“I have always felt this way about wolves. My thinking hasn’t changed,” fifth-grader Jonah told me as he worked on his compare and contrast essay — the culminating piece of writing for this Pagosa Peak Open School project.
“Really, nothing?” I asked. “Let’s look at your pre-assessment to see what you said at the start of this project.”
Together we looked through the questions posed to him in January by his advisor Rue Graham. Questions included things like, “Do you believe livestock owners should be compensated for livestock killed by wolves?” and “Is it safe to live in wolf country?” and “Do you have the right to kill an animal if it has the potential to harm you or your pets?”
After going through his pre-project questions, Jonah realized this journey through his class’s study of wolf reintroduction in Colorado, planned to begin in December of this year, did in fact change his thinking. Over time, he learned to care about wolves and recognize their important role in our environment.
Prop 114 was approved by Colorado voters in November, 2020.
“I loved doing this project, and now I believe wolves should be reintroduced in Colorado,” Jonah said.
Other students at PPOS felt the same way, identifying a lot of learning during this 15-week project.
Art wove its way through the project, where students drew portraits, created scientific drawings and put together their own ‘agamographs’.
“I now want to live in wolf country,” fourth-grader Skyla said. “I used to think living where wolves live would be scary, but now I know wolves are scared of us, and actually help the environment.”
Throughout the project, students had experts come into their classroom to share knowledge. They also did extensive field work, including an overnight trip to Colorado Springs where they visited the Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center. The project included art opportunities, science standards and opinion essays.
“My thinking about wolves has changed,” fourth-grader Kiara said. “I now know facts, history and the reasons why the grey Mexican wolf is endangered.”
Pagosa Peak Open School is a K-8, tuition-free, charter school open to all Archuleta County families. The educational model is built upon project-based learning, a student-centered pedagogy that involves a dynamic classroom approach, through which students can acquire a deeper understanding through active exploration of real-world challenges and problems. Students in all classes at PPOS engage in multiple projects throughout the year; looking for ways to influence their own community, and create positive change.
Emily Murphy is School Director at Pagosa Peak Open School, the first District-authorized charter school in Archuleta County. Prior to her appointment as School Director, Emily filled various roles at PPOS including Project-Based Learning advisor, instructional coach, and assistant director.