ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

  • Freedom to play, explore, imagine and connect with the unlimited natural world

  • Daily outdoor programs, through all weather and seasons, including: gardening, walking, hiking, yoga, art, music, and movement!

  • Observing and Classifying the natural world: weather, natural rhythms, plant and animal kingdoms (and their identification), animal habitats and behaviors, local flora and fauna

  • Outdoor skills: mapping, tracking, trail maintenance, fire-building, camping, and more

  • Stewardship: developing a sense of our powerful place in relation to the Earth and its living world. Learning to respect and care for nature and its resources through: sustainability, conservation, composting, and gardening practices

MONTESSORI PHILOSOPHY & MATERIALS

  • Respect for the “whole child” as an individual through social, emotional, physical, and cognitive education

  • Freedom of choice and movement

  • Mixed-age learning environment

  • Cosmic Education and teaching the inter-connectedness of all things

THE PROJECT APPROACH

  • Child-directed curriculum (influenced by Inquiry-Based & Reggio Emilia) where topics are driven by student interests and curiosity

  • Includes: research, project immersion and creative “culminating events” that celebrate our discoveries

PEACE CURRICULUM

  • Acceptance, diversity and inclusion - for ourselves and others

  • Teaching mindfulness and the values of “self-care and self-control” through: yoga, nature and animal connections, positive communication, solution-focused attitudes, and conflict resolution

THE ARTS

  • Daily experiences with art, music and movement

  • Free-choice and explorations with authentic art materials

  • Exposure to creative masters

  • Hands-on experience with musical instruments

BEST PRACTICES FOR EARLY EDUCATION

  • Green Earth embodies the nature-based professional practices for: teaching, environments, safety and administration - as outlined by the North American Association for Environmental Education

  • Our school follows the NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) standards for developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs

  • Our NATURE SCHOOLS (for ages 1-4) are licensed group child care facilities with the State of Montana- PV#83234 & PV#109386