About 20 years ago, a number of Yukon schools took a different approach to outdoor education and outdoor pursuits. During the 1970s and 1980s, most Yukon high schools and junior high schools offered a course called Outdoor Education. These courses fit into the conventional blocks in a school timetable. Outdoor activities longer than these blocks…

This scheduling plan features three quarters of 12 weeks and a school day divided into three blocks: morning and afternoon instructional blocks of two and one-half hours each and a midday period of one and one-third hours that includes lunch time, tutorial time, and unstructured student time. (Author/IRT)

After investigating alternatives, a Missouri high school adopted the eight-block flexible scheduling model. Instead of meeting 45-60 minutes every day, classes now meet 94 minutes every other day. Staff and students are enthusiastic. Longer instructional periods allow teachers to develop key concepts and use diverse learning activities and permit…