Temple Shalom Nursery School
This past year, Temple Shalom Nursery School has continued to deepen our connection to the natural
world and expand our certified Nature Explore Classroom in joyful and meaningful ways. We have
enhanced our outdoor learning spaces by installing permanent shelters, allowing children to engage in year-round exploration regardless of the weather.
Weekly visits from Green City Growers have supported our children in planting, growing, and harvesting vegetables—greens, beans, tomatoes, chives, and even watermelon—which we joyfully donate to the Newton Community “Freedge,” reinforcing values of tzedakah and community care. In the fall and spring, families join us to plant bulbs, clean out beds, and plant seedlings—fostering shared care of the space and a strong sense of ownership and belonging.
Our teaching team continues to invest in the growth of our outdoor pedagogy. This year’s professional
development focused on intentional use of outdoor materials to support executive functioning, fine and gross motor development, and inquiry-based learning. In one inspiring project, educators guided children through learning the scientific names of our trees and co-created beautiful mosaic signs that now live beside each tree.
Families with young children have also taken an active role in beautifying the garden, even donating plants that now thrive in our shared space. Our outdoor classroom—complete with a vegetable garden, flower beds, greenhouse, water pump, worm hollow, rain barrel, fire pit, and open-ended natural building materials —offers endless possibilities for discovery. One parent shared: “Our kids come home beaming each day, and share what they’ve discovered in the fantastic outdoor nature area… and have become more and more confident as learners—all of which they absorb through play.” At TSNS, our outdoor environment is not just a space—it’s a living part of our curriculum, our community, and our values.
Read about Temple Shalom Nursery School on the Nature Explore blog!
