What is Knox Learning?
Knox Learning is unique, eclectic, and innovative, developed over years of research and teaching abroad and in higher education. Our inspiration came from great minds in education and learning like Sir Ken Robinson, John Holt, Sugata Mitra, John Taylor Gatto and schools like Sudbury Valley (the subject of the book “Free to Learn” by Peter Gray) and High Tech High (subject of documentary “Most Likely to Succeed”), as well as countries like Finland.
Inspired by time living abroad and in response to the pervasive Euro-centric education most of us receive, Knox Learning is a global-focused education.
Knowing that children are naturally amazing learners and that one of our main purposes as mentors is to step out of their way, Knox Learning’s focus is self-directed education.
Children learn best in a safe environment and in a context that makes sense to them. We found that project-based learning is an excellent way to build that context and to develop 21st century essential skills like our Knox Values of Grit, Choice, Communication, Collaboration, Community, Curiosity, Critical Thinking, Playfulness, Initiative, and Empathy.
There are many other pieces that we prioritize at Knox, like nature, mixed ages, failure as a process and democratic learning. Put all these pieces together and Knox Learning has made radical transformations in childrens’ love of learning and confidence in their unique skills and abilities to meet challenges they face now and in their future world.
These are examples of students’ work and projects at Knox from our different geography themes. If you would like to recreate this type of learning in your home or microschool, check out our courses, consulting, and curriculum.
U.S. Age of Invention
Also known as the 2nd Industrial Revolution, students learned all about the big inventions and the people behind them that so radically changed technology and society in America. Through projects, students learned about the electric current war, women’s suffrage, the transcontinental railroad, advances in medicine and criminal science, among others. They organized their projects into booths and displays modeled after the 1893 World’s Fair for exhibition.
India
Students immersed themselves into the color, sounds, and smells of India. They learned about geography, culture, religion, food, art, and traditions of India. For exhibition, students organized a celebration fo India and shared food, games, and art with their community. Some students put on their own version of the Ramayana, making costumes and props through traditional arts and crafts styles. Some students made their own saris and learned traditional dance.
Vikings
Students learned all about the “folk ways” of Vikings as they studied how this people lived, traded, and of course, went a-viking! Student’s projects culminated in a live simulation, a Viking Village. Students made viking clothing, shoes, belts, jewelry, and weapons to use and trade at the simulation.
An Ideal Husband
Students in our Scholar class have transformed this 1895 Oscar Wilde play to the U.S. 1950’s. The entirety of the play is set during a 36-hour time period, where blackmail, political corruption and intrigue are encircled with Wilde’s humor. McCarthyism, Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, and other figures from the era make their appearance. The students transformed the script, designed and made the costumes and set.
Botanical Garden Beautification
Students found a tunnel at the Utah State Botanical Gardens and with the director decided to paint over graffiti to beautify this highly used location.
Africa
Students created life-size animals for an African Safari. During exhibition, the community was able to walk through the African savannah and see animals such as a giraffe, hippo, rhino, cheetah, coelacanth, penguins, and even a caracal jumping 15 feet in the air to capture a bird.
u.s. Civil War
This quarter the students did various projects including: Civil War battle re-enactments, Civil War weapon models, pin-hole camera photography, 3-D printed board game, interpretive dance, Lincoln painting, Harriet Tubman painting, model iron clad boat, Operation Underground Railroad art auction, etc.
Latin America
This quarter, the Love of Learning students worked together to hold a marketplace that sold homemade Latin American goods to raise money for a clinic in Santa Rosa, Mexico. The Scholar class’s projects centered around solving current issues in Latin America: access to education, healthcare, and water.
Ancient Rome & Greece
Some of the examples of the projects from this quarter: Dioramas of Athens and the Battle of Troy, original short stories and comics, Greek armor and weapon replicas, clay and carved statues, Parthenon and Greek temple replicas, “School of Athens” mural, Roman aqueduct model
Love of Learning
Deep and meaningful learning happens best through projects. The students have the opportunity to dive deep not only in subject matter, but they gain the 21st Century skills of collaboration, communication, creativity, and community.
