IGNITE CURIOSITY AND CONNECTION WITH PLACE-BASED LEARNING RESIDENCIES
Take students out of the classroom and into their community with immersive learning experiences that transform disengagement into curiosity and connection.
Are you looking to incorporate more voice and choice within the school day?
You’re not alone. Many schools are grappling with what seems to be a return to traditional teaching methods.
A one-size-fits-all approach to instruction may provide the illusion of masterful teaching, especially because it can feel easier to control. But you know there’s a better way—one where students are excited about learning and where they experience the connection between their classroom and the world around them.
But how do you create those moments of real-world learning that tie back to the curriculum? How do you turn local surroundings into a dynamic classroom?
Imagine a Different Kind of Learning Experience
Picture this: instead of sitting at desks, your students are outside, exploring the very streets they walk every day. They’re investigating local history, working together to solve real-world problems, and discovering how what they learn in the classroom applies to their community.
Students are engaged, excited, and eager to share their experiences with each other and with their families. Teachers are energized, too, because they see their students not just learning but thriving in ways they haven’t before.
That’s the power of place-based learning through Yellow Steps’ school residency programs.
How Our School Residency Programs Work
Our residencies are designed to seamlessly integrate with the curriculum and school’s development goals, providing a transformative experience for both students and teachers.
Initial
Consultation
We meet with your school Admin Team to discuss your school’s vision, goals, and current challenges. We want to understand your needs and how we can support them.
Customized
Residency Plan
With your school’s needs in mind, we take a creative look at the 1 km radius around your building and design a plan that ties directly to your community and its unique assets.
Pre-Residency Support & Collaboration
We work alongside teachers before the residency begins to create purposeful in-class tasks that will complement and enhance the upcoming fieldwork sessions.
Student
Fieldwork
We lead students to explore and examine the places around their school with new intention and curiosity. Students frequently engage with forms of storytelling, mapping, and journaling along the way.
Reflection
and Growth
At the end of the residency, we reflect on the fieldwork experiences with your teachers and students, identifying how to continue using place-based learning in the future.
From Disengagement to Discovery
Imagine students who were once disengaged now actively participating in their learning. They’re asking questions, collaborating with their peers, and making connections between their lessons and the world outside their classroom.
Administrators notice a tangible “buzz” throughout the building, with students showing greater enthusiasm for learning. Teachers feel supported and inspired, with new tools to engage their students in meaningful ways. And your school community is stronger, as students develop a deep sense of belonging and connection to the place they live and learn.
Why Place-Based Learning Works
Real-World Application: Students aren’t just learning abstract concepts—they’re seeing how those concepts apply to their lives and their community.
Increased Engagement: By making learning relevant and hands-on, students are more engaged and motivated.
Stronger Teacher-Student Connections: Teachers feel empowered to step outside the traditional classroom model and create lessons that resonate with their students.
Curriculum Alignment: Every residency is designed to align with curriculum outcomes and school development plan goals, ensuring that each session is intentional and purpose-driven.
OUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE
Our school residency programs are the perfect way to engage your students in hands-on, meaningful learning while meeting curriculum goals. Don’t wait—bring place-based learning to your school this year.