A Learning Expedition is a six- to ten-week intensive investigation of a topic that is structured by guiding questions and involves students deeply in the pursuit of answers. A learning expedition can involve working with all or some of the core subjects of Math, English, History and Science, and every expedition ends with the students producing work -- a film, a report, a performance, a publication -- that has a real purpose and a real audience.
The word "expedition" brings to mind epic travels and adventures outdoors: Arctic expeditions, expeditions in the Amazon jungles, mountaineering expeditions that head for the tip of Everest. Nothing quite so far-flung for us! The learning expeditions at Four Rivers might involve field work that takes the students out of the classroom occasionally, but typically students will work on expedition topics and products in the classroom or on school grounds.
In creating learning expeditions, teachers will work with the Massachusetts curriculum frameworks, among many other resources.
Here's an example of a 7th Grade Learning Expedition
|
