Our Curriculum
WHAT IS IT?
OUTDOOR In
At the Takoma Park Cooperative Nursery School, learning unfolds slowly and intentionally. Our approach is rooted in play, grounded in place, and shaped by decades of collective visioning. Our outdoor-in approach begins with a carefully designed living landscape which begins with our outdoor classroom and play yard and extends into the green spaces of our neighborhood. The landscape seamlessly flows into a purpose-built indoor environment that mirrors the outdoors rhythm and possibilities. This flow between spaces nurtures curiosity, reflection, and belonging, offering a rarified early childhood experience found nowhere else.
PLAY-BASED EDUCATION
Learning begins outdoors and flows inward. Our play-based approach nurtures curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving through experiences that connect the natural landscape with our intentionally designed indoor space. Every moment of play reveals what is possible.
PLACE-BASED EDUCATION
Our outdoor-in model begins with the landscape and extends seamlessly into our intentionally designed indoor space. Learning flows between these environments, connecting children to the natural world, their community, and each other. Through this rhythm of place, children develop a grounded sense of identity, belonging, and possibility.
