Elementary

Elementary students are ready for bigger and more complex projects and homework assignments.

8–10AGESELEMENTARY 1
10–12AGESELEMENTARY 2
18–24STUDENTSPER CLASS
2TEACHERSPER CLASS

They spend time in the library reading independently, they conduct their own research and write reports, and they dive into math exercises like multiplication, division, fractions, decimals, geometry, and beginning algebra. They also learn to write strong sentences, paragraphs, and short essays.

three students lying on the floor around a map, one facing away, one pointing to the map, and whose face is partially pictured looking on

Peek into an Elementary classroom on any given day and you’ll find:

  • Children working constructively with others, navigating friendships, advocating for themselves, and resolving conflict.

  • Teachers helping students prioritize and manage classwork and homework.

  • Reading-level groups that challenge students to engage with increasingly complex texts and discuss them in class.

Elementary Curriculum Highlights

  • two adults and one child looking at large scale which is weighing five pumpkins, two children in the background on grass holding pumpkings

    Elementary 1: Farm Study

    The School’s proximity to farmland creates opportunities to talk about where food comes from and who harvests it. Students learned from local farmworker advocates who visited the Elementary 1 classroom that most of the people who pick our fruits and vegetables are seasonal workers who live in Holyoke and Springfield. They also learned that these neighbors often make low wages, do not receive overtime pay, and work up to 10 hours a day without weekly day off. The class thought these terms were unfair, and several students wrote to their state representatives them to support the Fairness for Farm Workers Act.

  • people in coats facing away from the camera with signs that say "Donate Food YOU CAN HELP!" and "You Can Help By - Donations", rest of sign is illegible

    Elementary 2: Food Justice

    What should we eat to be healthy, and how can we make sure everyone has healthy food to eat? To answer these questions, Elementary 2 students read the Harvard School of Health’s Kids Healthy Eating Plate visual guide as well as excerpts from Michael Pollan’s “In Defense of Food” column. They also learned to read and compare nutrition labels on foods they consume. Students also researched root causes of hunger in our community and the many organizations and programs that are helping solve food insecurity, such as Gardening the Community, Pioneer Valley Workers Center, Soul Fire Farm, Amherst Survival Center, and SNAP.