Chelsea Day School
Play is the work of small children. It is the foundation of our program. Through play, children make sense of their world, learn about themselves and others, develop language and build self-confidence. The social and emotional development of children is central to all aspects of our educational program. We create an environment where children can explore, collaborate, and construct meaningful understandings of the world around them.
Curriculum grows from the classroom community. The curriculum each year is unique, age appropriate, and emerges from the children’s interests, ideas, and needs. Teachers listen and acknowledge them. Emergent curriculum fosters the development of vocabulary, engages children in early literacy, scientific inquiry, and math. Children are given opportunities to express their ideas and feelings in a supportive, collaborative setting.
We embrace each child’s whole development—socially, emotionally, cognitively, and physically. By listening carefully and responding thoughtfully, we support them in developing a sense of autonomy and building relationships. Every child feels safe, respected, heard, and valued in our community.
All school dismissal is at noon on Fridays.
The studio art program aligns with Chelsea Day School's classroom practice of building a strong foundation of curiosity and individual expression. The studio program resembles a laboratory for experimentation and exploration where children are introduced to a variety of materials and given space and time to explore the material's properties. This approach is beyond the traditional role of an art teacher as it values process over product. Open-ended, unstructured and guided explorations, with multiple experiences over extended periods of time allows for this valuable learning to occur.
Music at Chelsea Day School invites children to explore through singing, movement, listening, and playing instruments. With guidance from our Music Specialist, they discover rhythm, pitch, and musical patterns while building listening, memory, and collaboration skills. Music often emerges naturally from classroom activities, with songs and games created to support and enrich the emergent curriculum, making it an integral part of their learning and development.
The Nature Nook is an intentional space on the roof of Chelsea Day School that brings nature into our city environment. It offers children opportunities for hands-on exploration, imaginative play, and sensory inquiry, using loose parts and natural materials to support open-ended discovery. Children are encouraged to engage with the natural world at their own pace, fostering curiosity and inquiry. This thoughtfully designed space also promotes conversations around sustainability and environmental responsibility, complementing our rooftop garden and greenery.
Arts Alive classes are led by Chelsea Day School teachers and take place Monday through Thursday from 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm. This program is open to students enrolled in our Three’s and Four’s classes and provides a wonderful opportunity for children to explore shared interests with teachers in small, focused groups. Each class is inspired by the passions of our teachers and offers hands-on, experiential activities. Previous sessions have included playacting, chess, movement, cooking, art, painting, and Spanish, among many others. This program allows children to explore new creative experiences while building connections with different teachers.
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