Earthlings Playschool
(ages 3 to 4/Preschool age)
Cultivating curiosity, creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking
2024/25 Earthlings Playschool
August 19, 2024 through June 6, 2025
Earthlings meets the goals of early childhood development and environmental education. By listening to children's questions and observing their curiosities, we design an innovative, nature-based, and screen-free curriculum that inspires each child and the whole class.
Our unique discovery-based approach to early childhood education centers on cultivating the whole child's social, emotional, and ecological intelligence. Children explore and interact with our animals, edible and pollinator gardens, and wild spaces, creating a joy for learning at a young age. Through our 8:1 student-to-educator ratio, children are deeply cared for and connected to their Connolly Ranch community - a place to express their spirit and desire to grow and learn while meeting important development milestones.
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2025 Winter/ Spring Dates
January 6, 2025 through June 6, 2025
Winter/Spring Monthly Tuition
$2240.00 - 5 days a week, 8:00 to 4:30
$1120.00 - 5 days a week, 8:00 to 12:00 or 12:30 to 4:30
$1344.00 - 3 days a week, 8:00 to 4:30
$672.00 - 3 days a week, 8:00 to 12:00 or 12:30 to 4:30
$896.00 - 2 days a week, 8:00 to 4:30
$448.00 - 2 days a week, 8:00 to 12:00 or 12:30 to 4:30
You pick the days that work best for your family.
Core Developmental Principles
Earthlings here at Connolly Ranch memorize verses and songs, taught in English and in Spanish, strengthening their dual-language acquisition, phonemic awareness and lays a foundation for beginning reading skills and early literacy. Earthlings develop their number sense, not by rope memorization, but by hands on learning. Children collect, count, and sort pumpkin seeds, sticks, rolly pollies, and much more! The outdoors are our greatest teacher and supports the whole child in their discovery of themselves and of the world around them. Earthlings use natural materials to craft wind chimes, weave baskets, and building bug homes.
In our lessons and activities, we cherish moments of creation, where children fashion toys and crafts from the treasures nature offers, instilling in them a reverence for the world around them. They learn not just about trees, but the silent symphony they conduct in nature's grand orchestra, and the profound role they play in shaping both our landscapes and our souls.
Through imaginary voyages and expeditions, they embark on adventures not just of the body, but of the mind and spirit, where the only limits are the boundaries of their imagination. And in the simplicity of open-ended play, they find freedom – to create, to explore, and to discover the magic in every moment.
As they explore the intricate dance between earth and sky, observing the subtle shifts of the seasons, they come to understand the rhythms of life itself. And in the untouched wilderness, they discover a world teeming with life, each creature playing its part in a delicate balance that speaks to the interconnectedness of all things.
Whole Child Approach
We use the Whole Child Approach by creating curriculum and lesson plans based on cognitive development, social & emotional development and physical body, growth, and wellness. This whole body approach emphasizes a well-rounded child that can continue on to TK or Kindergarten with tools of self-concept, self-esteem, and compassion for themselves, others, and the environment.
Social & Emotional Development
The ever-changing environment and all its loose parts encourage creativity, imagination, and divergent thinking. Children quickly learn the value of teamwork and cooperation as they work together to build a fort or help each other out as they attempt new challenges. Our outdoor classroom, the Farm, Garden and Wildspaces, offer opportunities for children to engage in “self challenges”, whether they are attempting to cross a log, climbing a tree or holding a chicken for the first time. Over coming these challenges allows children to take risks, which in return builds confidence and a strong sense of self.
Through personal interactions with our farm animals, children develop empathy, respect and compassion as they take care of our chickens, goats, pigs, sheep, horses and donkeys.
Early Literacy, Math & Science
Early math and science are built into everyday life on the farm as children gather and count eggs, learn the life cycle of a chicken or butterfly, observe worms in their natural habitats and weigh food for the animals. We begin with shape and letter recognition by creating letters out of sticks, drawing them in the sand or identifying them in nature. Early Literacy lessons are introduced to help children develop essential readiness skills in the areas of body awareness, pre-writing, number awareness, building, social and communication skills.
Learn more about our educational pedagogy and unique discovery-based curriculum here and see program core development principles below.
Earthlings Playschoolers are 3 & 4 years old at or near the start of the school year.
If you have questions about the Earthlings Playschool program or would like to schedule a program visit, don't hesitate to contact Nora Dondero, Early Childhood Education Manager.