We envision a day when all learners are empowered and motivated to engage with the world.
our history
Live It Learn It grew from a teacher’s discovery of the power of experiential learning for his students.
Live It Learn It was founded by a public school teacher in Washington, DC, who sought ways to engage even his most disengaged students. He found that taking his elementary school students on academic trips markedly deepened their understanding of concepts and kindled their curiosity about the world. The trips made his students more confident, more motivated, and more successful in the classroom – but he knew that few students around the city, particularly those attending DC’s lowest-performing schools, had the opportunity to enjoy such life-changing experiences.
Determined to share the power and joy of experiential learning with more students, he left the classroom in 2005 to launch Live It Learn It. Since its inaugural pontoon trip with 23 students down the Anacostia River, the organization has grown to encompass thirty different programs at two dozen different sites across the DC area. More than 25,000 students from DC’s Title I public schools have participated in Live It Learn It programs.
At Live It Learn It, we believe that students learn best when they experience the world for themselves.
our model
Live It Learn It programs are unique. We help close an “experience gap” that contributes greatly to an achievement gap among students of different backgrounds.
Partnerships with Title I schools: We offer our exceptional programs to students who need them the most – those in high-poverty areas that often lack the resources to provide experiential learning opportunities.
Rigorous two-part learning model: Each Live It Learn It experience consists of a pedagogically sound learning loop – extensive preparation, intensive experience, and guided reflection – to ensure that students get the most out of every program.
Engaging curricular materials: For each of our twenty-plus programs, our staff has developed rich, detailed curricular materials that are interdisciplinary, age-appropriate, and aligned with Common Core standards.
Transformative effect on teachers: Partner teachers see firsthand the powerful effect that our experiential learning programs have on their students, and are often inspired to incorporate more active learning into their daily lessons.
Emphasis on rigor and engagement: We understand that children learn best when they are highly motivated, so our programs are designed to challenge students while inspiring joy and excitement.
