House Mountain Learning Cooperative

House Mountain Learning Cooperative (HMLC) is an offering of Raw Learning, a nonprofit dedicated to expanding opportunities for self-directed education and nature connection in western Virginia. We offer a 1-day per week drop-off program focused on project-based learning for students ages 8-14.  

 

Learners at HMLC follow both an inquiry and project-based approach. Throughout the entire year learners are encouraged to ask questions, think critically, challenge their assumptions, and investigate their wonderings to learn more. Personal projects, either on a daily, monthly, or year-long basis are encouraged.

 

In addition to personal projects, each six weeks we offer a unit of study that will drive our focus. These units guide students in thinking about a specific topic, while allowing them to approach it in their own way. Previous projects included an amusement park unit where students learned physics principles, designed their own rides, learned the history of amusement parks, and learned about advertising and marketing. Throughout the unit students were busy performing physics experiments, creating videos that taught about the physic principles, designed, tested, and perfected amusement park rides, and marketed their rides to others. Other units included designing a candy village, researching a historical person, and creating an ecosystem.

 

THEMES

Our first unit for the 2024-2025 school year was Tell Your Story, followed by Heroes and Journeys.  

 

Registration is now open for our third session, Story to Stage. ​​​Learners in this eight week session will read a variety of scripts and compare and contrast the different elements of each play. As a group, they will decide what makes a strong play, and will vote on which story they would like to produce as a play. Throughout the eight weeks, learners will create their own sets, costumes, and scenery while also practicing their improv skills. Unless learners choose to memorize their roles, we will use a “readers’ theater” approach, allowing each actor to practice reading text with fluency and expression. Readers’ theater is an excellent way for learners to gain literacy skills and become more confident in reading out loud. Learners do not have to be fluent readers to participate.

 

We welcome new learners! As always, HMLC learners are encouraged to have their own choice and agency around their projects. There will be many learning opportunities for everyone - even learners who choose not to participate in the acting itself. 

 

Our end of unit performances will be on February 27th at 2pm. 

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