We Encourage Exploration
Independent schools encourage students to learn about the world and about themselves.
Independent schools encourage students to learn about the world and about themselves.
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Hill School student featured in Philadelphia Inquirer for scientific, philanthropic endeavors
A quick glance at Hill School sixth former David Lee’s resume is both impressive and exhausting. David has taken – and excelled in – many of The Hill’s most challenging courses during his four years here, resulting in early acceptance to Brown University. Outside of the classroom, he has extensive science lab experience and currently […]
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First Grade Pulley Systems Harken Back to Ancient Times
As first graders at St. Mary’s School in Aliso Viejo, CA, engineered their own pulley systems—an interactive STEM science lab project—they were also thinking about how catapults were used in the Trojan War. During their International Baccalaureate (IB) studies of Ancient Greece and Rome, they’d learned that a catapult is a lever, and gained the […]
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Second Grade Project Is “Out of This World”
If you’re thinking of taking a tour of our solar system, consider picking up a travel brochure from second graders at Montgomery School in Chester Springs, PA. In Julie Dattilo’s science class, you’ll find out why Venus is the ultimate honeymoon destination; how to lose weight on the Winter Mercury Tour (gravity gets the credit); […]
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The Middle Ages in Middle School
For sixth graders at the Little Red School House & Elisabeth Irwin High School (LREI) in New York City, the annual spring Medieval Pageant is an exciting and creative opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge of the Middle Ages in Europe and the Middle East to other middle school students, family, and friends. The Pageant transforms […]
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Common Ground: History and Literature in Real Life
Upper School students at St. Mary’s Episcopal School have found a way to illustrate the connection between history and literature. This collaborative project uses information literacy and technology tools to help students discover the universal truths between these two disciplines. The project offers students an answer to the age-old question, “Why do we need to […]
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Students Immerse Themselves in World Languages Week
Ranney School students are exposed to three different languages—Spanish, French and Mandarin Chinese—starting in Kindergarten and in January 2014, they got to dive even deeper into the world of languages with cultural presentations, cross-divisional dialogues and food tastings as part of “Discover Languages Week.” Held in conjunction with the American Council of Teaching Foreign Languages, […]
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Students Aim for the Skies with Airplane Engineering Project
On any given afternoon, middle and upper school students gather in the Makers Studio to build The Athenian School’s newest airplane. The all-metal, two-person Van’s Aircraft RV-12 is one example of the school’s hands-on experiential learning opportunities. The plane is 20-feet long, has a wingspan of 27 feet, is powered by a 100hp Rotax engine, […]
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The Other Side of the Mason Dixon Line
My ultimate goal as a history teacher is to instill in my students effective habits of mind, one of which is to appreciate diverse perspectives. It makes sense, then, to seek another point of view when introducing the Civil War. This brief video tells the tale of students at two schools, one in Massachusetts and […]
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ESD Lower School Celebrates Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics with Comprehensive Projects
In honor of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics, Lower School students, faculty, and staff participated in a special chapel service on Monday, February 10, to honor the countries and athletes competing in the 22nd winter games. This decades-long tradition at the Lower School was especially memorable this year, as two former Olympians attended the event […]
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IB Students Lead Trout in the Classroom Project
Stoneleigh-Burnham School students in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program have begun raising Brook Trout in a large fish tank that sits just inside the entrance to the Jesser Science Building. The Trout in the Classroom project is promoted through the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife and the Trout Unlimited Organization. In mid-December, Stoneleigh-Burnham received […]
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“Empathy to Action:” Wind and the Punahou Camp Experience
Our eighth grade team at Punahou School integrated the study of wind into our Camp Mokule`ia experience. By learning how the wind plays a role in the outplanting of naupaka at Ka`ena Point, students gained a greater understanding of how the resilient plant is an ideal choice to withstand the coastal winds of the area. […]
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Students Model ‘Entrepreneurial Spirit’ at ESD’s First Invention Convention
Thomas Edison invented the light bulb; Marie Curie helped pave the way for the development of X-rays; and László Bíró created the ballpoint pen. Over the years, researchers have collaborated to not only improve these inventions, but also sustain an environment that fosters creative thinking. These individuals not only changed our world, but also greatly […]