Early Childhood Programs:
Nature Nursery, Pre-K, Kindergarten

Learning in Nature

Our Nature Nursery is a magical place where important lessons about sharing, friendship, math, art, science, and reading happen in the context of the woods, gardens, pond, stream, fields, and classrooms of our beautiful 18-acre campus. Highly qualified teachers guide our youngest students, beginning at age 2 years and 7 months, through their first steps in the Friends’ Central School community. Nursery students play on their own playground and take “field trips” to explore and learn from different facets of our campus. Learning thematically with an integrated approach to language arts, math, and social studies takes place both in the classroom and outdoors, where an exploration of the natural world – including seed germination, planting, harvesting, and eating vegetables – helps children improve their fine-motor skills and make connections across the curriculum.

Nature Nursery has its own dedicated “lunch grove” beneath the trees in a beautiful clearing with nursery-sized benches and umbrellas for snack and lunch. Two “mud kitchens” provide ideal spaces to play and learn.

At Nature Nursery, 70 percent of the learning happens outside. Spread across the week are the “specials,” which include science, art, music, library, and Spanish, as well as “gym & jam,” where students explore the gym and its equipment to a background of music. At Meeting for Worship every Thursday, Nursery students sit outside in silence for several minutes and then listen to a story relevant to their current inquiries. 

 “One year at Friends’ Central’s Nature Nursery changed my child in a way that I didn’t imagine would be possible in such a young child. It’s unlike any program I’ve come across. It was a transformative, beautiful experience.”
- Current FCS Parent

You Can't Say You Can't Play

Our Pre-K curriculum is designed to develop creativity and problem-solving skills through interaction with the curriculum and each other. There is an increased emphasis on skill building, and the academic curriculum starts to become a little more structured, ensuring that students develop important pre-reading and math skills. The Pre-K program provides a bridge to Friends’ Central’s Kindergarten, beautifully preparing students for the next step in their educational journey.  

Outdoor learning and learning through play remain key for Pre-K students, with an emphasis on social and emotional growth. 

Imaginative play and learning are linked, and students build early literacy through independent reading of just-right books, as well as working one-on-one with teachers. Journal writing and acting out stories help students to stretch their literacy foundation. Dress-ups, nature walks, singing, and participating in conversations with classmates and teachers encourage students to observe, listen, and synthesize new information. Each Pre-K classroom is staffed with two highly trained educators.

Special classes in art, music, physical education, science, and Spanish enrich the day. Weekly visits to the Lower School library help foster an early love of books.

Laying the Foundation

In Kindergarten, there is lots of play balanced with a focus on preparing students for grade 1 and beyond.

Students’ early literacy flourishes as they master sound/symbol associations, write in their journals, read stories, and recite poetry. Math fluency develops as students learn to recognize numerals, explore spatial awareness through the use of manipulatives, create addition and subtraction sentences, and investigate the world of measurement. Teachers individualize instruction to meet the needs of each child. For example, children who come to Kindergarten reading are encouraged to grow their skills with a program designed for challenge.  

Each Kindergarten classroom is staffed with two full-time, highly qualified teachers. Students meet regularly with specialists in art, computers, math, music, science, physical education, and library.

Learning to Love Learning

In addition to the early childhood education programs listed above, our Lower School prides itself on a broad and varied Grade 1 through Grade 5 curriculum that offers opportunities for each child to explore, discover new interests, and shine.

Classes are small, allowing teachers to individualize challenging work for their students. The result of this education is that students have developed the confidence to speak up for themselves, as well as the skills to articulate their thoughts insightfully and effectively.

Learn more about the Lower School program here.