At Smart Love Preschool, our nature program is a integral feature that connects children to the wonders of the natural world through hands-on, play-based learning. Our expansive outdoor spaces, including a vibrant "Children’s Garden," organic gardens, and a season-extending greenhouse, serve as living classrooms where children explore and grow. Here, nature becomes a rich backdrop for learning concepts in math, science, language, personal expression, physical development, and nutrition, all while fostering a deep appreciation and joy for the environment.

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Throughout the year, children actively participate in every stage of gardening, from planting seeds to harvesting crops. Using soil blocks, “dirt towers,” and garden activities, children observe the entire plant life cycle. They begin with seeds in the classroom and then move to the garden, where they care for plants, harvest produce, and use it to create delicious foods like pizzas, pesto, smoothies, and veggies with dip. The process comes full circle as children save and sort seeds for planting in the next growing season. Along the way, they explore fascinating concepts such as photosynthesis, plant lifecycles, solar energy, and how worms and insects contribute to a thriving ecosystem. A favorite activity is our “worm bed,” where children care for red wiggler worms, creating rich compost and discovering the important role these creatures play in healthy plant growth.

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This dynamic curriculum helps children draw meaningful connections between their everyday actions and larger environmental concepts like recycling, ecological stewardship, and animal lifecycles. By experiencing these abstract ideas in tangible, hands-on ways, children gain a deeper understanding of the natural world. At Smart Love Preschool, our nature program not only nurtures curious minds but also fosters a lifelong sense of joy in caring for the earth.

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