We are thrilled to kick off our Summer Habitats Curriculum with the magical world of the Forest! Over the past two weeks, our children across all age groups have been immersed in the sights, sounds, textures, and wonders of the forest through joyful, hands-on Montessori experiences.

From the youngest infants in Nido to our confident Kindergarten students, every child has explored the forest in ways that match their developmental stage; touching soft moss, listening to animal sounds, creating nature art, and building their very own keepsake projects.

What Each Age Group Explored in the Forest

Nido (9 months – 2 years)

Our littlest learners experienced the forest through all their senses. They enjoyed soft texture baskets with moss and crinkly leaves, listened to forest animal sounds, practiced leaf wiping, and created their first page in their “My Sensory Habitat Touch Book.” The gentle outdoor leaf hunts and water play brought big smiles and curious hands.

Pre Primary (2–3 years)

Our toddlers proudly washed and sorted real leaves, matched forest objects to pictures, graded green and brown colors, and built simple puzzles of forest animals. They created beautiful leaf rubbings and collages, enjoyed “Ants on a Log” snack, and added their special leaf to their Sensory Touch Book. The outdoor scavenger hunts with picture cards were a highlight!

Primary (3–6 years)

Our Primary children dove deeper with 3-part nomenclature cards, leaf pressing and labeling, teen counting with animal counters, texture grading, biome map work, and building a forest food chain. They created nature mandalas and leaf animals on the art shelf, enjoyed Forest Owl Cookies, and added rich 2-page spreads to their “My Habitats Adventure Book.”

Kindergarten (5–6 years)

Our Kindergarten students took on leadership roles while following the Primary curriculum. They conducted tree observations and measurements, built detailed forest food chains, created beautiful leaf graphs, and worked on their Habitat Journals with more writing and reflection. They also began their shoebox dioramas with a forest floor layer and enjoyed reading forest stories to younger friends.

Highlights from the Forest

• Children collected real leaves and natural items during outdoor time.
• Everyone contributed to their personal keepsake book or diorama.
• The classroom smelled of fresh leaves and felt alive with curiosity and movement.
• Teachers observed growing confidence, richer vocabulary, and beautiful moments of collaboration.

We are already seeing the children’s love for nature blossom. The forest has taught us about layers, textures, animal homes, and the quiet magic of trees.

Next up: We dive into the Ocean Habitat! We can’t wait to explore shells, waves, and water play with all of our students.

Thank you to our wonderful families for your partnership this summer. We encourage you to continue the forest exploration at home; take a walk, collect a few safe leaves, and talk about what lives in the trees!

Be sure to check out Transparent Classroom for all your child’s latest photos.