Nursery

Young children learn by doing, which is why hands-on investigation is at the core of our nursery program.

3–5AGES
18STUDENTSPER CLASS
3TEACHERSPER CLASS

Activities like digging, pouring, drawing, cooking, sorting, singing, building, and painting begin to get students acquainted with the basics of art, language, science, and math. The 6:1 student-teacher ratio allows for individualized attention and a co-constructed approach to learning; our teachers are able to help each child realize their potential and build a solid foundation for next steps.

nursery age child kneeling on a rug looking at rocks

Peek into a Nursery classroom on any given day and you’ll find:

  • Students following their interests, organizing their own play, making choices and decisions, connecting and collaborating, and developing a sense of themselves as curious, competent, and resourceful people.

  • Plenty of books, stories, songs, drama time, and conversation to help students develop their burgeoning language skills

  • Opportunities to dance, run, jump, balance, regulate energy and get in touch with the body

Nursery Curriculum Highlights

  • four children with their backs to the camera facing a colorful splatter-painted sheet

    Green Nursery

    What is art, and who gets to make it? When Green Nursery students asked these questions as they were painting one day, we decided to invited Sam Gilliam, the first Black artist to represent the U.S. in the Venice Biennial, for a visit. He told us about abstract art, and he showed how he displays his canvases by loosely draping them on the wall rather than stretching them into a frame. After he finished, we laid four yards cloth on the ground outside and painted it together. Then we hung the finished work in the nearby grove, where we watched the sun and wind move over it, changing its shape and color.

  • line of children in winter coats walking through woods with dead leaves on the ground and patches of snow

    Blue Nursery

    Understanding how to find oneself on a map is an important skill for a confident young explorer to have. For our map inquiry lesson, we set Blue Nursery students on an exciting treasure hunt in the nearby Larch Woods. We introduced the idea of cardinal directions, and the children spotted many familiar landmarks on the map, like fallen trees, the stick fort, and the “grandparent tree.” They were delighted to discover that the treasure at the end of the hunt was hot chocolate, which they enjoyed outdoors on a beautiful autumn day.