Celebrations of Learning

In this engaging and thought-provoking expedition, students will delve into Modern Times, Peace and Conflict Studies, and Psychology/Sociology within their social studies curriculum. Concurrently, their literacy focus will be on the art of speech and the effective sharing of information. The culmination of this expedition will see students channeling their newfound knowledge and skills into creating and delivering their very own TED Talks. This project not only fosters a deeper understanding of contemporary issues but also hones students' public speaking and presentation abilities, preparing them to confidently share their insights and ideas with a wider audience

Golden Age is a yearlong humanities expedition focused on world history. 

This expedition introduces students to the concept of a “golden age” in the history of civilizations around the world—choosing a time when a civilization flourished and there was peace, prosperity, and achievement. Working in teams, students choose a particular civilization, such as Ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, Rome; the Chinese Dynasties; the African empires of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai; the Maya, Inca, and Aztecs of the New World; Indus Valley Civilization and the Gupta Empire in India; and 8th–14th-century Islam. Students conduct research on their civilization’s golden age and why it declined or ended, then they communicate their learning to the public through a museum exhibit and children's book.

Each team will create a museum exhibit and children's book that showcases their civilization’s golden age and explains why it came to an end. The exhibits and books are displayed at a community/school event to which other students, parents, and community members are invited. Students are prepared to summarize their conclusions when asked by visitors to their museum exhibit.

Individually, students write an argument for what lessons we can learn from history that can be applied to our own civilization in the present day. They publish these arguments in a booklet that serves as a companion guide to the museum exhibit.

We the People is a civics-themed expedition where students will:

• Study the United States’ founding documents (Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights)
• Learn various points of view on how to address difficult and divisive questions
• Learn strategies for effective civil communication based on issues affecting our local and global communities.

During Boldly Go, students will study a variety of issues through the lens of human exploration. They will learn about the westward expansion of the United States and the conflicts that resulted from that expansion. Students will also learn about exploring the remotest parts of earth and space. In Literacy, students will explore a variety of genres of classical and contemporary literature.

During the Conflict expedition, students will study conflict from small-scale interpersonal conflict to massive world-wide wars. They will explore the circumstances and events of both world wars, examine the physics behind the evolving weapons of war, and learn how interpersonal conflict has changed as technology has exploded into their lives. Students will read historical fiction and non-fiction to ground them in the times they are studying. 

IDEAte (A combination of “idea” and “create”) is an expedition that focuses on innovation and entrepreneurship. Students will identify a problem within their lives or within their community, develop an innovation that addresses the problem, and then present the innovation to the larger community.

Where I’m From is an expedition focused on students developing an identity that is not only grounded in their family and cultural history, but also focused on where they want to go in the future. Students will study geography, cultures, the human body, and heredity to gain an understanding of what makes them totally unique as individuals. They will express their individuality through poetry, a study of mythology, and expression through theatrical performances.

Making Space for Change is an expedition focused on developing sustainable practices in all parts of life so that our generation can thrive and future generations can be set up for success. Students will learn about sustainable practices, especially related to food and energy, and analyze the transition from medieval times to the Renaissance to discover how societies advance and thrive.  They will also create infographics and write argumentative pieces in an effort to persuade families, businesses, and governments to take action in an effort to create a more sustainable future.