Issaquah Microschool: Design Labs in Action with Physics and Community Connections

In the Issaquah Microschool, students dive into hands-on, project-based learning powered by community partnerships and real-world problem-solving. Students took their physics studies to new heights in the mountains of North Bend, where they applied scientific concepts to rock climbing, team building, and collaborative challenges. By navigating real-world forces and problem-solving, they deepened their understanding of physics while building resilience, cooperation, and leadership skills.

Bringing design thinking to life, our students also took on a special project to create an interactive mini golf course for the Issaquah Prep and Preschool community in downtown Issaquah. Guided by the phases of design thinking—from empathy and ideation to testing and refinement—students crafted each element of the course with creativity and problem solving.

Through these experiences, Issaquah Microschool students are developing essential skills in scientific reasoning, empathy, and collaboration. They’re connecting science and English Language Arts in projects that strengthen their understanding of physics and storytelling, while actively engaging with their community.