POV: When a “new” idea comes up of “something to try” that will “revolutionize” how students learn…

Because WHO HAS TIME to add one more thing to your already-packed schedules? 

Rest assured, this is not that. Place-based education isn’t new, and it isn’t something to add on to what you’re already doing. 

Place-based education IS a way to reframe what you’re already doing in a way that helps your students learn. By connecting content to your students’ immediate surroundings, it helps the content be more “sticky,” more meaningful. Which means better outcomes for your students and, ultimately, a better experience for you, too.

HOW SO?!
For one, engagement. “Engagement” might be an overused buzzword in education, but it’s also a key metric when it comes to student learning. So, when geometry, persuasive writing, and ecology standards need to be covered, which is better? Learning from a textbook or a real-world experience? 

Let’s look at some examples of Place-Based Education
in the wild:

1. The Medical Project (PreK) – answering the question of what medical care looks like in the Teton Valley, ranging from the ski patrol to the veterinarians. 
2. The Blazers’ Blessings Project (3rd grade) – how one third grade class addressed food insecurity in their community by creating “blessing boxes” to share with families in need.
3. The Arena Chicken Coop (7th-8th grades) – how a group of middle schoolers tackled the construction of a chicken coop on campus, bringing an entire community together in the process. 
4. Designing and Creating a Customized Mountain Bike Trailer (12th grade) – a senior project that solved the problem of transporting a fleet of mountain bikes further than their immediate surroundings. 
5. 13 Summits (K-12) – how one school implemented an age-appropriate hike each year from kindergarten through 12th grade. 

These projects are just the beginning – feel free to explore the 60+ examples from schools across the US!

What’s so special about these schools?

Honestly, nothing. If they can do place-based projects like these, you can, too. You might need a little bit of support, and that’s where we come in…

For educators and schools interested in learning more about PBE, take a peek at the Place Network, a collaborative network of rural K-12 schools committed to place-based teaching. We believe that with support from fellow educators and leaders, sample curriculum, and coaching or training, we can accelerate student learning and outcomes for rural students across the continent.

Stay tuned for more information about this supportive and growing network!

One final note – if dipping your toes into the place-based education waters feels a little intimidating, here’s some advice from fellow teachers and students:

• “Prepare for incredible and messy learning!”
• “Sometimes, students have the best ideas and projects may take an unexpected turn. That’s ok!”
• “Don’t feel defeated if everything doesn’t work out exactly as planned. It can be a long process. Trust your students!”
• “Get organized, have a plan, and assign roles.”
• “Let go of your own ideas of what the end product will look like. If you provide visual resources and ample time for generating solutions, the children’s ideas will then guide the process. (Letting go can be hard at times!)” 

SAVE THE DATE