Let our farm be your classroom! All of our programs are designed to incorporate aspects of many of the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks and NexGen Science Standards. Our programs can also be tailored to suit individual group needs. Longer programs can be made by special arrangement.
You are welcome to stay after your program to enjoy a snack or lunch and use our picnic tables and bathrooms.
SCHOOLS/PRIVATE GROUPS ***
2-Hour Program: $10/child – includes time for an add-on or self-led exploration of the farm
($8/child—Middleboro Public Schools**)
$225 Minimum for any 2 hour program.
For groups over 60 children* we are happy to schedule your group to visit the farm multiple days. In special exceptions we can accommodate more students with a large group fee and with plenty of advanced notification. There is no fee for parents, teachers or chaperones.
*For groups over 50 children, the fee is $12/child
**For Middleboro Public School groups over 50 children, the fee is $10/child
*** If your school qualifies as a section 7 school, please reach out for special pricing!
A deposit may be required to hold the date of any program.
Cancellation & Rescheduling Policy: Programs run even in inclement weather. We ask that children and adults dress for rain – puddles are fun! We do not book “back up days.”
You may cancel your program with no additional fee provided you call us within regular business hours of Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm and give us at least a 72 hour notice. Fees may apply to cancellations made less than 48 hours before the program. Rescheduling may be possible, but is based on availability. Soule Homestead reserves the right to cancel any programming due to severe weather conditions and/or public health and safety concerns.
Ready to book? Fill out this form to get started
PROGRAM OPTIONS
Listed below are our standard program offerings here at the farm. All programs are written with the NexGen and MA State Science Standards in mind. If you don’t see something that meets your needs, we are happy to design a program for you!
~Pre-K and Kindergarten
FEATHERS AND FUR (NEXGEN: K-LS1-1): Learn a little about what makes animals different from one another! Children will interact with an animal ambassador, meet some of the animals that call the farm home and even make an animal craft to take home.
HOPPING INTO GARDENS (NEXGEN: K-LS1-1, K-ESS3-1): In this introduction to the wonders of the garden, children will explore the community and children’s garden, build their own mini greenhouse, listen to a timeless classic story and meet an animal ambassador bunny!
~Grades 1 & 2
ANIMALS ARE AMAZING (NEXGEN 1-LS1-1 2-LS4-1): In this program, children will learn how to tell an herbivore from a carnivore from an omnivore – by examining skulls! Tours that bring children out to meet our farm animals friends and interaction with a farm animal are included to bring these concepts to life.
GET TO THE ROOT OF IT (NEXGEN 1-LS1-1, 2-LS2-2, K-2-ETS1-2): Learn to identify different parts of a plant, understand what plants need to grow, and the important role they play in our lives. Seasonal activities may include composting, work in our organic gardens, and/or sowing seeds in a planter to take home.
REAPING WHAT YOUR SOW (NEXGEN 1-LS1-1, 2-LS2-2) (seasonal – fall only): Before industrial farm mass produced seed and feed stores made seeds easily available to farmers and gardeners alike, farmers had to grow and harvest their own seeds. This program will touch on how to plant winter crops (like garlic), different methods used for harvesting seeds, seed banks and even give children the opportunity to plant and harvest seeds!
~Grades 3-4
SIMPLE MACHINES (NEXGEN: 3-PS2-1, 3-PS2-2): See how simple machines make hard tasks easier all over the farm. Students will use wedges, levers, wheels, screws, incline planes and pulleys, and learn how farms functioned before the industrial age. A great hands-on way to learn the science and power of simple machines!
~Grade 5
COMPOSTING AND RECYCLING (NEXGEN 5-LS2-1): Students will learn how Mother Nature is the original recycler and become familiar with properties that make healthy living soil. We will get our hands dirty while discovering the creatures that call the compost pile their home, have fun learning how to build your own compost pile and get the chance to see composting in action as we dig in the garden.
~MIDDLE SCHOOL (Gr 6-8)
WILD TO FARMS: In this program, middle school students will learn a bit about basic genetics, inheritance, selective breeding and how farmers have used these sciences for thousands of years. Hands-on activities, including a DNA extraction, highlight how genetics have allowed farmers to produce the food we depend on!
ITS GETTING HOT IN HERE!: In this program, students will learn a bit about climate change, how it affects the future of farming and what farmers are doing to help. Students will even design their own farm based on (fictitious) climate change projections!
PROGRAM ADD-ONS
We typically do not recommend more than one program add-on (in addition to a 90 minute program) for grades 1st and younger.
COMPOSTING: (Seasonal) This is a 30 minute program and is $4 per child. Where does soil come from? Learn how Mother Nature is the original recycler, and discover the life in the soil. What many folks consider waste, gardeners and farmers turn into “black gold”. Find out how, and why! This lesson involves getting up-close and personal with the beauty of compost!
MINI-MEET THE ANIMALS TOUR: This 30 minute program costs $4 per child. We will walk you around the farm and introduce you to the different farm animals we have here, explaining breeds and letting you get up close and personal with the animals (as they allow it.)
NATURE HIKE: (SEASONAL) This is a 30 min program and is $4 per child. Soule Homestead is home to more than just farm animals, it’s an important habitat for many species of wild animals and plants. Join our staff for a seasonally specific hike that will highlight both plants and animals that call Soule home!
WETLANDS FARM ROAD WALK: (SEASONAL) This is a 30 minute program and is $4 per child. Walk along the farm road and explore the wetlands we have on the farm. We will observe birds, reptiles, and talk about how the wetlands at the farm serves the farmers AND the wild animals in the area.
FIBERS: This is an hour long add-on program and costs $6 per child. Students learn all about wool, from sheep to sweater. They card and spin the farm’s wool and make a wool craft to take home.
BUTTER-MAKING: This is an hour long add-on program and costs $6 per child for groups up to 30 children. Soule was once a thriving dairy farm! Students learn first-hand how butter is made, with hands on experience demonstrating the states of matter. We’ll enjoy the finished product on fresh-popped organic popcorn (this program requires a minimum of 10 children to run).
Ready to book? Check our calendar for availability.
Sample Field Trip Schedule:
- 10:00 Arrival & Introductions
- 10:15-11:15 Stations 1 and 2 – all groups will wash hands before lunch
- 11:15-11:45 LUNCH – *Please have your students cleaned up, restrooms used, and ready to start the next program at 11:45am
- 11:45-12:45 Stations 3 and 4
- 12:45 Board buses
Preparing for your Field Trip
Before you arrive organize how your groups will be split into two groups and assign chaperones.
Teachers & Chaperones are responsible for student behavior. Our instructors at Soule are provided as program facilitators and are not responsible for discipline of students. We know being in new places is fun, and we want to maximize fun and learning. Please help us to get the most out of your day at Soule by keeping your students on task.
To help prepare for the program, please make sure your students are aware of the following Homestead:
- No running is the general rule at the farm*.
- *That said, occasionally we have groups run together to get from point A to point B to get the wiggles out and have some fun.
- We can also typically let students play in a nearby field if time allows during lunch.
- No feeding of any animals.
- We need help reminding all that petting any animals requires that all visitors have calm and relaxed bodies.
- If this is hard for your students we cannot always guarantee that petting and engaging with the animals up close is possible. Our duty is to make sure our animals are comfortable and if they’re not we cannot ensure everyone’s safety.
- Visitors/Guests are not permitted to enter ANY pastures or animal enclosures.
- Children MUST be supervised by adults at all times.
- No outside animals are permitted on Homestead property.
- No climbing, sitting or standing on fences.
- Please do not enter any of the community gardens or farm plots.
- Guests are welcome to enjoy the Children’s Garden and Mud Kitchen, but please refrain from entering the greenhouse.
- Be very careful on the farm road and in the parking lot – sometimes cars move way too fast and don’t always see visitors walking around.
- Sitting on the large rocks around the pavilion is encouraged, but NO standing or jumping on them please.
- Please have all students and adults throw away all trash in the appropriate bins (trash/recycling).
- We are a no-spray farm and we encourage the use of bug spray and tick checks when you get home.
SCOUT PROGRAMS*
Working hard on coming up with activities to earn your next badge? Let the educators at Soule Homestead give you a hand. We will work with your troop to meet your needs. The programs and prices listed above are available to choose from, but we can also create a program specific to each troop’s individual badge requirements.
Suggested maximum group size is 25 children. Groups up to 50 children may be accommodated with enough notice. Pricing will vary according to number of children participating, length of program, and material fees.
We also offer patch programs in partnership with Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts. Programs are listed in their seasonal program catalogues and registration for these specific programs are available through the GSEM website.
*The Homestead DOES NOT provide badges for scouts. Soule Homestead patches are available for $5/patch. Please notify the Homestead in advance if you would like to purchase patches.
SCHEDULING:
To book a program or find out more about our offerings, please call the Soule Homestead Education Center Office at (508) 947-6744 or e-mail us at educator@soulehomestead.org