Written by Kelly Gaskins, Professional Learning Coach
This summer, 35 educators from across the U.S., as well as participants from Greece and Switzerland, came together for our seven-week asynchronous Introduction to Place-Based Education course. Participants ranged from early childhood educators to nonprofit leaders and high school teachers, all exploring how to utilize their local communities to enhance student learning through inquiry-driven, interdisciplinary, and learner-centered practices.
Each week introduced a new theme, such as Stories of Place, Community as Classroom, Inquiry & Design, and Learner-Centered Practices, building toward the final challenge: creating a place-based project or learning experience. Along the way, participants engaged in curated readings, hands-on assignments, peer feedback, and optional coaching. By week seven, they had concrete plans ready to launch in their classrooms and programs.
Project highlights included everything from pollinator gardens and “Take a Hike” guides to neighborhood learning walks and middle school units on critical representation. One math teacher used local rent and job ads to help students model fair wages using equations. Early childhood educators shared how toddlers can meaningfully engage with place through questions, wonder walks, and sensory exploration.
Many participants described mindset shifts – not just new methods – seeing their communities “with fresh eyes,” and recognizing Place-Based Education as a powerful way to meet standards through real-world relevance. One teacher wrote, “This course gave me structured permission to treat my community as curriculum.”
Our next Introduction to Place-Based Education course launches in January 2026, with mini-versions available this fall as part of our Fall Professional Learning Series. Whether you teach in a forest preschool or an urban high school, our courses and workshops equip educators to connect students with their place, their people, and their purpose.
Want to learn more or bring this to your team? Reach out today – professionallearning@tetonscience.org
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