Muddy Creek Charter School

A Place-Based, Project-Based, Multiage Elementary School

Place-Based Education

Place-based education immerses students in local heritage, culture,

landscapes, opportunities, and experiences as a foundation for the study of language arts,

mathematics, social studies, science, and other subjects.

Place-Based Education

Teachers and students use the schoolyard, community, public lands, 

and other special places as resources, turning communities into classrooms.

Place-Based Education• fosters students’ connection to place 

• creates partnerships between schools and communities 

• boosts student achievement  

• helps students learn to take care of the world by understanding where they live, and taking action 

in their own backyards and communities.

Project-Based Learning

Moves away from classroom practices of short, isolated, teacher-centered lessons.

Emphasizes learning activities that are long-term,

interdisciplinary, student-centered, and integrated with real world issues.

The Three Phases of a ProjectPhase 1

deciding on general topic to be investigated, checking prior knowledge, developing questions, making predictions,

planning for study 

Phase 2collecting data to answer questions 

(surveys, interviews, site visits, research) 

Phase 3examine, reflect, and present what has been discovered

during investigation

Project-Based Learning

Components 

• curricular content - standards-based, supports content learning in both process and product

 • multimedia - use various technologies in planning,

development and presentation 

• student direction - maximize student decision-making

Project-Based Learning

Components 

• collaboration - among students, student/teacher, students and community

• real-world connection - relevant to students

• extended time frame - opportunities to plan, revise, and reflect on learning

Multiage Classrooms• modeling for youngers

• empathy and kindness  

• increase collaboration, decrease competition

 • differentiated instruction

 • improved social skills

• natural development of leadership skills

 • more like the real world

 • learning is more

continuous 

• focus on the whole child 

• deeper relationships help build confidence and

security

Kinders

Two kindergarten students crack nuts collected as part of a study of trees and what they drop.

3/4/5

Members of the 3/4/5 class create a cooperative mural as part of their Animals of the Corvallis Area project.