An Independent School • Grades 5-12
April at the Middle School: When our region is our classroom

by Reem Abu Rahmeh, Middle School director and assistant head of school

This project is a part of Hope in Action: An Empowering Strategic Plan for Lakeside School. Learn more.

Over the course of the year, Lakeside Middle School students step out of their usual classrooms and into the greater Seattle area to engage in immersive learning experiences designed to spark curiosity, create connections, and deepen understanding. Each of these experiences is carefully and intentionally planned to complement classroom learning while offering students a chance to engage with their neighbors and their broader regional context. These immersive learning experiences take many different forms throughout the school year: a service-learning trip, an outdoor education trip, a field trip, or a workshop on campus. While field trips are sometimes seen as a fun, escapist time away from school for the day, we aim to plan them as extensions of our brick-and-mortar classrooms. We hope that students come away from these experiences with more questions than answers, with a desire to seek deeper understanding of the topics uncovered during these experiences, with confidence in their ability to learn from others outside the “Lakeside bubble,” and with a higher level of engagement and collaboration with each other. Regardless of the format, immersive learning provides irreplaceable benefits that deepen student engagement and understanding. 

One key benefit is the engagement of the whole self in the learning process. This means that the students not only engage physically with all their senses, but also create emotional connections that help build more empathy and understanding. Most recently, the 6th-grade students engaged in service work at Food Lifeline. As they packaged food, sorted fruits, and worked alongside other volunteers to further support the work of the organization, they built their understanding of the impact of their work in addressing food scarcity within the greater Seattle area. In addition to their abstract understanding of the idea of food scarcity, they got to meet and learn from some of the real people who are dedicating their time to addressing these issues. Another group of 6th graders contributed to preservation efforts at Kubota Gardens, reinforcing their role as stewards of the environment. This not only creates a meaningful connection with the work of caring for the land we live on, but also develops students’ sense of place and sense of belonging in the region they are living in. 

Beyond fostering emotional and physical engagement, immersive learning also strengthens students' ability to connect their knowledge to real-world applications. Eighth-grade students visited the Gates Foundation, where they attended the exhibition “A Better Way to Go: Toilets and the Future of Sanitation.” There, they participated in discussions about sustainable sanitation systems. As 8th graders continue to reflect and think on the collaboration and leadership competency and how their learning can be applied to solutions to real-world problems, these experiences can reinforce students’ commitment to thinking beyond themselves and caring about issues that matter beyond their own circles of close connections. 

In addition to real-world connections, immersive learning empowers students by giving them greater agency over their learning experiences. For students, there’s a big difference between prioritizing learning something because you’ll be tested on it, and prioritizing it because you’ve been given full control over your choices, selection, and engagement in your learning experiences. In the 7th-grade class, students headed to the University of Washington campus and were given the opportunity to choose their area of interest to engage with. Students could choose to explore and interact with the CENPA (Physics) Lab, the math department, the sports facilities, the computer science department, the Burke Museum, or the Henry Art Gallery. Guided by their own curiosity, students were able to take away what each of these departments is working on.

Not only do students gain autonomy in their learning, but they also form lasting memories through hands-on experiences that reinforce key concepts. Students in 5th grade headed to NatureBridge on their outdoor trip, where they engaged in field science activities like mapping the depth of Lake Crescent with a sonar device, discovering the features that make up an old-growth forest, and identifying animals based on drawing sketches of their skulls. Similarly, 8th-grade students will head off in a few weeks to collect and test water samples for microplastics from Carkeek Park. They are going to have to engage in a lot of real-world research and explore ways to address the best methods for data collection and analysis. While they’re also developing these lab skills in the classroom, we often hear from students that these experiences “in the field” were among their most memorable. 

Beyond academic learning, immersive experiences play a crucial role in strengthening peer relationships through collaboration, problem-solving, and shared memories. During these experiences, there are many opportunities for play, which in turn create space for organic opportunities of connections. When asked about the best part of an experience, students’ immediate and spontaneous response is often a heartfelt, “my friends!”

Our commitment to experiential education is rooted in the belief that students learn best when they engage directly with the world around them. As we continue to build meaningful educational experiences, we recognize that learning happens everywhere — not just within the four walls of a classroom. By offering opportunities for students to explore, ask questions, and experience lessons firsthand, we equip them with essential skills such as problem-solving, collaboration, and critical thinking. These immersive experiences are not just field trips; they are an integral part of our mission to develop engaged, thoughtful, and socially responsible learners. We look forward to continuing to build on the work of the faculty and the deans in future years.

Important dates and events for April

Check the Inside Lakeside email for Middle School highlights and the full calendar for information about PGA and other school events. Watch your email for invitations and additional details.

Reem Abu Rahmeh is Lakeside’s assistant head of school and Middle School director. You can reach her at info@lakesideschool.site and 206-440-2772.

 

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