Gaia School

Gaia School is a private community school founded in 2014, currently situated in Kadriorg, Tallinn. Gaia School is following the national curriculum of Estonia but from the start, they have been developing their own approach towards both teaching and curriculum. Gaia school follows the principles of Gaia Education (http://gaia.org/gaia-education) that promotes a sustainable lifestyle, caring about the Earth and well-being of the human being. Their curriculum has an emphasis on nature studies and national heritage, it supports integrated lessons and teachers’ cooperation. Gaia School is a community school, and parents are actively participating in the teaching-learning process, especially during project weeks. Gaia School promotes outdoor learning and learning through practical activities - one weekday is a project day for all classes and it is usually spent outside of the school. The school has a lot of experience with different projects (local and International) and Project Based Learning as well as Inquiry-Based Learning are essential in their curricula.

Gaia School is a community school - this means that the parent's contribution to school life is greater than in an 'average' Estonian school. Parents are welcome (and they eagerly use the opportunity) to participate in their children's field trips, and outdoor activities as well as take part in schools' daily work. School also has the 'Parents' talking circles' where pressing issues are discussed and problems that arise at the classroom level are solved. The school also organizes lectures for parents on topics related to parenting and education.