Dec. 19, 2018

For eight years, Randi Jones has been a fan of Millbrook Magnet Elementary School.

Her daughter attended Millbrook K-5, and she has a fifth-grade son still attending the school.

She and her children enjoyed the benefits of the International Baccalaureate magnet theme that the school offered up until a couple of years.

But Jones, now the school’s magnet coordinator, has noticed a key difference in her son since the school launched the Environmental Connections theme last year, which uses the natural world to make lessons come to life.

“He speaks about what he’s learning as more of an expert,” Jones says. “He really has more confidence in what he knows. He talks more about the experience of learning instead of just what he learned. He’s super excited. And I feel that from a lot of the kids.”

'Citizen Scientists'

Students explore Millbrook’s 17-acre campus with their teachers and Environmental Connections Integration Specialist Sean Russell, all of whom are trained in how to use the natural world to spark student curiosity and generate a fuller understanding of the content.

Russell gave this example: A student asked his teacher about erosion. She provided the textbook definition, and simulated erosion in her classroom. Soon after, Russell was called in to take the entire class on a “mini-trek” around campus. Mini treks, which are unique to the Environmental Connections magnet program, allow students to investigate a classroom topic outside on the beautiful school campus. Students take an average of six treks each quarter. Some topics include: erosion control, cloud observation, micro habitats, tree identification and gardening

On the aforementioned trek, students found a birch tree that had exposed roots due to erosion.

“Students learned the word, they simulated it, then they saw it in nature,” Russell says. “Then we asked, ‘How could we fix this?’ Let’s add some topsoil. Well, how much? That pulls in math. Then we can go back out and observe and see if erosion is still occurring. If so, what more can we do to prevent it?”

Jones says that’s a perfect example of the benefits of the Environmental Connections theme. “There’s a deeper learning, a deeper investigation into these topics,” Jones says. “They’re not just reading about it, they’re not just writing about it, they’re getting out there and experiencing it.”

More Resources

A major grant award is being used to provide professional science kits, laptops for students, the development of two Environmental Inquiry Labs, and other scientific technology.

The school invites experts on campus during field lessons to help students develop a better understanding of a topic that is directly connected to classroom learning. “We arrange for experts to engage with and speak to our students about their experiences,” Jones explains. 

Additionally, the school has built an outdoor classroom, edible garden, pollinator garden and habitats specifically designed to attract wildlife for students to observe and learn more.

Partnerships with the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and N.C. State University provide ongoing professional learning for teachers and expert lessons to students.

Millbrook also is exploring ways to become an even greener school – they’ve actually had solar panels for years – that will help students embrace the importance of protecting the environment.

'Go Out and Learn'

Jones also notes that the school emphasizes the social environment as well - i.e. people, community and society.

“We explore natural sciences as well as social sciences,” she says. “Without both those perspectives, we’re not going to be able to develop that well-rounded child and the interconnectedness of the social environment with the natural environment.”

For the kids, the main bonus is probably lots more time outdoors, getting their hands dirty and getting their wiggles out while gaining in-depth knowledge.

“It’s very obvious kids want to be outside and learn what’s going on around them, by the questions they ask and all the times they stop to explore,” Jones says. “But it’s really seamless with the classroom. They’re excited to go out and learn. Then they’re excited to go back in, talk about it, debrief and apply.”