experimentation, trial, error, cause, and effect. Children may also use this time for focused work, small group investigations, or to contribute to ongoing projects connected to their curriculum.

At Elements we think of rest as more than just a break from the day, and instead, think of it as an extension of independent mindfulness and reflection. Rest looks different for every child, and children’s needs are met individually. While some use the time to sleep, others use it to read literature, think, build with small tools, or create art on their personal rest mats or cots. During rest, educators liven the room with mood lighting and gentle, steady music, which creates a peace-driven warmth and comfort for all within.

Extended Care is a smaller cohort of children who come together to build further meaning from their day. Extended care is not just a resource for families, but an opportunity to dig deeper in play narratives, materials, and specialties. During this time, children will also participate in an additional late snack.