In Kindergarten, students learn that community is one of the first communities children take an active role in co-creating. Students learn about norms through discussions, collaborate with each other in their environment, and come to a consensus through real-world activities.

Guided by their teacher, students spend the first six weeks of school discussing the guidelines that govern their classroom community. Students develop empathy and compassion as they learn to listen and respond to the needs of others as well as advocate for their own.

After Morning Meeting, students spend time on the Natural Playground, where they work together to build play structures, create new games, and negotiate rules. Throughout kindergarten, teachers guide students through productive conversations around setting boundaries, taking care of each other, and maintaining the physical environment.

Through read-alouds, discussions, games, and imaginative activities, students explore essential questions such as, “How can we make school a great place for everyone?” “How can we unite to build a compassionate class community?” and “How do stories shape our identities and connect us to each other?” Example projects include self-portraits, memory books, and visual representations of the world around them.