Fourth Graders Open Farmers Market at Elisabeth Morrow School

Fourth graders at Elisabeth Morrow School will operate a farmers market Wednesday, June 3, from 9 to 10:30 a.m., selling produce they grew in the school's greenhouse.

The market caps a year-long Leadership Symposium that guides students through financial literacy, environmental science, and event management. Students manage every aspect: seed germination, pricing, marketing, and staffing. They organized into six teams mirroring the school's structure: Advancement, Education, Finance, Marketing, Operations, and Product Maintenance.

The project began after the school's November food drive collected nearly 1,000 pounds for the Center for Food Action. Students asked what happens when donations run out, prompting teachers to redirect the class toward sustainable solutions rather than one-time charity.

"They began viewing the people they were helping as partners and stakeholders rather than just recipients of charity," said fourth-grade teacher Jenna Chittenden. "They used to feel good about doing a nice thing; now, they feel powerful because they're doing a smart thing and leading the big ideas."

Students applied Next Generation Science Standards to optimize greenhouse production and used artificial intelligence to design the market's website. Head of School Marek Beck, educational specialist Jacklyn Beck, and teachers Jenna Chittenden and Paige Zlotolow mentor the symposium.