The ECO class is not the typical, every day class. ECO has more opportunities and more ways to learn.

Even though the ECO class has not changed too much, many other things throughout the years have. Mr. Mckenzie points them as: technology, the students, sports and the school in general. The technology has gotten better and made the communication more open and easier for teachers and parents. He says that he likes this better because it helps keep the parents informed. The students have changed in the aspect that, back in the day, most students had farm background. Now, he finds that many students who live on farms know little about a farm or anything that goes on, within one. Also the building has changed; he refers to the fact that ECO used to be off campus.

ECO is a class of choice for the 6^th grade students and parents. It’s a different way to teacher the 6^th grade curriculum in that it focuses on the environment and teaching in an experiential way. With this choice of curriculum, the students have a choice to be in a class where they can be more engaged in what they are doing because of the fact that the ECO class is more hands on and experience-based. "The kids are happier to attend school when they are in the ECO class," states Mr. Mckenzie. He believes this to be true because they made the choice to be in this class and have this experience; therefore, it makes them more willing to come to school and learn every day.

Since the class is all about learning through experience, they go to certain places where they can incorporate learning through adventure. On Tuesday, September 27, the class went to Miller Nurseries to pick apples, they make apple cider, do writing assignments on their experience, they use them in the classroom for baking and cooking, and they study Johnny Appleseed to study fact and fable or opinion and fact. There are many ways that such a simple thing can be used to teach these students so much.

These students go on many of these adventures. They went hiking Friday, September 30, which teaches the students about the land and how it used to be used and how it is used now, map skills, they write about the adventure and what they learned and see, they learn to communicate with people. Mr. Mckenzie calls this place-base learning. When the students went camping, they learn to live in a community together and how to provide food, shelter, and fun in a simple environment.

This class is not only fun for the students, but also for the teachers who teach it. "I like teaching ECO because I get to see the students in many different venues and experiences and how happy they are to be experiencing these things," states Mr. Mckenzie. The teachers of the ECO class, Mr. Mckenzie and Mrs. Wolfe, work well together and enjoy watching the students experience new things. The best part about teaching the ECO class is seeing the students get excited about where they are and what they are doing.

It is said that many students that have been in the ECO class have come back to say how much they loved the class and how much they miss it Mr. Mckenzie remarks.

"I am very fortunate to teach this class."