As we begin another school year, it is more important than ever to explore ways for generations to engage in mutual learning opportunities that result in positive educational outcomes, meaningful relationships, and greater empathy across ages. Schools can be natural settings for intergenerational interaction to occur, yet the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, widespread ageism, and concerns about school safety have created barriers to school-based programming. This issue highlights examples of intergenerational initiatives that focus on Pre-K and K-12 grade education, including classrooms in senior living facilities, intergenerational schools, adult day care in a high school, and programs that engage older adults as tutors and mentors.

Bridging Generations Through Learning

“Intergenerational learning breaks down age barriers, creating powerful educational experiences that enrich both young and old participants. This dynamic approach to education doesn’t just bridge generational gaps – it transforms them into opportunities for deep, meaningful learning that benefit entire communities.” 

A recent TeachFind article “Bridging Generations: How to Create Powerful Learning Partnerships in Your Classroom” explores how connecting students with older adults fosters empathy, communication, and cultural preservation while enhancing academic outcomes. 

This newsletter provides highlights from the programs. The full descriptions are all available here.

This newsletter is presented as part of Generations United’s Shared Site Learning Network which is made possible with support from The Eisner Foundation.

K–12 Schools as Hubs for Intergenerational Connection Webinar

How can K–12 schools become spaces where generations learn from and support one another? Join us Thursday, November 6, 2025, from 12:00 – 1:00 PM EST (9:00 – 10:00 AM PST) for an engaging webinar highlighting innovative school models that connect students and older adults in meaningful ways.

Learn how a co-located high school and senior center in Swampscott, Massachusetts, fosters relationships across age and culture, how a high school in Hudson, New Hampshire, that houses an adult day care center prepares students for careers in health and human services while enriching the lives of older adults, and how older adult volunteers in Los Angeles, California help elementary students strengthen their reading and math skills.

Explore how schools can serve as vibrant spaces for intergenerational connection and shared purpose. Attendance is free, but all participants must register in advance. The webinar will be recorded, and a link to the recording will be shared with everyone who registers.

Register Today

Swampscott High School and Swampscott Senior Center (Swampscott, MA) 

In Swampscott, Massachusetts, school and community leaders pooled their resources in 2007 to build a high school and senior center, co-located in the same building but with separate entrances. During the pandemic, there was limited interaction between students and senior center participants. However, in 2021, the intergenerational program was revitalized. There are now multiple opportunities for students and older adults to learn together. Read more.

Grace Living Center (Norman & Jenks, OK) 

Grace Living skilled nursing facilities in Jenks and Norman, Oklahoma, have partnered with their local school districts to create intergenerational classrooms for pre-K and K students. The Jenks program was developed in 1999; the Norman classrooms were built in 2019. These unique classrooms enable students to experience daily interactions with the center's residents, known as "Grandfriends.” Grandfriends serve as reading buddies with students and engage in activities such as Music and Movement Class, sing-alongs, dramatic play, and shared studies. Read more.

All Seasons Pre-School (Eagan, MN) 

The All Seasons Pre-School, located inside the four-story Lexington Pointe Senior Residence in Eagan, Minnesota, provides a model early learning experience that meets children's developmental needs while fostering meaningful relationships with older adults. Every week, the 50 pre-schoolers interact formally and informally with over 200 residents in both Memory Care and Independent Living. Each classroom is paired with a Memory Care wing where they participate in a variety of age-appropriate activities planned by the teachers. Read more.

Connecting the Generations (Tel Aviv, Israel) 

Seven years ago, twelve volunteers with expertise in education, gerontology, and organizational management came together with a shared vision: to strengthen intergenerational connections in a professional and impactful way in Tel Aviv. This vision led to the creation of Connecting the Generations, now active in various municipalities across Israel.  Read more.

Rashi School & New Bridge on the Charles (Dedham, MA) 

In Dedham, Massachusetts, the Rashi School and Hebrew SeniorLife’s NewBridge on the Charles senior living community share a 162-acre campus. Over the course of their Pre-K to Grade 8 education, every student experiences multiple touch points with NewBridge residents, and many form lasting relationships with their senior neighbors. Read more.

The Intergenerational School (Cleveland, OH) 

The Intergenerational Schools, two high-performing K–8 public charter schools in Cleveland, Ohio, serve families and their surrounding communities with an award-winning educational model grounded in the principles of lifelong learning and building relationships. Started in 2000, the mission of the Intergenerational Schools is to connect, create, and guide a multigenerational community of lifelong learners. Read more.

Gaithersburg Beloved Community Initiative (Gaithersburg, MD) 

Gaithersburg Beloved Community Initiative nurtures intergenerational relationships and promotes social justice through programs with youth, families, and older adults in the city of Gaithersburg, Maryland, including mentoring programs in both elementary and middle schools. In elementary schools, older volunteers and students interact one-on-one or in small groups, reading together, journal writing, creating, and working on collaborative projects. This structured program, facilitated by staff, focuses on student social-emotional development, building resilience, and developing literacy skills. It takes place after school at two Title I elementary schools throughout the school year. Read more.

SAGE (Senior Adults for Greater Education) (Bucks County, PA) 

For over 28 years, S.A.G.E. (Senior Adults for Greater Education), a 501 c 3 organization, has matched community members, aged 55+, with volunteer opportunities in the Bucks and Montgomery County, Pennsylvania school districts. Currently, 110 older adults volunteer in 22 schools, averaging two hours per week. Read more.

Generation Xchange (Los Angeles, CA)  

The Generation Xchange (GenX) Program, a partnership between the UCLA Department of Medicine and the L.A. Unified School District in Los Angeles, California, places older community volunteers (50+) in grades K-3 elementary school classrooms to help students improve their academic and behavioral outcomes, while promoting greater health and wellness outcomes in at-risk older adults. Volunteers receive 30 hours of training in early literacy, phonics, reading comprehension, mathematics, social-emotional support, and stress management. They spend 10 hours per week helping students individually and in small groups improve their English language and math skills. Read more.

Grandpas United (White Plains, NY) 

Grandpas United, founded in 2018 as a program of the White Plains Youth Bureau, recruits, trains, and supports older men to serve as mentors to children and youth in Westchester County, New York. Through regular, bi-weekly visits to local elementary schools, mentors offer encouragement and compassion to groups of young boys, many of whom lack father figures. Older men have also served as mentors to high school boys, engaging in discussions about goal setting, career planning, problem-solving, leadership, financial literacy, and principles of manhood. The program also offers scholarships for community service work. During the summer, Grandpas coach Summer Employment Program students, helping them develop confidence and workplace readiness. Read more.

OASIS Tutoring (22 U.S. Cities) 

Oasis Tutoring is a volunteer program that pairs older adults with K–3 students to deliver mentoring and tutoring in literacy, providing one-on-one support and attention for the duration of the school year. The program has consistently improved reading levels, academic performance, and children’s attitudes toward learning. Oasis tutors use a six-step approach to literacy designed by educators that emphasizes improved reading, speaking, listening, and writing. Tutors work with the same child each week for a year, fostering strong relationships. Read more.

AARP Foundation Experience Corps (18 U.S. Communities) 

AARP Foundation Experience Corps is an evidence-based intervention that mobilizes older adults as tutors in public schools. Volunteers aged 50+ work closely with students in underserved areas, improving literacy outcomes while simultaneously creating bonds with young learners. Currently, the Experience Corps program operates in 18 communities across the United States.  Read more.

Whatcom Intergenerational High School (Bellingham, WA) 

Whatcom Intergenerational High School (WIHS) is a small charter high school in Bellingham, WA, that intentionally brings generations together to support one another, build community, and promote youth leadership. Located within a shopping mall, the school has 118 students from diverse backgrounds, including those from the Lummi Nation. Elders are a consistent presence at WIHS, offering mentorship and support in and outside the classroom. They bring life experience and cultural knowledge to collaborative learning experiences with students. Read more.

Elder Tech Academy (Bay Area, CA) 

ElderTech Academy is an intergenerational technology program that pairs interested older adults and tech-savvy high school students in the Bay Area of California to further their understanding of and skills with mobile technologies. Students are recruited from area high schools and meet with older adults at public libraries, senior centers, and other community sites. Read more.

Sages and Seekers (Los Angeles, CA) 

Sages & Seekers, a program of ONEgeneration, facilitates intergenerational relationships between older adults (60+) “Sages” and students (12-24) "Seekers.” Their 8-Week Signature Program is offered online and in-person throughout a variety of locations, including schools, senior centers, and other community facilities. Sages & Seekers is designed to develop empathy between the generations, combat social isolation, and reduce age-related stereotypes. Read more.

Gateways Intergenerational Partnership (Hudson, NH) 

The Gateways Intergenerational Partnership is a collaboration between the Gateways Adult Day Center (GADC) and Alvirne High School in Hudson, New Hampshire. The adult day care facility, located within the Wilbur H. Palmer Career & Technical Education Center, offers opportunities for students to interact regularly with older adults. Read more.

Intergenerational Connections to Fight Ageism Curriculum 

The New York City Department for the Aging and the Department of Education have developed an anti-ageism educational program to help students recognize ageism and understand how they can challenge harmful stereotypes. The resource guide created by the Department for the Aging distinguishes between “structural” ageism in institutions like healthcare, and interpersonal ageism, which can include dismissive comments and stereotypes. The guide also includes suggestions for lessons, including oral history projects where students interview older adults about their lives, and videos that debunk some common stereotypes about older adults. Read more.