Chickadees and Sparrows

See the above image?

When you look closely you can see this 2 year old and a 4 year old learning from each other, but it’s not just about music, rhythm, and the inherent math concept found in music- it’s empathy, self assurance, and connection.

Many other modalities of education do not mix ages but compare them to each other. Children often overlap developmentally with their peers, even when the their birth dates are 1-2 years apart. Our Sparrow and Chickadee classrooms a mix of ages 2-4. Humans learn best through trying, doing, and then teaching. These two mixed aged classes are filled with opportunities to learn, experience and show empathy, and teach the joys of Forest School to each other as they grow.

Chickadees: 9a-1p; 2 (Tu/Th), 3 (MWF), or 5 days/wk

Sparrows: 9a-1p; 2 (Tu/Th), 3 (MWF), or 5 days/wk

General Structure of the day: Chickadees and Sparrows

Arrival and Free Play. This is a time for children to revisit works from previous days. A time to reacquaint  with the Mud Lab and Mud Kitchen or work on book skills in the library. This morning time is also wonderful for observing the changes in the flora and fauna around base camp. 

Morning Meeting. Songs, stories, and a ‘morning story’ based on the curriculum, themes, or social emotional focus of the time.

Hand washing and Snack. Biodegradable soap and water are brought to base camp every day to ensure proper hygiene. 

Hikes, Free Play. Depending on the curriculum and explorations at the time we go on adventures, walks, and hunts for relevant flora and fauna.

Curriculum based activity, art or tool skill lesson. At the beginning of each school year our lessons lean toward the practical and social/emotional. On the practical side we explore the tools, materials, flora and fauna, and ins and outs of our site with safety as our goal. Our exploration of social emotional growth at the beginning of each year focus on the use of pro-social language to help children engage together in a meaningful and safe way. When our emergent curriculum has made itself clear we use our tool and language experience to explore and learn with confidence.

Hand washing, Lunch. Picnic Lunch, from home, together. Children are given plenty of time for eating and some eat all the way too our goodbye songs!

Reading, Journals, Free Play. Those who have finished lunch can retire to the library blanket for books and journals, or return to former creations and works in other parts of Base Camp.

Goodbye Songs, Pick Up. After we sing our goodbye songs, the children stay on the library blanket while they wait for their grown-ups. Children must stay on the blanket until their grown up has reached base camp. While there, children can read, chat, journal, listen to a story, and enjoy some rest.