At the Orion Scool hands-on experiences increase student motivation, academic performance and are an essential reason for the great successes we have had creating positive school experience for our often reluctant students. For students who have conditions including ADHD and Asperger’s it is imperative to make connections to concepts through methods that are high interest and kinesthetic. Research in all areas of education supports hands-on learning as a best practice instructional approach and we are small and adaptive enough to have the luxury of implementing it. TheOrion School’s Greenspace with Grace outdoor classroom initiative is part of our commitment to focus on experiential learning as a core learning approach. Throughout the school year we have planned a variety of special curriculum extensions to help make stronger connections between our outdoor classroom and in-class instruction.
Recently we had “Bat Week” with an interdisciplinary study of bats to educate our students on the uniqueness, value, and environmental importance of these fascinating and much maligned creatures. To add to our outdoor classroom, a bat house was purchased and put together to become part of the Orion School organic garden.
The week was capped off with a visit by an educator from A-Z Animals. When the “Bat Lady” asked the question “Why do bats hang upside down?” one of our youngest students answered “So they can fly” and another student answered “It helps them glide”. The Bat Lady stopped, paused, and said carefully “I have done this presentation with over 800 school groups and this is the first time someone answered this question correctly”. It was evident that the Orion School educators had prepared our students well for the visit. What was also clear is how bright and capable Orion School students are when a path to learning is cleared for them through hands-on learning.
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