The classroom at Pagosa Peak Open School vibrated with energy.
Students in grades 4-5 were sitting amongst piles of camping gear while Ms. Rue ran through the checklist. “Show me your socks! Show me your flashlight! Show me your extra batteries!”
The students in this mixed-age classroom were preparing for their first field work experience of the year: a new one for many. They were off to camp on August 30 along the Rio Grande River, outside of Creede for the night, with scheduled experts and hands-on learning to guide them through their first project: Digging Up the Past.
“The purpose of this trip was two-fold,” 4/5 grade lead advisor Rue Graham said. “First is to launch our Colorado history and civics project. The second was to cultivate a strong sense of community within the class. By immersing ourselves in the place we will ultimately study, we are creating a drive to learn within our students.”
PPOS was founded six years ago around a project-based learning model, and students address their content standards through interdisciplinary project work. These projects address the science and social studies standards through field work, expert interviews, community outreach and hands-on learning.
Within this project, students will identify how historic decisions shaped Colorado, use geographic tools to build greater understandings of our state, and learn the responsibilities of government. In addition, students will connect and collaborate with each other; upholding our school values of lifelong learning and community.
During this first field work, students visited the mining museum in Creede, where a retired miner reviewed the history of mining in the area with students.
The trip also included the standards of camping: hot dogs, s’mores, a campfire and tent set-up. Groups of students played in the river, hiked and painted. The experience overall allowed students to connect with the history of Colorado and each other in an authentic environment – without the support of classroom walls or textbooks.
PPOS is a District-authorized public school, open to all Archuleta County families on a tuition-free basis, offering local families a choice for K-8 education.
Emily Murphy serves as Instructional Coach at Pagosa Peak Open School, the first District-authorized charter school in Archuleta County, working with students and staff on curriculum, assessment and instructional strategies.
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