Literacy loft
Board books, phonemic games and a cozy couch for buddy reading.
Play-based pre-K · Seattle
Curiosity with muddy boots allowed.
Maple Lane Kindergarten is a half-day and extended-day pre-K on a tree-lined street in Ravenna. Emergent curriculum means teachers document what children wonder about, then build projects around those questions — worms, bridges, how buses turn. Mixed-age buddies pair four-year-olds with younger friends for reading time, and every class spends at least ninety minutes outdoors unless air quality is unsafe.
Seattle Preschool Program subsidies accepted; paperwork help at enrollment night.
A predictable day
- 01
Arrival & play
8:30–9:00 — free choice in learning centers while teachers greet families at the door.
- 02
Circle & story
9:00 — songs, calendar jobs and a read-aloud tied to the week's project theme.
- 03
Forest or yard
10:00 — rain suits provided; we walk to Cowen Park twice weekly for longer hikes.
- 04
Lunch & rest
12:00 — vegetarian option daily; quiet books for non-nappers on cots.
- 05
Project studio
13:30 — small groups build, paint or measure. Documentation photos go home on Fridays in a printed zine, not a social feed. Teachers label each page with quotes from children so families see the reasoning behind glitter volcanoes and block bridges.
Inside the classrooms
Art studio
Easels, clay and recycled materials. Smocks live on hooks labeled with names.
Garden boxes
Compost, worms and herbs children harvest for soup day.
Block lab
Unit blocks, ramps and clipboards for design sketches before builds.
Music corner
Ukuleles, shakers and a teacher-led singalong every Thursday.
Calm nook
Weighted lap pads and noise-canceling headphones for sensory breaks.
- Mixed-age classrooms
- 3
- Student-to-teacher cap
- 8:1
- Minimum outdoor time
- 90 min
- Field trips each year
- 12
Lead teachers
All lead teachers hold Washington state credentials and pediatric CPR.
- Mara EllisonOak room · literacy specialist
- Dev SinghCedar room · outdoor learning lead
- Priya NairBirch room · inclusion coordinator
Program tuition
Extended-day includes lunch; half-day ends before nap.
Save 5%
Half-day
Mon–Fri 8:30–12:30.
$980/ mo
- Snack included
- Project zine
- Parent conferences
Extended-day
8:30–15:30 with lunch.
$1,425/ mo
- Forest days
- SPP paperwork help
- After-care until 17:30
Summer camp
Weekly themes in July.
$720/ mo
- Separate registration
- Sibling discount
- Water play days
Enrollment questions
Do you teach academics or only play?
Play is the work. We embed math, literacy and science in projects children choose — no worksheets sent home.
How do you handle allergies?
All classrooms are nut-aware. Individual plans posted in kitchens and on cubbies; epinephrine trained staff on site.
What if my child still naps?
Extended-day includes cot time. Half-day families pick up before lunch; we share quiet activities if your child skips naps at home.
Is potty training required?
Not for younger mixed-age entry. We partner on routines and never shame accidents.
Can grandparents pick up?
Yes with a signed authorization and photo ID on file. The same form covers emergency contacts and authorized physicians.
Start an application
6125 Ravenna Ave NE, Seattle, WA (fictional)
- School days 8:00–16:00
- Office Wed 17:00–19:00
+1 206 555 0198