Place-Based Learning

By creating opportunities for students to study outside, teachers can connect their classes to nature through hands-on lessons.

There are plenty of logistics to consider, but educators say outdoor classes keep kids and teachers safer—and provide much-needed fresh air.

Spending time outside one day each week helps students find a sense of calm and become careful observers of the natural world.

Place-based learning provides fertile ground for projects that enhance students’ understanding of history.

As elementary students turn squares of paper into animals they’re studying, the age-old Japanese art form makes lessons more memorable.

Though it can seem daunting, getting students outdoors for even 30 minutes offers many benefits, during the pandemic and beyond. This checklist can help get you started.

A mini-golf course, a canoe trip down the local river, a discussion about environmental justice. Here’s how schools are teaching students about environmental science.

Going outside helps students focus, and activities for classes from social studies to math can incorporate the natural world.

Having high school students research their town, including the history and local issues, can help them see ways to contribute to their community.

Studying water sources close to home can connect middle school students to environmental issues in their community.

A look at three key considerations in designing the most appropriate service program for your school.

A veteran teacher and author discusses how to bring fieldwork into your project-based learning curriculum.

When students step out of the classroom and explore the concepts they’ve learned about, they deepen their understanding of science, themselves, and the world.

In Grand Rapids, Michigan, an award-winning school has been the catalyst for a district turnaround after a 20-year decline.

See how students investigate real issues in their communities—and check out an e-book on how to adopt this type of program.