Spark Studio (Kindergarten+)

(Ages 4.5 - 7)

The purpose of the Spark Studio (Kindergarten+) at Acton is to equip very young learners with skills of independence and mindfulness, thus building the foundation for further empowerment and freedom.

This is accomplished through the integration of the Montessori method, a project-based learning approach inspired by Reggio Emilia, a loose-parts play learning design inspired by a Waldorf education, and the Hero’s Journey. A Spark studio looks like happy children pushing boundaries in a safe environment designed for them. See what a typical day might look like here.

Montessori + Reggio Emilia + Waldorf

Child-Centered

Loose-Parts PLAY

Hands-On Learning

Imaginative Play

Unstructured Play

Quests / Projects

“Children learn as they play. More importantly, in play, children learn how to learn.”

— O. Fred Donaldson

Montessori FouNDATION

The Montessori method aligns with many of Acton’s core principles. We see this most outwardly evident in:

Self-Directed Learning: Each learner directs his own learning and moves at his own pace.
Mixed-Age Classroom: Learners are learning at their own pace amongst peers of different ages. This fosters a growth mindset and a focus on learning to learn.

Reggio Emilia approach

At the Acton Spark Studio, our young learners work on quests and hands-on projects using loose parts. The Acton Reggio Studio is filled with a massive amount of loose parts for our learners which help our learners develop their fine motor skills. Our Heroes are free to move around while working on any number of stations, including our clay and woodworking areas.

An Acton spark studio is filled with endless opportunities for creative, hands-on learning in Science, Arts, and Engineering.

“All this is part of an education for independence.”

-Maria Montessori

UNSTRUCTURED OUTDOORS PLAY

Play is a natural learning platform for young children to explore and make scientific observations and conclusions. Unstructured play gives children the freedom to be creative with their own rules and designs. It also equip learners with conflict-resolution skills and practice developing clear communication, both of which are strong foundational skills to the processes in the Elementary Studio.

Foreign Language Exposure

Exposure to foreign languages at an early age has a wide range of cognitive benefits for our youngest learners. At Acton, our Spanish Guide creates an immersive environment for learners to learn through play, music, and songs.

hero’s journey

Woven through the fiber of the Spark Studio is the Hero’s Journey philosophy. Through the use of daily Hero’s Journey vocabulary, embracing a growth mindset, building resilience and identifying heroic traits through stories, learners begin exploring their identity as heroes at this young age.