8:00 - Early Arrivals

8:30 - Regular Day Arrivals

9:00 - Morning Meeting and Snack

9:15 - Planning and Choice Time

10:15 - Recall and Small Groups

11:00 - Choice Time

12:00 - Lunch time

12:30 - Half-Day Departures

12:45 - Rest Time

2:00 - Planning and Choice Time

3:00 - Recall and Afternoon Snack

4:00 - Full-Day Departures

Parts of the Day: In Detail

PLANNING - During this time, children plan with teachers about what they intend to do during Choice Time. As children become familiar with the process, teachers help them to extend their ideas in increasingly more complicated ways, while encouraging new skills and posing new challenges.

RECALL - During this time, teachers help children participate in a brief sharing of what they did during Choice Time - by showing something that was made or in some way representing an experience.

SMALL GROUP - A time for exploring and interacting with a common set of materials, with each child participating in their own way. Children learn to classify, seriate, and represent as they explore a variety of sensory, pre-reading, and pre-math activities.

OUTSIDE TIME - Nature exploration is an important part of the Giving Tree experience. During Spring, Summer, and Fall, most of our curriculum takes place outside, moving indoors only for Rest Time. During the coldest months, we aim for at least an hour outdoors, twice a day. Our rural setting provides safe access to nature trails, streams, and farmland.

REST TIME - Rest: A quiet break in the afternoon allows the children to recharge their bodies and minds. Children nap or relax quietly in personal pop-up tents, while listening to quiet music and stories.