Hummingbird House
8:30am - 12:30pm
Ages 3– 6
Artistically and Thoughtfully Building a Strong Foundation for Lifelong Learning
Hummingbird House school days are filled with songs, games, stories, movement and ample opportunities for unstructured play that support the growth and development of the young child.
During the course of the school year, we provide a daily, weekly and yearly rhythm that provides children the opportunity to become a part of a classroom community, grow, discover, delight in awe and wonder and deepen a connection to friendship, nature and themselves!
A Curriculum & Environment Designed to Meet & Support the Growing Child
At Hummingbird House, we understand that children grow exponentially in these formative years of Birth to 7 years of age.
Utilizing the Four Foundational Senses, as the forefront of our curriculum; the Sense of Touch, Movement/Proprioception, Balance/Vestibular and Life we integrate ways to practice and bring these into maturation in our daily rhythm.
Doing this supports the young child in sensory integration, motor planning and spatial orientation. Growing up is big work!
We Learn Something New Everyday
Each day of the week provides our work for the day. Whether that is working in the garden, feeding the birds, cleaning our classroom, chopping vegetables for soup day, drawing with beeswax crayons, sewing, or other crafts, we are always preparing for something! We believe that the process is the true learning tool and provides an opportunity for children to see how things grow, change, unfold and develop patience in the process! Additionally, all of these activities support fine motor skills and finger dexterity.
Daily, children have opportunities to play with open ended/multi-use materials such as: blocks, sticks, playsilks, rocks and stones and seashells. And we build the best forts; which support imaginative, creative play and community!
Our love for the outdoors gives us time in nature, everyday, which provides ample opportunities for children to develop the capacities of their bodies including balance/coordination, gross motor skills and a deep relationship to the natural world. Being in nature allows us to breathe deeply, appreciate little details and witness the unfolding magic of life.
Our Daily Rhythm & its Importance
“Rhythm is one of the most useful tools a parent or teacher will ever come across because rhythm helps to contain a person, like a glass shapes water.” - J. Elliot
“Rhythm is one of the most useful tools a parent or teacher will ever come across because rhythm helps to contain a person, like a glass shapes water.” - J. Elliot
Rhythm in the Early Childhood
Rhythm is like the breath we take an inhale followed by an exhale.
The pedagogy for the Waldorf early childhood is rooted in rhythm which shape our days, weeks, months, and seasonal festivals around these living rhythms.
Throughout the day, children move between quiet, inward moments and lively, outward activities, mirrored in both our indoor and outdoor experiences. Rhythm is the key to our kingdom, gently guiding us through each part of the day. Because of this steady flow, the children develop a deep sense of trust and security—they “know” what comes next—allowing them to be fully present and engaged in each activity.
Outlined below is an example of our Daily Rhythm on most days:
8:20-8:30am: Welcome children, morning drop off
8:30: Morning artistic activity
8:45: Creative Morning Play
9:30: Potty break
9:45: Clean up
10:00: Circle and Storytime
10:15: Quiet time
10:30: Snack
11:00 -11:15: Clean up, wash dishes, sweep floors and Outdoor play time
12:00: Lunch
12:20-12:30: Pick up OR Transition to Happy Hearts Afternoon Program for those staying
Sample of Weekly Rhythm Work
Monday - Watercolor painitng
Tuesday - Drawing
Wednesday - Baking fresh bread
Thursday - Seasonal crafts and handicrafts playtime
Friday - Cleaning & soup prep
Sample of Snack Rhythm
Monday - Gluten free oatmeal, with maple syrup, hemp seeds, toasted coconut and raisins
Tuesday - Popcorn with nutritional yeast, seaweed and salt
Wednesday- Homemade bread with honey butter
Thursday - Quinoa, garbanzo beans, nutritional yeast, tamari and roasted sunflower seeds
Friday - Homemade soup day (garlic, onion, carrots, celery, zucchini, broccoli and kale and love)
