The Green School of Baltimore

An urban school where students learn by experience – becoming stewards of the environment and advocates for a healthy planet

“The World is Our Classroom.”

ETWC Report Summary: The Green School of Baltimore is a unique whole child school that focuses on experiential learning, use of the natural environment as a learning space, and uses integration of the arts both for curriculum and for its focus on social emotional learning. Movement is an every day occurrence here. The strong connection to the community, both in receiving and providing help, the adherence to every principle one would expect in a whole child school, the creativity and commitment of the teacher and staff, and the strong partnerships the school has developed, all create a model school from which many other schools can learn. Three specific characteristics make the school distinctive:

The first distinctive element is that movement and play-based learning are key components of every school day.Every class has a physical education period daily in addition to recess. At The Green School learning goes on at recess, as students are encouraged to invent their own games. It is notable that in this school, the principal does recess duty, observing students at play and developing relationships with them. The playground is expansive and reflects the input of students as well as an awareness of the environment. Once a week, each class participates in Green Hour, where they go to the local park. Students are able to spend a great deal of time outdoors in the natural environment, even though this is an urban neighborhood.

The second distinctive element is the school’s inquiry-based approach and use of the outdoors as a learning space. Through this approach, children are engaged in making sense of the natural world through scientific practices as their natural curiosity is addressed. The school partners with community organizations to facilitate these inquiries and experiences. There is a garden on the grounds and a summer camp program during which students tend the gardens and taste the fruits of their labor. In the garden there are beautifully decorated hubcaps that were painted by students and their families through a partnership with the Art Through the Heart organization. Adjacent to the garden is an area that can be used as an outdoor classroom when weather permits.

The third distinctive element is integration of the arts into the curriculum. Students at The Green School use art to enhance and demonstrate their learning across the subjects. The halls display student art and there is a dedicated art room where students attend an art class twice a week for 45 minutes. On the day we were visiting, a community member was in a first grade classroom teaching students about the Baltimore folk art tradition of screen painting. Music instruction is provided in after school programs or by guest artists who visit the school.

Contact to request the full report: tomprnny@gmail.com