A Day in the Life at the Thich Nhat Hanh School of Interbeing

We begin the day together in warmth and presence. Children gather in a circle for mindful movement, a few settling breaths, and a connection practice. We check in with ourselves and each other, gently arriving in the space. A short contemplative education lesson grounded in Thầy’s teachings is shared to help guide the learning community’s awareness throughout the day. Whether the lesson is about compassion, deep listening, or impermanence, this seed is lovingly planted to grow throughout our shared experiences.

Plum Village songs and practices are part of our daily rhythm. We sing to help us transition from one activity to the next, to energize our bodies, and to help children connect with one another and the values of our community through melody and joy. We use the bell to return to our breath and bodies, and to connect to the present moment. 

Our math block begins with whole-group instruction, followed by small group, differentiated learning. Children explore mathematical concepts through interactive, hands-on experiences: building with blocks, using manipulatives, playing with art and design, conducting experiments, and engaging in lively games. Students build foundational skills that will support their project-based, integrative learning experiences in the afternoon.

Midmorning, we pause for a mindful snack enjoyed outside whenever possible. Children are invited to eat slowly, to notice the taste and texture of their food, and to enjoy the sounds and sensations of nature around them. This simple act of eating becomes a practice in presence, gratitude, and care for the earth.

After snack, children have time for open-ended outdoor play. They run, explore, create, and move their bodies freely. We view this time not as a break from learning but as a vital part of it—an opportunity to nourish joy, resilience, imagination, and physical development through connection with the natural world.

Our literacy block begins with a joyful read-aloud that sparks imagination and wonder. Children then participate in small, differentiated groups where they build foundational literacy skills in playful and purposeful ways. Partner reading, skill-building games, book discussions, phonics, writing, social studies explorations, and calligraphy are all part of their hands-on, developmentally responsive learning. Their learning lays the groundwork for the integrative learning experiences in the afternoon.

Lunch at the School of Interbeing is not a break from learning - it is a practice in itself.

Each day, the school community shares a sit-down, family-style meal prepared by sangha members in our communal kitchen. The food is entirely plant-based and offered with care, joy, and mindfulness. Before eating, we listen to the bell to arrive fully in the present moment, offering gratitude for the food, the people who prepared it, and the earth that nourished it.

Mindful eating is a central practice in the Plum Village tradition, and it is honored here as a daily opportunity to slow down, come home to our bodies, and deepen our awareness. Students are invited to eat in a gentle silence for the first few moments of the meal, tuning into the flavors, textures, and interbeing of the food in front of them, creating space for a kind of nourishment that goes beyond the physical.

After eating and connecting, children take part in cleaning up, mindfully washing their own dishes and helping to care for the shared space. At times, students also assist in simple food preparation, offering their hands in joyful service. These acts are not framed as chores, but as expressions of gratitude and responsibility - ways of living the teachings of interbeing.

Recess follows lunch, giving children time to run, explore, and play freely outdoors. This unstructured time allows for creativity, movement, and joyful connection with the natural world once again.

The school slows down after lunch for deep relaxation. In the Plum Village tradition, learning how to rest is as important as any academic subject. Practicing rest helps children come back to themselves, feel safe in their bodies, and know that they don’t have to do anything to be enough. This period allows body and mind to settle, helping children feel refreshed and ready for the afternoon’s explorations.

In the afternoon, students participate in hands-on, experiential, project-based learning. Skills developed during morning academic blocks come alive through real-world application. Children apply and extend their learning on the Happy Farm, at an elder care center, in our communal kitchen, with a monastic on a hiking trail, in partnership with a local community organization, under the guidance of an artist or musician-in-residence from our sangha, and more. Learning how to be of service in community and how to embody engaged Plum Village practices and teachings are at the heart of this time. 

This time will integrate lessons in science, social studies, physical education, music, art, and environmental stewardship. Students will grow to see that learning is interdisciplinary, relational, and responsive to the living world around us.

The day closes as it began - in community. Children gather once more in a circle to reflect on their afternoon experience and revisit the day’s contemplative teaching, allowing it to land in new and personal ways. There is time for “watering flowers” (offering words of appreciation and acknowledgment to one another), nurturing kindness, insight, and a strong sense of community.

Learning happens not within rigid walls, but in open, circular yurts nestled in nature. These round, sacred spaces invite a sense of equality, belonging, and connection—there’s no back row, no hierarchy, no corners to hide in. Sitting in a circle, students meet each other eye to eye, heart to heart. The absence of hallways reflects our commitment to integration rather than separation—movement between spaces is fluid, just like the movement between subjects, emotions, and moments. Here, education is not compartmentalized; it’s embodied, relational, and alive.