Earth Experience
“Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, the mountain and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters and teach some of us more than we can ever learn from books.” – John Lubbock
One of the most joyful aspects of attending the Franciscan Montessori Earth School is the integration of ecology and outdoor education into our curriculum through the Earth Experience.
Earth Experiences are 2-4 day classroom camping trips held each Fall and Spring. Lower and Upper Elementary classrooms travel to areas around Oregon and Washington, studying subjects such as Geology, Marine Biology, and Natural History.
Through outdoor experiential learning, students gain a deeper understanding and stewardship of nature, while maturing socially. In Lower Elementary, excursions are shorter and focus on trip preparation and living in community with classmates. Earth Experiences are longer in Upper Elementary and students break into groups such as the Shelter Committee, Transportation Committee, and Food Committee to plan and organize their trip.
By Middle School, students plan small group itineraries for a week long Spring Study Trip in addition to participating in a two week Residential Program near Estacada.
Foreign Language
"Learning another language is not only learning different words for the same things, but learning another way to think about things." – Flora Lewis
Starting in the elementary level, FMES offers the choice of German or Spanish language instruction. In Lower and Upper Elementary, students attend their language class once per week with in-classroom follow-up work assigned and supported. In Middle School, students attend their class three times per week.
Gardening Education Program
“When children come into contact with nature, they reveal their strength.” – Dr. Maria Montessori
A core value of the Franciscan Montessori Earth School is inspiring students to be stewards of the natural world. According to our Garden Guide, gardening may be the most direct path toward learning what it means to take care of the Earth.
Our Children’s House students have direct access from their classroom to organic gardening boxes filled with flowers and vegetables. In Lower and Upper Elementary, our Garden Guide visits each classroom once per week and lessons are wide-ranging:
- Physical garden work (raking, weeding, planting, watering, etc.)
- Garden design
- Observing and sketching nature
- Harvesting and cooking vegetables
- Learning how to use and care for gardening tools
Middle School students are responsible for a weekly Farmer’s Market (part of the Micro-Economy program) that sells seasonal organic produce from our gardens, including offerings from the aquaponics greenhouse during the winter.
Library
"When you absolutely positively have to know, ask a librarian." – American Library Association
The on-campus FMES library maintains a 15,000-volume collection for children of all ages. Children’s House students visit the library with their classroom guide and assistant, while older students visit independently for personal reading materials and project research support.
Using the Dewey Decimal system, our librarian instructs students on how to find shelved library materials themselves and provides Upper Elementary students with access to internet-based materials via library computers. Additionally, our librarian supports Upper Elementary students as they evaluate internet information sources, practice typing through a tutorial program, and create documents, spreadsheets, and slideshows for assigned research projects.
Physical Education (PE)
“Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body; it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity.” – John F. Kennedy
FMES students attend one-hour PE classes twice per week starting in the elementary level and participate in activities such as instructional sports, cooperative games, and yoga. In Middle School, PE class is once per week for two hours and the students choose between on-campus PE with our PE instructor or supervised hiking at Powell Butte.