25 Jan 2025
The Biggest Project
Evolution from Early Birds İstanbul to Outdoor School İstanbul
The Early Birds Journal
16 Oct 2024
EBI Earth Oven No.5
The kindergarten year had begun and we started right at the beginning by building a new earth oven. But... wait a minute! We already have a fully functional, wonderful earth oven...
18 Jul 2024
Mud-Clay House Construction 2024 with Parent Involvement
In early June, I noticed a newsletter announcement about rebuilding the clay hut in the garden. After chatting with the school's founder Regina, it was clear I could join the project...
01 Jul 2024
EBI has received the International ECO-School status
It took two years and the Green Flag was ours. We are a certified Eco-Kindergarten School now!
03 Jun 2024
Early Birds Istanbul joined the first Outdoor Experiential Learning Congress 2024
The OELC 2024 Congress organized by the ENKA team, which took place in Istanbul on May 25th, was a great success. Many thanks to the OELC 2024 team!
10 May 2024
Death and Life: Saying Goodbye and Welcoming New Beginnings in EBI
EBI is full of life! We are constantly witnessing growth and renewal—trees blossoming, fruits ripening, chicks hatching, and new members joining our nest.
07 Mar 2024
A Font Design Patent from the Blue Jays`23 (age group 4-6)
No matter how nature-oriented an education system is, it doesn’t mean that technology should be left out as an educational element.
08 Dec 2023
Constructed Chaos - Book Release
Discover the story of Early Birds Istanbul – a pioneering project-based preschool that is redefining the landscape of early years education.
14 Oct 2023
The sound of EBI (by the Blue Jays)
In a world full of sensory stimulation, where our senses work in harmony to shape our experiences, the idea of limiting ourselves to just one sense may seem counterintuitive.
17 Jun 2023
EBI is Everywhere
The clay building concept pioneered in the EBI Nest has made its way to a private garden in Istanbul. How did this happen?
18 Jan 2023
The kindergarten that turned into a workshop
Once upon a time, there was a school building full of classrooms, and these classrooms had all sorts of supplies...
20 Oct 2022
Earth Oven Project #2
The earth oven built by us - the EBI team and the children - in Autumn 2021 was a complete success, and we...
11 Jul 2022
The Numbers in the Winter Wonderland
Our 4 year old EBI children have written their first children's book. How is that possible?
31 Jan 2022
How we welcome a new member to our nest
Responsibility is a crucial skill that should be gained at the very early stages of life. It involves decision-making, facing circumstances,...
01 Dec 2021
Two years later...Project Based Learning at EBI
Which type of family would enroll their child into a kindergarten with no artificial toys, an empty playground, and almost no indoor equipment?
02 July 2021
International Mud Day
Did you know that yesterday, June 29th, International Mud Day was celebrated?
27 May 2021
Everything is a learning opportunity
Aside from the Project-Based Learning approach to education, the Early Birds nest offers students a unique and flexible way to acquire new skills, ...
24 April 2021
Planting a seed
What does it mean to plant a seed? Whether literally or figuratively, this small, seemingly innocuous act is our greatest commitment in believing that tomorrow matters.
2 April 2021
Project Based Learning with children
What happens when you give a bunch of preschoolers an empty school, some tools, and totally free reign on what they want – and need – out of their day?
1 February 2021
The Creative Chaos
Unexpected changes will always be issues in our children’s futures and will require the need to be flexible and creative in order to find immediate, effective and efficient solutions.
30 January 2021
Inspired by a tree
Do you have trees in your playground?
At some point they need to be trimmed. Don’t forget to cut some of the removed branches into slices!
16 December 2020
“Open-ended” play materials
Huge pipes, wooden slats and ladders - items without a specific purpose - are an integral component of our playground.
28 September 2020
Nature is not taking a Corona break, and neither are our children!
The vegetables needed harvesting and seeds collecting. The hen had chicks and we needed to expand our chicken run...
6 July 2020
EBI Team and Children Back to their Nest!
After almost 3 months, EBI’s children and teachers were finally allowed to return to their preschool...
16 May 2020
The Importance of Outdoor Education in Preschools
Visitors to Early Birds Istanbul often first remark on the preschool’s generous garden. The school’s founder and director, Regina Kruse-Özçelik, has long been...
4 May 2020
When children can’t come to school, the school comes to the children
Bright pink, orange and red paper bags waiting on the seats of the mini bus, which, until a few weeks ago, was driving...