Experiential Education

What is Experiential Education at CSS? Experiential learning happens every day at CSS in all grade levels. Each division is organized below to explain our Experiential Programs offered at CSS.

At CSS, we believe that students learn best by doing. Our experiential education philosophy begins with a growth mindset and engages the whole student through a cycle of direct experience, reflection, analysis, and experimentation. Our programs empower students to cultivate meaningful connections with deep, applied learning, inspiring personal growth and motivating them to become active global citizens. In doing so, they make a lasting impact in creating a more just, equitable, and sustainable world where everyone belongs.

• Activity-based Learning uses hands-on experiments and activities. Students often collaborate to achieve stated objectives.
• Problem-based Learning challenges students to actively engage in real-world problems and, ultimately, develop critical-thinking skills and enhance their creativity.
• Project-based Learning includes a variety of curricula and encourages students to develop essential skills such as communication, research and inquiry, and time management.
• Place-based Learning uses a location or environment as a starting point to teach concepts and ideas across the curriculum. Students learn to make choices that impact the future, cultures, and the environmental landscape.
• Service Learning extends beyond community service. It builds character, encourages life-long civic responsibility, and provides students with new skills and understandings of the world around them.

Although applied differently across each division of the School, every experience-based lesson is geared toward promoting age-appropriate personal growth, problem-solving skills, decision-making capability, and academic analysis. All are designed to enhance and support the college-preparatory curriculum.

Experiential education at CSS dates back to 1962, when founding headmistress Margaret White Campbell brought with her the influence of John Dewey, the American philosopher and reformer she studied under at Columbia University. Dewey’s emphasis on problem-based, hands-on learning—innovative at the time—continues to shape CSS programs and guide teaching today.