Learning expeditions are our signature instructional structure and drive our teaching. An expedition is a long-term, in-depth study of a topic that engages students in real-world learning and inspires students toward higher levels of academic achievement. An expedition is not a project, theme, field trip, or collection of engaging activities. It is a carefully designed, standards-based learning journey that engages students in investigating important questions, exploring real-world issues, creating high-quality work, and contributing to something beyond themselves.
Expeditions include compelling topics and guiding questions that create a "need to know" in each student. Depth, rather than breadth, is emphasized. Expeditions reflect our belief that We Are Crew, Not Passengers. Students are active participants in their learning, working together to solve problems, serve others, and create work that matters.
Through expeditions, students develop mastery of academic content, practice responsibility, perseverance, collaboration, citizenship, and ethical decision-making, and create work that reflects craftsmanship, revision, attention to detail, and pride in excellence. Together, these experiences cultivate excellence, inspire a love of knowledge, and empower students to become the Great Thinkers of the 21st century.
Expeditions are anchored in meaningful topics that matter beyond the classroom and connect student learning to the world they live in. These authentic topics spark curiosity, inquiry, and sustained investigation while helping students understand why their learning matters and how it connects to broader human, environmental, civic, and scientific contexts.
State curriculum standards are met throughout expeditions through a variety of methods, including compelling topics, kickoff experiences, Great Thinkers, visiting experts, fieldwork, service learning, and Celebrations of Learning. Throughout an expedition, students build knowledge and understanding through case studies, standards-based learning activities, fieldwork, and expert interactions. They investigate real-world issues, explore multiple perspectives, and learn from scientists, authors, historians, engineers, community leaders, and other Great Thinkers whose work connects to the expedition.
Service learning provides opportunities for students to apply their knowledge and skills to make meaningful contributions to their community while developing citizenship, stewardship, empathy, and responsibility.
Every expedition culminates in a Celebration of Learning.
Celebrations of Learning are public demonstrations of student growth and achievement at the end of an expedition. These events provide students with an authentic opportunity to share their learning with others, demonstrate mastery of standards and learning targets, and reflect on their progress over time. Celebrations of Learning emphasize both the final product and the learning journey that led to it.
During a Celebration of Learning, students showcase their work to authentic audiences, explain their thinking, process, and final product, and engage in meaningful dialogue about their learning. These celebrations honor effort, perseverance, academic achievement, and growth while creating a sense of purpose, pride, and community connection around student learning.
Learning expeditions are our signature instructional structure and drive our teaching. An expedition is a long-term, in-depth study of a topic that engages students in real-world learning and inspires students toward higher levels of academic achievement. An expedition is not a project, theme, field trip, or collection of engaging activities. It is a carefully designed, standards-based learning journey that engages students in investigating important questions, exploring real-world issues, creating high-quality work, and contributing to something beyond themselves.
Expeditions include compelling topics and guiding questions that create a "need to know" in each student. Depth, rather than breadth, is emphasized. Expeditions reflect our belief that We Are Crew, Not Passengers. Students are active participants in their learning, working together to solve problems, serve others, and create work that matters.
Through expeditions, students develop mastery of academic content, practice responsibility, perseverance, collaboration, citizenship, and ethical decision-making, and create work that reflects craftsmanship, revision, attention to detail, and pride in excellence. Together, these experiences cultivate excellence, inspire a love of knowledge, and empower students to become the Great Thinkers of the 21st century.
Expeditions are anchored in meaningful topics that matter beyond the classroom and connect student learning to the world they live in. These authentic topics spark curiosity, inquiry, and sustained investigation while helping students understand why their learning matters and how it connects to broader human, environmental, civic, and scientific contexts.
State curriculum standards are met throughout expeditions through a variety of methods, including compelling topics, kickoff experiences, Great Thinkers, visiting experts, fieldwork, service learning, and Celebrations of Learning. Throughout an expedition, students build knowledge and understanding through case studies, standards-based learning activities, fieldwork, and expert interactions. They investigate real-world issues, explore multiple perspectives, and learn from scientists, authors, historians, engineers, community leaders, and other Great Thinkers whose work connects to the expedition.
Service learning provides opportunities for students to apply their knowledge and skills to make meaningful contributions to their community while developing citizenship, stewardship, empathy, and responsibility.
Every expedition culminates in a Celebration of Learning.
Celebrations of Learning are public demonstrations of student growth and achievement at the end of an expedition. These events provide students with an authentic opportunity to share their learning with others, demonstrate mastery of standards and learning targets, and reflect on their progress over time. Celebrations of Learning emphasize both the final product and the learning journey that led to it.
During a Celebration of Learning, students showcase their work to authentic audiences, explain their thinking, process, and final product, and engage in meaningful dialogue about their learning. These celebrations honor effort, perseverance, academic achievement, and growth while creating a sense of purpose, pride, and community connection around student learning.
