Patricia Phipps

Phipps' "The World - An Outdoor Classroom" uses a wooded area next to the school as an outdoor classroom through which learning-disabled students explore topics such as: the human impact on the natural world; watersheds; land and water pollution; making and interpreting maps; the maritime industry and transportation; local archeology; geology; the history of local inhabitants; and the local economy. They also build a full-size boat, take weekly field trips, conduct field research, and design experiments to test their findings. The hands-on learning helps students hone their problem-solving skills and develop a sense of empowerment.