Outdoor Adventures in Kindergarten
O.A.K. is a Reggio-inspired Forest Kindergarten
LOGISTICS
Reggio-inspired Forest Kindergarten
WHAT:
WHO:
Young children aged 5 years by August 15
WHEN:
TIME:
Monday - Friday
9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (F)
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (M-R)
Ask us about Caterpillar Care!
The O.A.K.Experience
Creative Learning the Natural Way
Imagine a school where your child’s classroom is the great outdoors, their lessons are drawn from nature, and every day is an adventure that builds confidence and celebrates their unique self. Welcome to Airie's Kindergarten!
Your child will joyfully develop autonomy, be heard, and nurtured each day they spend with us. As a Kindergartener, your child will be invited to explore Reggio-Inspired learning hubs derived from their inquiries and embedded with the curricular values of our educational philosophies.
Open-ended play is the foundation of our emergent curriculum, offering children developmentally appropriate and evidence-based learning experiences. The day-to-day schedule varies depending on weather, children’s needs, guest artists or enrichment teachers, and children’s supported interests. The schedules below are our typical rhythm.
Children should always arrive dressed for the current weather conditions.
Monday - Thursday
9:00 a.m. = Play-based Learning at Hubs
10:00 a.m. = Morning Meeting
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Self-directed Play & Exploration in Nature
11:00 a.m. = Literacy Cycle
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Lunch
1:00 p.m. = STEM Cycle & Pod Projects
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Mindfulness
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Snack & Stories
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Self-directed Play & Exploration in Nature
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Restore & Reflection
3:00 p.m. = Farewell
Daily Rhythm
Bold is an anchor of the day
Italicize is a dynamic flexible period of the day
9:00 a.m. = Play-based Learning at Hubs
10:00 a.m. = Morning Meeting
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Self-directed Play & Exploration in Nature
11:00 a.m. = Literacy Cycle
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Lunch
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Self-directed Play & Exploration in Nature
1:00 p.m. = Farewell
Forest Fridays Rhythm
Ask us about Caterpillar Care!
Offerings
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Five days a week are filled with long hours of uninterrupted outdoor play (e.g., self-directed play in nature).
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All-weather immersive experiences to foster resilience.
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Learning Pods are customized, flexible groupings created based on the children's developmental level.
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These groups are designed to target academic skills through playful, direct instruction guided by the TN State Standards.
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Reggio-Emilia-inspired learning invitations (e.g., play-based learning at Hubs)
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Process art for creative expression at the Atelier
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Emergent curricular experiences embedded in play
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Priority is placed on open-ended, exploratory play.
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Learning invitations are seasonal, nature-based, and connected to the children's daily outdoor discoveries.
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We incorporate developmentally appropriate practices in early childhood education with a holistic approach inspired by the Reggio Emilia educational philosophies.
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Project-based Learning
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Daily writing invitations in their explorers' journals
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Weekly expeditions to explore local creeks, springs, forests, farms, museums, and rivers to develop biophilia within each student.
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Outdoor learning hubs include a mud kitchen, sandbox, learning gardens, story tree, and an adventure playground.
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Children in Airie's Kindergarten class will be enrolled in a Category IV school, satisfying all Tennessee State educational requirements.
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OAK is a kindergarten that aims to give each child the most developmentally appropriate, high-quality learning experiences that cater to their inquiries and respect their learning needs.
Benefits
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O.A.K. has a small child-to-educator ratio of 8:1.
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Individualized Learning Plans (ILP) to develop your child's goals and track progress.
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Family Meetings in October, February, and June
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Play-activated learning invites your child to:
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Choose, move, create, be read to, sing, connect, be outside, ask questions, observe, discuss, reflect, express feelings, make mistakes, and solve problems
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Learn and exercise social and emotional skills.
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Enhance cognitive and process skills.
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Explore forestry and ecology curricular concepts.
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Investigate the world through emergent curricula embedded throughout the play experience.
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Connect with passionate, highly-qualified educators who value and understand the process of learning.
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Dynamic Disciplines are interwoven into student-led, Learning Pod projects.
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Continuous learning is supported with a balanced calendar.
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Frequent authentic documentation of the learning process to connect you with your child’s day.
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Exclusive events include bonfires, special family days, holiday celebrations, campouts, child-led performances, and ceremonies.
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As part of a Category IV exempt school, Airie operates as a homeschool tutorial.
Read our Kindergarten Handbook Summary to learn more about what this means for your family.
