Over the past two weeks, students from Deep Creek Middle School (DCMS) were on the Island School campus to complete their first session of School Without Walls. 

This hands-on, experimental learning program gets students out of the classroom three times throughout the academic year to immerse them in the natural environment and community around them. Through this program, students have the opportunity to engage in activities that wouldn’t be possible in a traditional classroom, while gaining a deeper involvement with our campus and the wider community at The Island School. 

Each grade had a specific focus over the course of the program, and worked on a specific presentation of learning to showcase the knowledge they gained. Here’s what each group accomplished during School Without Walls:

Grade 7: Ecosystem Exploration

For our Grade 7 students, the focus was on how different ecosystems in South Eleuthera support life and maintain balance and stability. This meant extensive ecosystem exploration. 

Each day, students explored a different ecosystem, learning about their individual inhabitants and ecological importance. Students studied seagrass beds, mangroves, near shore and rocky shore ecosystems, and coral reefs with the assistance of the team at the Cape Eleuthera Institute (CEI). The students’ learning didn’t stop at simple classroom lessons—they got out in the water, snorkeling and exploring these ecosystems firsthand. On Friday, for example, students immersed themselves in a near shore ecosystem, observing animals such as hermit crabs, starfish, and snails. 

Along with their coral reef section, students got a tour of the coral lab at CEI, where they learned about current coral research and restoration, and learned about how these corals are fed. Students were even able to observe shrimp under a microscope. 

By the end of the program, students had familiarized themselves with the various ecosystems and understood how they’re simultaneously interconnected and interdependent. This knowledge will prepare them so that, come the next session of School Without Walls during the spring term, they can move into learning about the importance of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).  

For their presentation of learning, students created a three-dimensional map of South Eleuthera, identifying all the places they had explored, with a short blurb about each place—the perfect representation of their action-packed week! 

Grade 8: Sailing and Sustainable Tourism 

Our Grade 8 students set sail on a journey to understand how sailing is connected to the history, science, and future of sustainable tourism in The Bahamas.

Students spent their first week out on the water in Savannah Sound at the Eleuthera Sailing Academy to learn the foundations of sailing. This hands-on experience brought students out of the classroom and onto the water, giving them firsthand experience with The Bahamas’ national sport. 

For the second half of School Without Walls, students traveled to Governor’s Harbour to conduct interviews with local business owners. They asked thoughtful questions such as: When are your busy months? What activities do tourists do at the establishment? What percentage are tourists vs locals? What sustainable practices do you have in place? 

These interviews helped students to understand how sailing can be used as a form of sustainable tourism in The Bahamas. 

As a presentation of learning, students collected data from their interviews and translated it into mathematical representations, visualizing the relationship between sailing and sustainable tourism in the Bahamas.

Grade 9: Scuba Diving and Creative Writing

While Grade 7 students snorkeled shallow waters and Grade 8 students sailed across the surface, Grade 9 students deepened their understanding of marine ecosystems and gained new skills by completing their PADI open water scuba certifications. Their focus was on how diving helps to understand marine ecosystems and inspire ocean sustainability, ultimately teaching them to protect our oceans. 

Their first week began with an introduction to scuba diving and a swim test to assess their comfort level in the water. After this assessment, lessons moved to the pool at the Center for Training and Innovation (CTI) in Rock Sound, where students completed their confined dives before venturing into the open water. 

Throughout the second week, students visited multiple dive sites around Cape Eleuthera, gaining experience with different marine environments and learning underwater navigational skills. By the end of School Without Walls, all students had earned their scuba certifications, an amazing achievement! Throughout the year, these students will continue to improve their diving skills and expand their knowledge of marine ecosystems through place-based, hands-on learning. 

In tandem with diving, students developed their creative writing and podcasting skills. After each dive, they reflected on their experience through guided prompts exploring how diving changed their perception of the ocean. Once they return to the classroom, they will combine all of their writings into one megapiece. For their presentation of learning, students have also been working on a 10-minute podcast, consisting of four to five interviews as well as their own words on their experiences scuba diving and how it affects their interaction with the ocean. 

Overall, School Without Walls was a success! Students got out on the water, explored the ocean, and engaged with the community, stepping beyond the four walls of a traditional classroom. Whether it was snorkeling in the mangroves, sailing across the water, or earning their scuba certifications, these students learned that some of the best learning happens when you’re fully immersed in the world around you.