Teaching Video

Using America’s National Parks as Classrooms

By Carmen Rojas — November 23, 2016 7:10

America’s national parks have been called the country’s “largest classroom,” in part because they provide millions of hours in free educational programming every year.

The National Park Service has worked to encourage “experiential learning” through the creation of hundreds of lesson plans, virtual resources for schools, and professional development for teachers. Their “place based” learning programs—in subjects such as ecology, history, and geology—have academic, developmental, and health benefits.

Sustaining such programming takes on greater importance, parks advocates say, in the midst of ongoing funding challenges and a need to draw more and more diverse visitors to parks facilities and programs.

In this PBS NewsHour segment, Education Week correspondent Kavitha Cardoza reports from the Golden Gate National Recreation Area near San Francisco.

This video aired on PBS NewsHour on November 22, 2016.

Carmen Rojas
Carmen Rojas formerly was a Video Administration and Communications Assistant for Education Week.

This video also appeared on On Air: A Video Blog.

Video

Student Well-Being Video Teachers, Try This: Use Dance to Boost Engagement and Learning
From physics to math, this dance teacher shows how incorporating movement can increase student engagement and understanding.
Members of eMotion Breakdance bring rehearsal outside during a fire drill at Bellaire High School on Nov. 21, 2024, in Houston.
Members of eMotion Breakdance bring rehearsal outside during a fire drill at Bellaire High School on Nov. 21, 2024, in Houston.
Annie Mulligan for Education Week
Student Well-Being Video Teachers, Try This: Activities to Build Classroom Culture and Connection
This theatre teacher incorporates movement into his lessons to enhance student connection. Here's how other teachers can do the same.
Student James Mason participates in an ice breaker during a film studies class at Weber High School taught by teacher, Mark Daniels, on Jan. 13, 2025 in Pleasant View, Utah. Daniels incorporates a lot of movement with students during all of his classes.
Student James Mason participates in an ice breaker during a film studies class at Weber High School taught by teacher, Mark Daniels, on Jan. 13, 2025 in Pleasant View, Utah. Daniels incorporates a lot of movement with students during all of his classes.
Kim Raff for Education Week
Teaching Video Teachers, Try This: Take Classroom Lessons Into the Wild
This Wisconsin district utilizes its school forest to translate classroom lessons into the outdoors.
Fourth grade students visit The Superior School Forest in Foxboro, Wis., on Oct. 28, 2024.
Fourth grade students visit The Superior School Forest in Foxboro, Wis., on Oct. 28, 2024.
Ackerman + Gruber for Education Week
Student Achievement Video What the Dismal Nation's Report Card Means for Reading and Math
The latest results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress show declines in students’ reading with some modest progress in math.
Point Roberts Elementary School teacher Jessie Hettinga works with a group of first, second and third graders on reading at the school in Point Roberts, Wa., on Sept. 28, 2017.
Point Roberts Elementary School teacher Jessie Hettinga works with a group of first, second and third graders on reading at the school in Point Roberts, Wa., on Sept. 28, 2017.
Philip A. Dwyer/The Bellingham Herald via AP