This Education Week, we’re highlighting the many ways students engage in real-world, hands-on learning experiences
Nature as Classroom
Learning through environment, land, and outdoor spaces.
Outdoor learning extends beyond the classroom into school grounds and local neighbourhoods. During Get Outside Month in May, educators are supported with activities and resources to bring learning outdoors, whether through environmental exploration, place-based inquiry, or curriculum-connected lessons. These approaches help students build a stronger connection to the natural and built environment through hands-on, everyday learning.
This work is supported through partnerships with a range of organizations providing environmentally focused workshops, assemblies, and learning opportunities for students and staff. These partnerships enhance environmental education and promote sustainability across schools while giving educators access to additional tools, expertise, and experiences.
Community as Classroom
Learning through real-world partnerships and shared experiences.
Students learn beyond school walls by connecting with community organizations, local experts, and service-based experiences that bring curriculum to life. These partnerships help students see the relevance of their learning while contributing meaningfully to their communities.
Programs such as La Tablée des Chefs support food literacy and culinary learning through community-led, hands-on experiences. The Sewing Studio brings sewing machines, mentorship, and maker-based learning directly into schools, allowing students to develop creativity and practical skills in a collaborative environment. Similarly, Girls4Tech introduces students to technology-focused learning experiences designed to spark curiosity and open pathways into future careers in STEM.
Workplace as Classroom
Learning through hands-on career exploration and real work environments.
Students gain practical experience and develop essential skills through workplace learning opportunities that connect directly to future pathways. These experiences help students build confidence, explore interests, and understand different careers in meaningful contexts.
Programs such as Specialist High Skills Major and dual credit opportunities allow students to earn credits while engaging in sector-specific, hands-on learning that bridges secondary school and postsecondary education. The Black Student Summer Leadership Program also provides students with opportunities to build leadership skills, gain experiential learning, and explore future pathways through community and workplace-based experiences.
City as Classroom
Learning through the spaces, systems, and stories of Toronto.
Toronto becomes an extension of the classroom as students engage with the city through immersive, curriculum-connected learning experiences. From cultural exploration to academic study, students learn by engaging directly with the urban environment around them.
Programs such as International Summer Camp and Learn4Life offer students opportunities to build skills, explore interests, and connect learning to real-world contexts across the city.
Creativity as Classroom
Learning through expression, design, and innovation.
Students develop creativity, critical thinking, and communication skills through programs that center artistic expression and hands-on creation. Learning in these spaces encourages experimentation, collaboration, and confidence-building through the arts and skilled trades.
Programs such as the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP), Extended Day Program, and Oasis Skateboard Factory provide students with opportunities to explore creativity through design, movement, construction, and applied learning. Other experiences, including Reggaecise, bring high-energy movement and dance into learning spaces through aerobic activity set to reggae music, while the Exercise to Success Program engages students from across Toronto in conversations about fitness, wellbeing, and the importance of physical activity through both discussion and active participation.