how we learn and grow

Exploratory, hands-on learning creates the most lasting impressions. At Small Meadows we include the practice of academic subjects through daily learning experiences that apply STEAM subjects, as well as physical education, literacy, social and cultural studies. We discover classroom projects based on group interest and seasonal events in nature, as well as foster each child’s particular passion, with the support of qualified mentorship.

Project Examples:

Science: Seasonal geese migration, the tadpole life-cycle, composting, simple botany and useful plant identification. The water cycle, animal tracks, identifying animals, rocks, plants and gardening.

Mathematics: Calculating measurements to build small mammal shelters; counting and tracking bird, flowers, fish; identifying the size of animal prints; geometric shapes in nature; cooking.

Literacy: Storytelling; songs; poetry; nature-journaling; dramatic play; helping to make material lists for projects; reading a map; creating story-boards; helping to take notes on outdoor discoveries and research.

Social Studies: Storytelling about the history of Maine, the people and pioneers from this area, including learning about the indigenous peoples first here and our newly immigrated friends, help children learn about themselves, their relationship to their peers and their place in the world.

Children investigate the questions: Why do people live where they do? And build where they do? We encourage sharing and learning about each other's heritage, ancestry and cultural practices and perspectives.

Physical Education: Children will have increasing spatial awareness through outdoor play that includes activities such as rock-hopping, balancing on logs, leaping across puddles, climbing, swinging, as well as yoga and dance.

Arts: Drawing; painting; clay modeling; collage; woodworking; building shelters; singing; dancing; natural instruments; rhythm making. Small Meadows combines high-end art materials with materials found in nature to compose art. Children experiment and practice using different materials and gain an understanding of how materials interact with each other.