Preserving the magic and wonder of childhood.
At Sonnenblume, we believe children deserve both rich content and the freedom to explore it in their own way. Our curriculum weaves together Core Knowledge and Reggio Emilia — building a strong academic foundation while honoring children's curiosity, creativity, and love of play. And we take as much of it outside as we possibly can. We foster a strong academic foundation without sacrificing play, the outdoors, or the magic of being little.
Reggio Meets Core Knowledge
On the surface, Reggio Emilia and Core Knowledge seem like opposites. One is emergent and child-led with no set curriculum. The other is content-rich and intentional, with specific learning goals. Most schools pick one.
We chose both.
At Sonnenblume, we bring children a world worth exploring — science, literature, music, and art — and then trust them to explore it in their own way. The content gives children something real to be curious about. The Reggio approach gives that curiosity room to breathe.
Literacy
Rather than handing children letters to memorize, we build scaffolding that gives letters context and meaning — what a book is, what a word is, that letters have a name and a sound, that words have syllables you can clap and some words rhyme and that is delightful. By the time a child meets the letter B, they already understand the world it lives in.
The Outdoors
If there is one thing that defines Sonnenblume, it is this: we go outside. Every single day, in every kind of weather, for at least 45 minutes. Rain, mud, wind, snow — we dress for it and we go. When the weather is generous, we are outside all day. We believe outdoor play is not a break from learning. It is some of the most important learning that happens. Outside, children take risks, solve problems, negotiate with peers, develop gross motor skills, and connect with the natural world in ways that simply cannot be replicated indoors. Our acre of land gives children room to roam, dig, build, climb, run and play. Outside is where they belong!
Friday Baking
Every Friday at Sonnenblume is Baking Day. Children gather to measure, mix, pour, and create — and then they eat what they make together. Baking weaves together math, science, language, sequencing, fine motor skills, and the quiet satisfaction of making something real with your hands. But more than the skills, it is the ritual that matters. Friday Baking is a beloved anchor of our week — a moment of warmth, togetherness, and the very good smell of something in the oven.
Process Art
At Sonnenblume, art is not a craft with a predetermined outcome. It is an open-ended invitation to explore materials, make decisions, and express ideas. Children have access to process art every single day — collaging, wool felting, painting, printmaking, working with different types of paper, clay, and natural materials. They work on class murals together. They return to individual pieces over days or even weeks, layering meaning and intention over time. The result is not a matching set of identical butterflies to hang on the wall. It is something far more interesting: evidence of a child's thinking, creativity, and growing sense of self.
Play Schemas
If you have ever noticed a child who is obsessed with lining things up, filling and emptying containers, or climbing and jumping from every surface — you have witnessed a play schema in action. Schemas are patterns of repeated behavior through which children explore and make sense of the world. At Sonnenblume, we recognize and honor schemas like transporting, enclosing, trajectory, rotation, and connecting as the serious cognitive work they are. Rather than redirecting these urges, we lean into them — providing materials and experiences that feed each child's current schema. Understanding schemas helps us meet every child where they are and design an environment that supports their individual development.
Community and Family Engagement
Four times a year we host Parent Day, where families are invited into the heart of our school. Parents join their children for singing, view documentation of their learning, see their artwork on display, and often bake or make something together. These days are joyful and unhurried — a chance to see your child in their element and to connect with the families who are walking alongside you. Throughout the year we gather for seasonal celebrations and shared events that knit our community closer together. At Sonnenblume, family and community matters.