Nature school

We were talking about backwards design in our 102 class, and the example came up of imagining a school whose graduates respected and loved and went to and understood Nature.
The question was: how might this kind of school be designed in order to create that kind of student?

Here is some of what the students brainstormed:

Replace concrete with grass--
Have a giant hollowed out tree, and have class in there
Put the school in the middle of a forest
have animals roam the school, including bears
Plants in every classroom
hold class outdoors
dress like cave people
run school on green energy
planting trees for homework
curriculum based on environment and awareness
have a moat and alligators and knights
write on parchment or scratch in stone tablets
horse or elephant transport
swing on vines to class

 

Then we watched this video: students were asked to think about how this short piece from 60 minutes about Alex Honnold might relate to education. Here is some of what the students brainstormed:

Alex is a big example of what it means to follow your passion.
If you keep moving forward too fast, it can be hard for you.
Education is the mountain, and we are climbing w/no rope.
If you follow your passion and do not go for a job/steady income, you may end up in a van down by the river.
Education needs to have passion like Alex. Schools need to be passionate about teaching passion.
Despite our fears, we can keep going. We can put it aside.
Some people leave and follow their own life's passion, and do not care.
Doing what Alex does, requires the same stuff that education asks of you.
Life after education is a two-hour boring walk down the mountain.
It is OK to challenge yourself even though you are scared.
Climbing a mountain is like graduation.
Do not give up your dreams, even though difficult to achieve.