His books, What Every First Grader Needs to Know, etc, contain what he believes to be the essential knowledge for each grade level. This Web site has information on how to implement Core Knowledge into your school or home. Students initiate all their own activities. The staff, the plant, and the equipment are there to answer their needs. Learning takes place in formal and informal settings, in large and small groups, or individually.
All ages are free to mix at all times.
The dynamics among students of different ages, helping each other find out about everything from fractions to human relations, is one of the greatest strengths of the school. I have met several unschoolers who had to put their children into school and chose this setting. The goal of the Foxfire approach is to produce a more effective and humane democratic society. The aim is independence, responsible behavior, and wisdom. Over 4,000 teachers have been trained in the Foxfire approach.