_edited.png)
Our Curriculum & Learning Philosophy
Forest Friends Outdoor School is committed to bringing the best programs to our classrooms. We believe deeply in the learning that takes place here at our school and think that there is not a more natural space for children to learn at than outside in a calm, supportive classroom with ample teacher support. While encouraging the absolute magic of childhood curiosity, we love the blend of natural learning opportunities and structured opportunities to foster the most well-rounded tiny humans.
Our curriculum and learning/teaching styles are outlined for each age group below. Learn about the special programs offered to our older students as well!
Mixed Age Classrooms
In our younger classrooms, we lean into a play-based, child-led approach. Our biggest goal in these classrooms is to support important social-emotional skills and foster a love for the outdoors. Our students have a variety of play spaces accessible to them and a consistent group of teachers and students to form connections with. These kids follow a schedule, so they are learning about boundaries and transitions.
A typical day for a Mixed-Age Classroom looks like;
-
Morning Meeting
-
School provided snack
-
Free Play (in classroom, playground, trails or creek)
-
Enrichment (Yoga, Spanish, Music or Art)
-
Animal Interactions (farm) or Nature Hike (park)
-
Craft
-
Lunch
-
Pick-Up (for morning only)
-
Quiet Time
-
Free Play
-
Afternoon Snack
-
Pick-up (3:15-3:30)
-
Extended Day Enrichment (pick-up 4:30 for farm, 5 for park)
Pre-K Classrooms
In our pre-k classrooms, we still get lots of play-based learning, but we are introducing more Kinder Readiness skills into their days. Our biggest goal in these classrooms is to support appropriate development in all domains and to make sure that kids are growing in confidence, resilience and capabilities. Our students have a variety of play spaces accessible to them and a consistent group of teachers and students to form connections with.
A typical day for a Pre-K Classroom looks like;
-
Morning Meeting
-
School provided snack
-
Free Play (in classroom, playground, trails or creek)
-
Enrichment (Yoga, Spanish, Music or Art)
-
"Pre-K Hour"
-
Heggerty Pre-K Phonemic Curriculum
-
Handwriting without Tears letter formation, recognition and sounds
-
Wild Math Curriculum- number recognition, counting goals, number formation, etc.
-
-
Lunch
-
Pick-Up (for morning only)
-
Quiet Time Centers
-
Free Reading
-
Art/Craft
-
-
Free Play
-
Afternoon Snack
-
Pick-up (3:15-3:30)
-
Extended Day Enrichment (pick-up 4:30 for farm, 5 for park)
TK Classrooms
In our TK Classrooms, we are getting older students ready to transition to Kindergarten. This classroom is meant for late Spring, Summer or Early Fall 5 year olds who need a little more time before Kindergarten. We work with students on transitioning to a more structured day, while still bringing the magic of outside learning to their schedule. Our students have a variety of play spaces accessible to them and a consistent group of teachers and students to form connections with.
A typical day for a Pre-K Classroom looks like;
-
Free Play during Drop-Off
-
Morning Meeting
-
School provided snack
-
AM literacy
-
Heggerty Phonemic Curriculum
-
Learning without Tears
-
-
Enrichment (Yoga, Spanish, Music or Art)
-
Creek Exploration
-
Often science happens down here. We do a small chunk of "science" before free play and exploration
-
-
Lunch
-
Math
-
Wild Math- summation, counting by 1's & 10's, size differences, shape comparisons, sorting/organizing, addition/subtraction fluency within 5.
-
-
Free Play
-
Afternoon Snack
-
Pick-up (3:15-3:30)
-
Extended Day Enrichment (pick-up 4:30 for farm, 5 for park)
Kindergarten Karoos
Our "non-traditional" Kindergarten classroom is for students 5-6 year olds. Students have a magical introduction to structured learning, while still being able to set their own pace, have small teacher ratios, environment as their teacher all while honoring the state standards and setting them up for success for whatever school setting comes after.
Curriculum Used;
-
Heggerty- for phonics lesson
-
Learning Without Tears Curriculum- Issaquah school district uses this for their writing, reading and phonics. We use this curriculum with Pre-K too, so it's scaffolds up nicely.
-
School District Standards - We use the local districts standards pages to guide our other units. The science goals are so special to learn so hands on in this outdoor setting.
-
Great Minds- Arts & Letters and Math
The Kindergarten special yearlong project will be a cookbook using the things we make and grow in our gardens and with our animal products. Students will write, illustrate, photograph and cook these recipes.
Students have access to;
-
Frequent field trips for hands on learning
-
Spanish exposure, yoga enrichment classes, PE,
-
and art studio
-
Animal Interactions
-
Library Structure
If your student is coming from the park, or a further location, there are bus stops to support the commute in and out. One bus stop at Lakemont Community Park, North Bend, Redmond and one on Front Street in Downtown Issaquah. Feel free to inquire more if you're interested!
6's & 7's Classroom
"1st Grade Fire bellies"
Our "non-traditional" First Grade classroom is for students 6-7 year olds. Students continue their structured learning, while still being able to set their own pace, have small teacher ratios, be outside all day and meet the state standards for first grade learning.
Curriculum Used;
-
Heggerty- for phonics lesson
-
Learning Without Tears Curriculum- Issaquah school district uses this for their writing, reading and phonics. We use this curriculum with Pre-K and K too, so it's scaffolds up nicely.
-
School District Standards - We use the local districts standards pages to guide our other units. The science goals are so special to learn so hands on in this outdoor setting.
-
Great Minds- Arts & Letters and Math
The first grade special project is a student written, recorded and played album with four songs. Students will have access to several different instruments, recording equipment and music teacher for this project.
Students have access to;
-
Frequent field trips for hands on learning
-
Daily Specials; PE, Art Studio, Library Time, Spanish and Music.
-
Animal Interactions
If your student is coming from the park, or a further location, there are bus stops to support the commute in and out. One bus stop at Lakemont Community Park, North Bend, Redmond and one on Front Street in Downtown Issaquah. Feel free to inquire more if you're interested!
-
This classroom is special because we will be at Mimsy a couple of days a week and Infinity Farm a few days a week. We will get all of the magical farm to fork learning opportunities that Mimsy and The Grove, offers. Students will get to work in a greenhouse, play on natural trails, harvest animal products and cook them to eat that day (goat milk, eggs, etc.), they will also get to walk donkeys and spend lots of time with the animals, all while doing math/science/literacy learning. We will also get all of the benefits of the farm's learning environment- the creek, the library, enrichment classes, materials, etc. We are only taking 4-6 Kinders in this classroom and they must have already completed a Pre-K or TK year at the farm!
-
On Mimsy days, we will still meet at the farm and all ride over together, as many have siblings in the younger classes at the farm. You are also welcome to drop-off directly to Mimsy.
Bus Stops are available for this program as well.