At Crane School, experiential learning begins in kindergarten and continues through
eighth grade. It intensifies during the middle school years when adolescents connect
their academic pursuits to their daily lives, fostering a sense of agency as they use
acquired knowledge to make informed decisions.
The experiential education landscape draws students’ interests and ideas into their learning, enriching their academic journey and demonstrating that growth and leadership opportunities are around every corner.
Seventh grade engineers discovered just that! Cinnamon and Nutmeg, the school’s two
Nigerian Dwarf goats, enhance social-emotional learning as they help students regulate their emotions and teach them to be present and mindful. These lovable animals are also creating a complex and engaging real-life problem.
Last year’s seventh graders were tasked with researching and designing floor plans for the goat pen, including climbing structures, sleeping areas, and automatic watering and feeding. Students measured the goats and their pen to draw their plans to scale.
Their research included types and cost of materials, which each seventh grader packaged into their own convincing idea that they pitched à la Shark Tank to their peers. Then four final contestants faced Crane’s five “sharks” – Head of School, Head of Upper School, Head
of Lower School, Director of Facilities, and Design & Engineering Teacher – and one
engineer made a deal!
The assignment didn’t end there. Phase two of the project launched this fall. The now eighth graders in the Goat Pen Construction Elective have begun building alongside Design & Engineering Teacher John Pagano and Teaching Fellow Emma Goldin who have been coaching the students from the start.
This project is unique in that it spans two academic years. It also aligns with Crane’s
values, merging the concepts of Doing Deepens Discovery, Find Joy in the Pursuit, and
Value Your Voice.
The student with the winning design sums it up nicely. When asked about the project
she commented, “Building this is so exciting because I finally get to see all my hard
work come to life. I get to watch what started off as an assignment become something far more meaningful. I also get to learn so many things like how to use a table saw, the
difference between a drill and a driver, and how to make a sturdy structure for climbing.”
With this excitement also came challenges and hard work. She added, “Researching
and designing was the most challenging part because there were so many different
aspects and steps to it, like what types of wood are safe for goats and what goats like
to do, and how to build those things. Designing took time, a lot of refining and help from many people at Crane.”
Reflection is a key part of the experiential learning process at Crane and it is rewarding for students and teachers to see the connections made.“This project has helped me to grow my leadership, engineering skills and my knowledge of power tools. All of these things I have learned will serve me all my life and I am so proud of myself and grateful for this opportunity.”
Crane’s commitment to experiential learning shapes students who are not just knowledgeable, but also resilient, creative, and deeply engaged in their own learning journey.
The best way to see experiential learning in action is to visit Crane’s 12-acre campus in
Montecito (1795 San Leandro Lane, Santa Barbara, CA 93108) where we serve
students in kindergarten through grade 8.
For admissions information or to schedule a school tour, contact Erin Guerra, 805-969-7732 x106, or visit our website here.
