Students in 1st Grade spend time learning about the importance of inclusion.

The students, wide-eyed and eager, wandered about the cozy space experiencing firsthand the sense of serenity than can come from a visit to Racine’s Inclusive Bean coffee house. No, these seven-year-olds weren’t being introduced to cold brews and cappuccinos – the Prairie School 1st Graders are naturally high-octane as it is – rather, this visit served as real world reinforcement for two important themes they have been studying this semester: acceptance and kindness.

“Our Differing Abilities Unit teaches students that everyone has unique strengths and challenges,” said Marcia Wilks, 1st Grade Teacher. “It encourages acceptance of differences and promotes inclusivity where all students feel valued and supported.”

The unit centers on the reading of a picture book which opens the door for meaningful classroom conversations. After that, the group heads out into the community – even Prairie’s youngest learners benefit from real world experience – to put their study into practice.

So far this fall, the class has visited the Dream Playground in Kenosha and The Inclusive Bean coffee shop in Racine.

Opened in 2024, The Inclusive Bean is a woman-led business focused on building community.

“It was so much fun to host the kids,” said Amelia Fahnrich, Executive Director. “It’s imperative to provide young people with experiences like this to cultivate more inclusive communities as it all begins with our youth. These opportunities help to foster empathy and, more importantly, understanding.”

You can count students Josh L. and Bennett G. among those who loved their visit to the Inclusive Bean.

“The people that worked there were really nice,” said Josh.

“I liked learning about the things they like to do,” added Bennett.

Things happen fast when you’re seven. You begin to learn about relationships and responsibilities, and your knowledge of the world around you begins to grow. And while sometimes that world can seem confusing and daunting, Prairie is teaching its 1st graders those feelings don’t have to equate to scary.

One of the more profound moments of the visit came when a Prairie student asked a wheelchair-bound employee at the Bean how they sleep.

“The moment was a wonderful reminder of how honest their questions can be,” says Fahnrich. “It underscored the importance of creating a safe space for dialogue about differences.”

“Our students are curious,” said Kelsey Cassidy, 1st Grade teacher. “We are supporting them to feel comfortable asking questions respectfully. While it’s easy to recognize everyone is different, 1st graders are beginning to understand that people have a lot more in common with each other than we may notice at first glance. They are recognizing that the most important thing about a human is their character and their heart.”

The Differing Abilities Unit will continue in the weeks and months ahead, as a trip to a local memory care facility, a visit from The Ability Center, and a lesson on sign language with Terie Carpenter, Early School and certified ESL teacher, are all planned for later this year.