Tree House Grades Class, 1st - 4th Grade
Apple Blossom programs engage the head, heart, and hands to cultivate inner joy, reverence and wonder for the earth, and a deeper connection to our local community and the world.
Registration for school year 2025-26 begins February 3rd
Tree House Grades Class meets M - W from 9 am - 3 pm and includes:
Grade 1 ages 6 - 7 (must be 6 years old by June 1st)
Grade 2 ages 7 - 8 years
Grade 3 ages 8 - 9 years
Grade 4 ages 9 - 10 years (we must have enough interest to offer 4th grade, please ask if you are interested. We will make this decision year to year.)
Our curriculum is earth conscious, arts infused, and multicultural. Ojibwe language is spoken and Indigenous values and culture are taught.
We have a full time Grades Teacher and a part time Grades Assistant Teacher on staff plus our teaching staff for the Apple House Kindergarten and Preschool next door. 1Our class size for 1st - 4th is 14 - 18 students. Each day children are engaged in outdoor exploration, games, and tasks making deep connections with nature and learning life skills. Children are taught grade specific content M - W in a 3 day rhythm. This “Main Lesson” covers certain “blocks” or studies each school year based on their grade. The arts are integrated into Main Lesson as well as being offered at other times. Specifics about the Grades Curriculum is found below and on our Curriculum page.
*We believe in multi-age learning! K - 2nd combine and 3rd- 4th combine for specialty classes each week such as Handwork, Games, Spanish, and Singing.
Multi-Age Homeschool Enrichment Class on Thursdays for ages 6 - 12 years can be added to the M - W curriculum. Forest Day at Lake Bemidji State Park once a month plus local field trips and guest teachers happen on Thursdays to compliment our curriculum and bring our studies to life! Parents are welcome to share a talent or help chaperone a field trip. More info HERE
*If before or after care beyond our hours is needed, parents are encouraged to help each other with arrangements. We are a Microschool (Private school/Homeschool hybrid). Students can arrive 10 min before or stay 10 min after by special arrangement if the Teacher’s schedule allows and if space is available. After care programs beyond what we can offer may be offered at local childcare centers or home childcare programs, or the Boys and Girls Club.
We provide a daily morning snack modeled after the German “second breakfast”, incorporating seasonal foods that we harvest, foods native to Minnesota, and cultural foods according to our curriculum. Our curriculum includes harvest, preservation, and cooking. We eat organic when possible and we are able to accommodate gluten free and dairy free diets.
Options and Cost
Our school year runs in 2 Sessions but we recommend and give preference to enrollment for a full school year.
Fall Session 3 Day Grades Class
Sept 2 - Dec 17
$1540 payment due August 25th
Spring Session 3 Day Grades Class
Jan 12 - May 20 with a week off in March
$1925 payment due December 15th
Add Thursday Multi-Age Enrichment Class for ages 6 - 12 years
Fall $420 and Spring $525
*Thursday Classes may be held offsite such as Bemidji State Park or other Field Trips, more info HERE
Monthly payment is available or pay the whole year for 3% discount. Sibling Discount of 10% off is available.
Seasonal Festivals are part of our Nature Curriculum and develop awe and wonder for young children.
We encourage family involvement. Children in the Grades classes often have a special role in creating or helping with parts of the festivals as part of their learning and community involvement. Please plan to participate in some way. These are beautiful traditions that your child will talk about for years to come!
New this year: Family Day on the last Thursday of each session! Bring the family and enjoy activities together!
Grades Class performing a Dragon Play for our Harvest Festival
Storytelling at our Winter Spiral
Harvest Festival - after school
Enchanted Halloween Fundraiser
Lantern Walk - Kindergarten, Preschool, Parent/Child Classes
Winter Spiral Festival and Holiday Shop Fundraiser
Winter Traditions and Indigenous Games - Thursday Family Day
March Puppet Play and Animal Project Show and Tell - after school
Spring Celebration - Thursday Family Day
Midsummer Festival Fundraiser in June
We are a Micro-School (a private school/homeschool hybrid). Children must be registered as homeschoolers with their local school district the school year after they turn age 7. For some this may be first grade, and for most this will happen the fall of second grade. Academic curriculum is provided M - W at Apple Blossom using a Waldorf-inspired philosophy. Formal reading instruction begins in Grade 1. We offer parent/teacher conferences twice a year and although we provide academic curriculum we depend on parent support at home for reading and math.
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Due to our unique set up with yurts as classrooms, a rustic fenced in play yard located across from the lakeshore, a multi-age class of 6 - 10 year olds, and no Special Education staff onsite (Our staff have a variety of educational backgrounds and experiences along with training in the Waldorf Philosophy), we can accommodate a variety of different learning styles, but we are not equipped to accommodate high behavior needs. Children must be able to be safe with their bodies, appropriate with their language, and listen to teacher directions in order to attend. *We have high expectations for safe and kind behavior and our teachers have attended training and participated in SEL classes through Peacemaker Resources.
Journey through the Grades!
Tree House friends enjoy a close-knit community fostered by our Waldorf-trained Teacher and Classroom Assistant with our talented teaching staff offering specialty classes in Handwork, Games, Spanish Language, Singing and more!
Our holistic curriculum unfolds and builds upon itself year after year. Social/emotional skills are honed over the 3 - 4 years the children attend the Tree House Grades Class. We support all children in developing their highest potential by encouraging the artistic, creative and imaginative life, and by providing a strong foundation in academic studies while immersed in nature.
Subjects are taught in such a way that involves the whole child in the learning process, including having each child write and illustrate their own lesson books beginning in grade one. We offer Outdoor immersion all school year with our cozy winterized yurt as a classroom. Indigenous studies and values are woven into our days together. More info on our Curriculum Page.
Parent Involvement
A strong partnership between parents and teacher is cultivated through parent volunteering, parent/teacher conferences, and ongoing communication about their child’s development. As a Homeschool program, parents and teachers communicate consistently to make sure children are developing needed skills for future school options especially during the third and fourth grade year.