Experiential Learning

OHDS students have many opportunities to learn by doing. In addition to hands-on classroom learning activities, students benefit from regular participation in curriculum-aligned field trips, overnights, elective options, tinkering and learning through service to others.

Field Trips

Students across the grades, from K-8, have multiple opportunities each year to take part in engaging field trips that support their classroom learning in science, social studies, and Judaic Studies content.  Some of our most beloved field trips include:

  • Kindergarten visit to Ardenwood Farm for the butterfly migration

  • First grade physics at Lawrence Hall of Science

  • Second grade paleontology at UC Berkeley Paleontology Museum

  • Third grade visit to Angel Island to learn about immigration

  • Fourth grade hands-on social studies at Hacienda Peralta

  • Fifth grade visit to the Magnes Museum to explore Jewish cultural diversity

Overnights

Beginning in 4th grade, OHDS students have the chance to deepen their learning through immersive overnight experiences including:

  • 4th Grade Gold Rush trip, 3 days, 2 nights

  • 5th Grade Overnight trip 2 days, 1 night

  • 6-8th Middle School Retreat, 3 days, 2 nights

  • 8th Grade Israel Trip, 2 weeks

Electives

Beginning in 6th grade, students have the chance to explore areas of interest through a variety of weekly electives options. Typical elective options include: 6th-8th grade typical options: rock band, art, sports, yearbook, and SPLASH (leadership team).

Design Lab

Located on the third floor and facilitated by our middle school science teacher, the OHDS Design Lab provides students with the opportunity to engage in a variety of hands-on learning experiences. Students might visit the design lab with their class as an extension of classroom learning, and in middle school they may use the design lab to create videos on the green screen, build something using our woodworking tools, or pursue an independent project of their choosing.

Service Learning

Students across the grades engage in service learning projects that connect to thematic curriculum for their grade. The service learning cycle includes research, discussions, field trips and volunteer work as students learn and work to make a difference in their world.

Next

Service Learning