Place-Based Learning: Using Your Location as a Classroom

By taking down the walls of their school and bringing learning into the community around them, Crellin makes education meaningful and magical for their students.

November 10, 2015

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Schools That Work

Crellin Elementary School

Public, Rural
Grades PK-5
Oakland, MD

Crellin Elementary, a small, rural K-5 school in Oakland, Maryland, takes hands-on, project-based learning to a level that extends far beyond a few one-off projects per year. The school uses the local environment, student inquiry, and the community around them to create learning opportunities with tangible outcomes that inspire students and immerse them in their own learning. These efforts have allowed Crellin Elementary to consistently achieve some of the highest test scores in the state while serving a growing population of students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

  • Maryland State Assessment Top-Performing Elementary School
  • Ernest L. Boyer Best Practices Award for Character Education
  • 2011 Intel School of Distinction Award

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Filed Under

  • Place-Based Learning
  • Community Partnerships
  • Environmental Education
  • K-2 Primary
  • 3-5 Upper Elementary

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