Early Childhood
Ages 3-6
8:15 AM - 2:45 PM
Mead’s Early Childhood classrooms are vibrant spaces where children are encouraged to be independent thinkers and joyful explorers. Our mixed age classrooms (ages 3-6) create a family atmosphere where younger students learn by observing their peers, while older children take pride in their roles as confident leaders. Our dedicated teaching guides tailor their lesson plans for each child’s unique learning style, allowing children to flourish without pressure. Lessons are shown in small groups or individually, giving students the opportunity to learn and grow at their own pace. Whether they are diving into a new academic subject or learning to host a guest, our students gain the social and academic foundations they need to thrive in the world. Our Early Childhood program fosters a dynamic learning environment rooted in exploration, curiosity and personal accountability.
In a Montessori environment, every detail is crafted to support a child’s developmental journey. The Teacher or ‘Guide’ serves as the bridge between the student and purposeful activities but the environment itself acts as a carefully curated teaching guide. Children ages 3-6 have what Dr. Montessori is called an ‘absorbent mind.’ Our environments provide low profile shelving, and eye-level artwork as well as child sized materials for work and play in order to support optimal function for independent use and learning.

Children encounter a rich tapestry of cultural artifacts, natural textures, and living things to care for. Here, social grace is learned naturally; because only one of each activity exists, children learn to wait, concentrate, and restore their work for the next person and children learn to value their own focus while honoring the work of others. This creates a community rooted in deep accountability and care for one’s surroundings.
Our Early Childhood classrooms take advantage of our beautiful wooded campus, hiking on our adjacent Ijams Nature Center trail and enjoying lessons and picnic lunches outside whenever possible. We believe that an early love of place and an appreciation for nature not only creates inner peace within the child but sows the seeds of stewardship which lasts a lifetime.
Complete Our Lower Elementary Application


Our Curriculum
Art
Crayons, tempera paint, watercolor, charcoal, sketching, clay, sewing, embroidery, collage, fine art appreciation
Biology / Science
Social / Emotional Learning
Community building and resourcing kids
Social Studies
Concept of globe and map, exposure to land and water forms, telling time, days of the week, months of the year, exposure to other cultures, citizenship and community, exposure to holidays and influential people throughout history, art appreciation, learning the names and locations of continents
Math
Introduction to counting, understanding of the basic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division), number memorization, geometry, fractions, currency
Music
Steady beat, music appreciation (major composers and their work), instruments of the orchestra, singing
Nature Appreciation
Care and love of the natural world and all of its inhabitants, hiking, ample outdoor time, nature scavenger hunts, poetry writing outside, plein air drawing and painting