Reggio-Inspired Forest Prekindergarten
The Outdoor Academy
DETAILS
Reggio-Inspired Forest Prekindergarten
WHAT:
WHO:
Young children aged 4/5 by August 15, 2025
WHEN:
TIME:
Four classes per week (MTWR)
9:15 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
The PreK Experience
A Classroom Without Walls
At Airie, we believe that the greatest lessons come when children are immersed in the natural world. From sunshine to snow, our prekindergarteners' minds are activated through open-ended play, discovery, and purposeful exploration—all outdoors in nature.
What Makes Airie's Prekindergarten Special?
Reggio-Inspired, Nature-Based: Open-ended play is the foundation of our emergent curriculum. Children engage in developmentally appropriate, evidence-based learning experiences within our innovative outdoor learning hubs. Instruction is guided by each child’s questions and motivations, supported by curriculum resources such as Wunderled and Teaching STEM in the Early Years. Through carefully crafted invitations to play, academic concepts are gently and meaningfully woven into the child’s natural learning process.
Play-Based 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 educators who value and understand the learning process.
Small Class Size: With a 6:1 child-to-teacher ratio, children thrive in a supportive community that fosters leadership, cooperation, and confidence. Our highly qualified prekindergarten teacher gets to know your child and tailors playful instruction to their individual needs.
All-Weather Resilience: Rain, snow, or sunshine, our students learn to adapt to the ebb and flow of the weather. Research supports the use of this process to cultivate physical endurance, cognitive flexibility, tolerance, and social-emotional skills in young children.
Weekly Expeditions: Based on your child's outdoor readiness, they may be invited to join the Airie Outdoor Academy primary students on local field trips to creeks, forests, farms, or museums. Airie's expeditions broaden children's world and fuel their curiosity.
Bolded sections are an anchor point of the day
Italicized sections are flexible
Children should always arrive dressed for the current weather conditions.
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8:55 a.m. = Parent Play (Welcome & Drop-off)
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9:15 a.m. = Play-based Learning at Hubs
A.W.A.K.E. Meeting
Adventure Play
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10:45 a.m. = Literacy Meeting
Exploration in Nature
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12:00 p.m. = Farewell
Daily Rhythm
Mondays - Thursdays
When will my child eat? We practice autonomy by encouraging the children to listen to their bodies. There are designated eating areas and procedures to maintain safety at all times.
Note: The only times the children are discouraged from eating are during the meetings of the day.
Why Do Families Love our Prekindergarten?
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Milestone Meetings: Held in November and May, featuring child-led reflections and growth goals.
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Authentic Documentation: Through photos and written reflections, you will witness firsthand how your child learns with intentional instruction and grows from playing with other children of various ages in nature.
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Community & Celebrations: Airie families come together to enjoy exclusive bonfires and campouts as well as celebrations that connect children, families, and educators.
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Readiness for Kindergarten: Our Forest Prekindergarten nurtures curious, confident learners through a research-based educational approach that targets your child's skills and abilities, preparing them for more independent exploration in kindergarten and beyond.
Forest Fridays
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Ages: 4 years
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Days: Selected Fridays
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See our Calendar
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Time: 9:15 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Forest Fridays are an add-on option for the prekindergarten students to join the Academy on Fridays for more Forest School explorations.
What Does a Forest Prekindergarten Look Like?
Forest Families
Families that enroll in our Forest Prekindergarten are seeking to:
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Provide their child with an experiential prekindergarten education.
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Developmentally appropriate instruction is embedded in the learning environment and strategically guided by the Airie Teacher to satisfy the Tennessee State Standards.
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Prioritizes play-based learning from nature.
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Honor the wonder and curiosity of childhood.
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Cultivate a diverse and supportive space.
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Allow children autonomy, trust, and responsibility.
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Build creative tolerance to foster innovation.
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Partner with Airie educators.
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Give back to Earth.
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Slow down and connect with one another.
"Airie's approach to education has provided my granddaughter with an enriching, hands-on learning experience that goes beyond traditional education. The dedicated teachers, the thoughtfully designed environment, and the engaging curriculum have nurtured her growth in profound ways.
Perhaps most importantly, Airie Forest School has fostered a deep respect for nature in my granddaughter. She now has a greater understanding of the environment and the role we all play in its care. The access to challenges and obstacles has nurtured her ability to face adversity with determination and a positive mindset."
— Prekindergarten Grandmother
"Every day, the students are empowered in the decision making about the activities for the day.
Yes, there is a lesson plan; however, the students are active participants in the learning process. These children are actively learning how to
work as a group and all that entails.
They are learning that concessions sometimes need to be
made, what it means, the results of working together, and to not only receive but give others a
place where all ideas are welcomed.
— Pifer Family