Knightly News

Experiential learning is defined as an educational approach where learners gain knowledge, skills and values by participating in experiences and reflecting on them. With project-based learning and engaging faculty, Episcopal students benefit from this type of learning in all divisions in a range of subjects. Most recently, Middle School history students baked their way through a lesson in the QUEST Center in Foster Hall.

“We are studying the colonial era/pre-Revolutionary War period,” says seventh grade history teacher Julie Weaver. “During this period, the British imposed several acts that restricted and/or taxed the colonists, including the Molasses Act.” After learning that molasses at the time was a common commodity available to everyone and used for baking or sweetening tea, students were tasked with baking molasses cookies. “The recipe is a real colonial recipe (that has been updated to include modern ingredients and modern cooking techniques – such as an oven!),” says Weaver.  The cookies are always popular among students, and Weaver says the treats are delicious.

“Experiential lessons such as this one make learning more engaging and history more relevant,” says Weaver. “That leads to a deeper understanding of the material and hopefully a love of learning history.” The molasses cookie tradition is not the first time Weaver has used experiential learning in history class. For example, each year she challenges students to create ink using oak tree galls, a practice used to make the ink used to draft the U.S. Constitution.

Whether it is baking cookies, conducting an experiment or traveling to new places, experiential learning activities engage students in a meaningful way. These experiences encourage students to think critically and creatively, to collaborate and to sharpen their communication skills. Students are also empowered and develop a stronger sense of independence as they work through lessons and achieve their goals. Of course, any lesson that includes a tasty, homemade treat is always appreciated!

Want to learn more about an Episcopal education, including the engaging experiential lessons offered?Schedule a tour today!

The Episcopal School of Baton Rouge 2025-2026 application is now available! ​For more information on the application process, to schedule a tour, or learn more about the private school, contact us at [email protected] or 225-755-2685.