Upper Elem/Middle School Experience Week

Erdkinder translates to "children of the earth". Dr. Montessori used this term to describe the value of 'schooling' on a working farm. Working together with the educators at Appleton Farms, Harborlight students will learn the history of the oldest, continuously operation farm in the United States. On campus they will focus on STEAM experiences that reinforce the activities enjoyed while visiting the farm. At Appleton, students will be learning about the life and work on the farm, the importance of natural spaces, and the quiet beauty of the world in winter while also engaging in activities that are naturally "Farm-to-Fork": baking bread, churning butter, making 'quick' pickles, foraging for pine needles to make tea, and tapping the sugar maples. Each student will synthesize their week-long learning through a creative project of their choice. On Friday evening, students and their families are invited to Appleton's Carriage Barn for the student project showcase. This curriculum aims to empower students to protect the environment, eat well, and to advocate for sustainable farming practices. Dr. Montessori's Erdkinder intention was to provide a balance of manual and intellectual work, leaving students prepared to take an active role in society.