The local environment lends itself to dynamic teaching/learning events, and the research related to the benefits of children getting outdoors to play and interact with the environment demonstrate that we can't neglect this amazing resource for dynamic learning and teaching.
Of course, the question is how do we best use the local environment for the kind of teaching and learning that engages students and helps them build a strong foundation of knowledge, concept, and skill while also inspiring them to be good stewards of natural lands, air, and water now and into the future.
Educators everywhere are thinking about this question and acting on it in multiple ways. Our team is focused on the question with these actions:
- Teaching about the local watershed and climate change.
- Engaging students in student-led climate change service learning and community advocacy.
- Teaching the identified Massachusetts science, tech, and engineering standards, and melding those standards with the local environment as much as possible.
- Promoting the engineering/design process through a number of survival-related, outdoor STEAM projects.
- Enjoying and learning from a number of related expert visitors, field studies, hikes, and explorations.
The slideshow at the top of the page gives a full view of what we've done and what we plan to do this year and for the rest of the year. This summer we'll review our work, and make plans for the year ahead. Part of our summer work may include professional learning such as these great workshops offered by the The Wade Institute.
