ATTLEBORO - At 9-10 years of age, third and fourth graders have along way to go to get to college.

But that doesn't mean they're too young to be curious about college life or to have ideas about career fields they'd like to study.

Today, third and fourth graders at Hill-Roberts Elementary School will be attending college-style classes in everything from poetry to entomology to find out what's involved in learning about their favorite area of interest and what college will be like once they get there. It's part of a "college day" arranged by Principal Matthew Joseph and the Hill-Roberts faculty.

Pupils registered for the courses last week and will attend the classes they signed up for this morning. Joseph said the session is designed to de-mystify college for younger students and give them an inside look at life after high school.

In the bargain they'll find out a little more about fields of study that interest them from health care professions to green jobs like recycling. To further enrich the experience, Joseph has invited college student siblings of Hill-Roberts pupils to attend a "college lunch" to talk about their experience and answer questions from youngsters. A number of representatives from actual colleges will also be on hand, the principal said.