Beyond the Classroom

At Meridian we know that learning happens in many ways and in many places–
often outside the walls of the classroom. 

Field trips are an integral component of our place-based educational approach, and start as early as kindergarten with trips in our neighborhood and local community. As students get older, they venture further from the Meridian campus for longer periods of time. Our goal is to extend and enhance classroom activities, giving children the opportunity to make connections to their local, regional and global communities.

A sampling of last year’s educational journeys:

• Rainier Institute (Environmental stewardship)
• Carkeek Park (salmon study)
• Seattle World School (Global Competency)
• Duwamish River (Service Learning)
• Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience (Global Competency)

Locally, students might venture to the Tilth Alliance garden just beyond Meridian’s doorstep and work with volunteers to learn about organic gardening and sustainable practices. They join members of the Wallingford Senior Center for intergenerational learning over lunch, or, they may head out to explore local businesses and gain an understanding of commerce and markets in their own backyard. At Meridian, learning can happen anywhere!