Learning Beyond the Classroom

"The primary value of place-based education lies in the way that it serves to strengthen children's connections to others and to the regions in which they live. It enhances achievement, but more important, it helps overcome the alienation and isolation of individuals that have become hallmarks of modernity. By reconnecting rather than separating children from the world, place-based education serves both individuals and communities, helping individuals to experience the value they hold for others and allowing communities to benefit from the commitment and contributions of their members."

- Greg Smith, from Place-Based Education: Learning To Be Where We Are

Place-based education - taking the students' work out beyond the classroom and learning while doing in authentic situations - is a crucial part of how we keep learning real. As much as possible this is done through actual, physical transportation to the place and community that is the subject of the work. Sometimes it has to be done through simulations or virtual connections, like the Global Village experience for our 5th and 6th graders (read about where that is leading now here), or the Out of Eden Walk that Chris's class is following through these online resources. Place-based education connects our students with their environment and their community in increasing circles from their immediate surroundings to the far side of the planet. 

When students are able to immerse themselves in the spirit of a place and participate firsthand in initiatives that strive to change the world for the better, they start to build a platform for environmental and cultural literacy. They learn to work with different kinds of people, developing their self confidence and increasing their understanding of cultural and personal differences. They experience the flavor of different places and develop an appreciation for the unique identity of each. They see the relevance of the work they are doing to the larger work of the community, and these connections lead to deeper understanding, greater motivation, and a stronger sense of self-worth. 

This doesn't have to mean long excursions; our 7th and 8th graders participate in work crews around our own building - here's a note from the Library - and you can read about Val's EB children working in the natural environment right outside our door. Our 1st and 2nd graders recently ventured all the way across Platt Road to our very own County Farm Park to work with a naturalist; here's what Elaine has to say about it.  Chris's group of 3rd and 4th graders is working with pioneers in the community to develop and maintain the Buhr Park Food Forest, a community gardening initiative that is part of the Wet Meadow Project. They're learning practical skills, building spatial reasoning, engaging in physical work, and developing thought processes around ecology and social justice. Scroll down in the blog entry to find the food forest section - and take a look at what Chris has to say about the Out of Eden project, too. The 7th and 8th graders recently spent some time working with Earthworks Farm in Detroit (amongst other things), garnering a photo in the Financial Times as they did so, and later spent two days in the Upper Peninsula, in a gorgeous setting where they were able to simply let go and immerse themselves in active, joyful connection with the natural world.