An integrated curriculum that teaches children how to learn.

Integrated curriculum

One spine. Every subject, woven in.

Green Life Curriculum is an integrated curriculum — the subject areas that are traditionally taught separately are woven into a single project-matter spine. We do this because project-based learning has been shown across studies to support student learning substantially more than the traditional American, heavily worksheet-based model of instruction. (We're finalizing the exact effect-size figure from the research before we publish a number here.)

We call these project spines subject-matter arcs. Fermentation is just the first arc — we'll release others as we go.

Think of the arc as the vehicle

The learning arc is the vehicle; the state-standard curriculum is plugged into it and pulled upon as we work. The arc carries the standards — it doesn't replace them.

In the Fermentation arc, the science notebook is where it all comes together. Through it we have written expression. We have reading. We talk about the historical and social aspects of bread — regional economics — and that's social studies. Students record and focus on testing variables, understanding the scientific method, and developing a sense of inquiry and wonder that they are in control of — as opposed to traditional instruction, which is heavily focused on information delivery.

The lab notebook, every single day

Within these arcs — and within Fermentation — students start with a lab notebook and carry that notebook through every day of their instruction. They are taught to pursue a science of observation: understand what they observe, change one thing, then observe and record the effects of that change. This is the method of scientific discovery we believe sits at the heart of a child's sense of wonder and curiosity — and children should be given a method to maintain that curiosity as they grow.

On their feet, the way real life works

We want students on their feet, working at standing desks wherever possible. This is more in line with how we actually operate in real life — especially now that most of us no longer work in factories. (Surprisingly, factory work was one of the drivers behind the original design of the American education system during the industrial era.)

We teach students how to learn

We focus on teaching students how to learn: what attention is, what motivation is, and then guiding them to maintain both while working on hands-on content. From an early age, students come to understand attention, what it means to learn, and how to self-regulate — to deal with the frustration that comes with learning and with productive failure, which the research has shown to be highly effective for learning.

From an early age we give children the freedom to take their own appropriate breaks, so they can maintain a high quality of attention and focus. We believe nourishing the curiosity that leads to a lifelong love of learning is the real key to student success.

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