An Evening of Inquiry and Hands-On Learning at Temple Sinai Nursery School

In partnership with Temple Sinai DC, DCAEYC is pleased to share an opportunity for early childhood education professionals to engage in an evening of inquiry, movement, reflection, and hands-on learning at Temple Sinai Nursery School, a NAEYC-accredited preschool in Northwest Washington, DC.

This special session will offer participants a meaningful look into a learning environment shaped by curiosity, collaboration, and thoughtful observation. Grounded in a Reggio Emilia-inspired approach, Temple Sinai Nursery School centers children’s ideas, questions, and discoveries, while recognizing the environment as an essential part of the learning process.

Throughout the evening, participants will be invited to explore several spaces and experiences that reflect the school’s educational philosophy in practice.

In the Movement Room, guests will experience an obstacle course thoughtfully designed by in-house occupational therapist Kim Perks. This space is intentionally created to encourage children to test ideas, solve problems, take risks, and reflect on their experiences through movement.

In the Outdoor Classroom, participants will see how natural, open-ended environments can support observation, experimentation, and deeper connections with the world around us. Joanna Finnegan, Investigation Specialist, will guide visitors through invitations to play that are rooted in purpose, wonder, and collaboration.

The Two-Year-Old Classroom will offer a closer look at how open-ended materials and loose parts are used with the school’s youngest learners. Led by Lora Fader Dunne, this portion of the session will highlight how sensory exploration, imagination, and meaningful play are supported through a child-centered approach to learning.

Participants will also have the opportunity to engage with ideas for loose parts play across age groups, from 18 months through age 5. Judi Sperber, Pedagogista, will share practical examples of materials, set-ups, and prompts that encourage reflection, creativity, and responsive learning.

At the close of the session, Melanie Douglass, Director of Early Childhood Education, Judi Sperber, and teachers Kim Perks, Lora Fader Dunne, and Joanna Finnegan will gather with participants for a shared reflection. This conversation will create space for questions, observations, and dialogue inspired by the evening’s experiences.

Register now: https://shorturl.at/PFAOG RSVP required. Members Only.

We look forward to this opportunity to learn from Temple Sinai Nursery School and to reflect together on how environment, documentation, and collaborative inquiry can foster rich and meaningful learning for every child.