A sunny garden scene with a small greenhouse, rows of green crops, a concrete path, and large trees in the background under a bright blue sky with rays of sunlight.

Experiential. Dynamic. Universal.

At Elemental Roots E.D.U., our curriculum is rooted in the belief that children learn best when they are active participants in their own growth. We blend nature-based learning, community connection, and rigorous academic standards to create an environment where students thrive physically, emotionally, intellectually, and socially.

Children and teachers are co-learners, and nature is our co-teacher. We move beyond traditional pace-driven models, favouring a fluid, emergent framework that supports each child’s unique path. Inspired by the philosophies of Dewey, Montessori and Reggio Emilia, and firmly grounded in our Northwoods setting, we foster discovery, curiosity and relationality in all we do.

Learning in Partnership with Nature

Core Principles of Our Curriculum

Experiential

Learning happens through real-life engagement, open-ended projects and active exploration rather than lectures or rote drills.
Dynamic

We honor each learner’s pace, interest and strengths. We don’t rely on rigid pacing guides; instead we support the whole child through flexible, developmentally-appropriate design.
Universal

Our model is inclusive, culturally-responsive and framed around connection — to self, community, and environment. Long-term collaborative work and student-led inquiry are central.

A circular diagram illustrating the elements of curriculum delivery with sections labeled Air/North, Earth/West, Water/South, and Fire/East. Each section has descriptive text about learning activities and principles. The center contains interconnected themes of application to community, internal to external work, and creation to reflection. Surrounding the circle are four white text bubbles with guidance on practices for each elemental section.

Learning Across Ages

In the natural world, learning happens side by side, not in silos. At Elemental Roots, students of different ages learn together through hands-on projects, play, and community work, often alongside local elders who share their real-world skills and stories.

Older learners become mentors and role models; younger ones bring curiosity and imagination that spark creativity for everyone. This dynamic encourages empathy, confidence, and a sense of belonging that traditional grade-based classrooms often can’t achieve.

“When children of different ages learn and play together, the focus shifts from competition to creativity. Older children model skills and empathy; younger ones bring imagination and energy.”
— Adapted from Peter Gray, Ph.D.

What It Looks Like in Practice

Outdoor classrooms, gardens, lakeshores and forest trails become extensions of the school day, not alternatives.
Projects may span weeks or months and integrate science, art, literacy, and life skills — rooted in place and purpose.
Technology is a tool, not the centerpiece; screen-time is intentionally limited to preserve space for movement, reflection, and nature.

A woman wearing sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat takes a selfie with a young boy paddling a canoe through a marshy area with tall grass, trees, and a bright blue sky in the background.

Why it Matters Here

Our region, with its rich forests, lakes and cultural heritage, offers a unique learning environment. The nature-based framework isn’t just a choice — it’s an advantage. Research shows that outdoor, active learning supports attention, emotional regulation, cognitive growth and sustainable habits.

Ready to join our learning community?

Explore For Families

A garden with wooden teepees supporting green plants and sunflowers, colorful painted sticks, a decorative crow figure, and a background featuring playground equipment, benches, and large trees.

Children gathered around a table with a large, halved pumpkin, showing its empty insides, and a bowl of pumpkin seeds, likely preparing for pumpkin carving or baking.

Playground area with colorful triangular flags strung across the front, wooden structures for climbing, a small building, large trees, and playground equipment under a cloudy sky.

Children and adults dancing and playing drums outdoors at a lively gathering on a sunny day.

A garden with rows of leafy plants under a bright, sunny sky, a small greenhouse decorated with sunflowers on the side, and tall trees in the background.

Two children sitting inside a large bird's nest on a grassy field.

Children's outdoor playground area with sandbox, wooden play structure, and colorful plastic play equipment, surrounded by trees and shaded.

Group of women and children singing and holding songbooks in a cozy living room with a stone fireplace and large window.

A woman and three children in a garden or farm with plants. The woman is kneeling and smiling, holding a young girl in a pink outfit. Two other children, a girl in pink and a boy in a blue hoodie, are nearby, inspecting the plants.

Three children sitting on a mound of dirt during a construction or outdoor activity. They are wearing matching blue shirts and are eating or drinking. There is construction equipment and a green safety fence around the area.

A woman and children planting flowers or gardening outdoors in a park or garden, with trees and a swing set in the background.

Colorful garden signs with phrases like 'In our garden,' 'We grow,' 'Discover,' 'Create,' 'Weed & Water,' and 'Investigate,' near a garden entrance with a red door decorated with flowers and bunting, surrounded by greenery and trees.

Colorful garden with painted rocks, small plants, decorative items, and garden gnome surrounding a small tree.

Two young children, a girl and a boy, smiling and holding a blue plate with a small salad and some berries, outside under a makeshift cover.

A garden with tall yellow sunflowers, a wooden teepee structure decorated with sunflower and other craft items, and a small child in a red shirt standing near a fence with colorful flags.

Outdoor area with colorful child-sized chairs and benches set up on striped rugs under trees, with a clock mounted on a tree in the foreground.

Child wearing red sunglasses holding a transparent container with a bubble inside, outdoors with a wooden structure and sign in the background.