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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Sixth Graders Become Rocket Scientists
When it comes to two-liter bottle rocket design, the sky’s the limit for Antilles School sixth graders, who capped off a unit on Newton’s three laws with a four-day rocket launch on the school’s field. Maggie Klotzbach and Eesha Ved didn’t think they’d have much luck; but, as “Star Wars” fans would say, “the force” […]
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Young String Students on Pizzacato
Second-grade string students at Ranney School (an independent Age 3-Grade 12 school in Tinton Falls, NJ) learn to properly hold and identify the parts of their instruments, execute pizzicato articulation on all strings, read and decode music notation, and perform, with accompaniment, several songs from our method book – this is just after two practices! […]
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Students Become Teachers in Third Grade Rainforest
Third graders at Topeka Collegiate School are on a mission to spread the word about the world’s endangered rainforests. They’ve created a rainforest of their own, with tropical plants and animals. After weeks of research, they are experts brimming with information as they guide visitors through their habitat. “Don’t worry,” smiles a third grader to […]
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Students Follow Curiosity in Genius Hour
A trebuchet launching golf balls, homemade backpacks, and grapes igniting into plasma. These were just some of the projects the 8th graders proudly displayed at the Genius Hour Showcase. Marshall was filled with full-scale models, customized websites, and Ted Talk-style presentations. Marshall teacher Lori Durant modeled Genius Hour after Google, where employees can use 20% […]
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Outdoor Center Offers Challenges, Teaches Life Lessons
Imagine a week of no homework, no uniforms, no tests or quizzes, and no classroom confines. That’s what students at The Linsly School in Wheeling, WV, get to experience each year at their second campus, the Linsly Outdoor Center (LOC) in Hookstown, PA. There’s no worrying about grades either; the goal is to build life-long […]
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Sixth Graders Launch 2 High Altitude Weather Balloons
Early on a recent Saturday morning, sixth graders launched 2 high altitude weather balloons in Ellensburg, WA equipped with flight computers and weather sensors built, soldered and programmed by students. The balloons made it to over 93,000 feet capturing photographs of “near space.” Recovering the balloons included a 9 mile hike and a walk through […]
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Marshall School Students Send Frog Experiment Into Space
Wouldn’t it be cool to have an astronaut do your homework? This spring, three Marshall School students created an experiment that will be placed in the hands of astronauts, rocketed out of Earth’s atmosphere, and deposited in the International Space Station. Alli Hall, Pentti Hanlon, and Anna Nordin won the experiment design competition for Mission […]
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Trips Enhance Curriculum and Connect Students with the Natural Environment
Spring is a special time for Lower School students at Pacific Northern Academy in Anchorage, Alaska, because it’s when their much-anticipated overnight field trips — designed to enhance the curriculum — get underway. First graders study oceanography before visiting the SeaLife Center in Seward to hone observation skills, participate in hands-on marine science programs, and […]
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Who Killed Kay Daver? Foxcroft School’s K2M Competition
What’s a little snow when you can go solve a murder mystery at Foxcroft School’s super fun STEM competition? Six-plus inches on a February morning wasn’t enough to deter 50 students from three schools from participating in the fourth annual Expedition K2M: The STEM Summit. The unique, girls-only interscholastic team competition organized by Foxcroft’s Math […]
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Seattle Educator Named 2015 Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic Grosvenor Teacher Fellow
In recognition of her commitment to geographic education, Teri Rutledge, a teacher at Villa Academy in Seattle was selected as one of the 2015 Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic Grosvenor Teacher Fellows. Every year, K-12 educators are encouraged to apply for this professional development opportunity that allows them to bring immersive geographic learning experiences back […]
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Environmental Education Emphasizes Human Interactions
Canterbury School of Florida’s Marine Studies program is school-wide, and focuses on all aspects of marine science and environmental education. It’s designed to enhance the traditional science curriculum and emphasizes human interactions with the ocean environment through community service efforts, field trips, research cruises, and habitat restoration projects. Last fall, their PreK-12 students participated in […]
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Gateway Kindergarteners Prepare for a Day in Space
Not many people can say they have been to outer space, but the kindergartners at Gateway School recently became members of that select group – all without leaving their classroom. As part of a space exploration unit, Gateway’s kindergarteners prepared themselves for an imaginary trip to the International Space Station. In the weeks leading up […]