Our History

Our History

Living Classroom began as a special pilot program in the Los Altos School District in 2007-08.  The program was founded by Oak Elementary School parent Vicki Moore who wanted to find a way to connect students with nature at school on a regular basis.  Ms. Moore began by working with the Los Altos School District to create a California Native Habitat Garden and an edible garden on the Oak school campus.  Supported by a one-time CA Department of Education school garden grant, Ms. Moore then worked with the district to develop a structured educational program to take advantage of all of the learning opportunities the gardens provided.  After the program was piloted with grades K-3, it officially launched in 2008-09 and has continued to grow and expand ever since.

Today, Living Classroom is thriving in the Los Altos School District with over 30 different lessons being taught each year in grades TK-6.  Over 40 trained volunteer docents along with three district-paid employees teach about 500 lessons annually and care for the school gardens.  The program is funded directly by the Los Altos School District along with the support of the school PTAs.  Living Classroom has been expanded to other school districts via a separate Living Classroom Non-Profit Organization that was founded by Ms. Moore in 2013.  The Los Altos School District Living Classroom Program and the Living Classroom Non-Profit Organization continue to share lesson materials, best practices, curriculum revisions, ideas for piloting new lessons, and docent events.