Learning Expeditions

• Guiding Questions are open-ended essential questions that synthesize the “so-what” of the topic scholars are studying and link all elements of a learning expedition.
• Case studies are concrete, often local, studies of subtopics within a discipline. They are used to make the major concepts of a discipline or broad topic come alive for scholars.  They help scholars focus their research and become experts on a specific topic before scholars generalize their learning to broader concepts and content.
• Fieldwork and/or Experts: scholars at McAuliffe learn from fieldwork and professional experts. Scholars hear from experts, visit professional sites, and collect data during fieldwork.
• High Quality Product: McAuliffe’s curriculum provides scholars to create products that are meaningful, rigorous, and authentic to the wider world. Scholars work together through multiple drafts and critique protocols to create work that mirrors that of adult professionals..
• Culminating Event: A culminating event is the celebration and presentation of learning at the end of a learning expedition. It often takes place as an exhibition or formal performance/presentation of the product scholars had been working on during the expedition. Families, community members, and school partners participate in a culminating event to act as an authentic audience and learn about work of the scholars and the school as a whole.

One of McAuliffe’s signature characteristics is that it is a “hands-on” school, offering scholars regular opportunities to learn through whole person engagement. While this is more challenging in a remote setting, one way teachers are engaging scholars to tackle their guiding questions is through an interactive museum-like experience via a Google website. One thing that is really special about our project driven real world approach to curriculum is that there are entry points for kids from all kinds of backgrounds, skill levels and interests.

Scholars are provided with videos, infographics, image galleries, interactive web pages, and games. Optional sites allow scholars to explore the topic thoroughly. Specific icons sprinkled throughout the “museum” identify when scholars need to answer questions or write paragraphs to ensure understanding and critical thinking along the way. To solidify their understanding, questions are posed requiring scholars to reflect on what excites or interests them about each topic as they move through the material.

Currently, scholars are engaged in multidisciplinary expeditions on the following topics:

• The Balancing Act: In this expedition scholars explore the delicate world of ecology and answer the question: “How do we balance human needs with those of the environment?”
• Climate Change: In this expedition scholars explore explore the question: “The Earth is FIRE! What are we going to do about it?” 

6th grade

Science: Born to Run

In this expedition, scholars researched the impact of running on the human body, considered the effect of different technologies on running, and discovered how body systems interact to make humans efficient runners. The expedition focused on the following guiding questions:

• If we are “born to run,” why are runners so easily injured?
• How do systems in my body work together when I run?

At their culminating event, scholars presented their learning to family members and guests. The audience had an opportunity to observe a socratic seminar during which scholars discussed the benefits of barefoot running, running with traditional sneakers, and running with prosthetic limbs. Scholars also showcased projects from the expedition including healthy diet plans, audio postcards, and safe and effective couch to 5K training plans.

Cameron Burke, McAuliffe Alumnus Class of 2005, and current member of our Board of Trustees shared the following about the event:
“I was incredibly impressed by the group of young scholars leading the Socratic Seminar discussing the debate on barefoot running vs. traditional sneakers, and health risks/benefits. They not only used a wide breadth of evidence to support their own claims, but also engaged in thoughtful discourse around the claims of their peers. At times perspectives differed and at times they aligned, but scholars remained focused, inquisitive, and wonderfully respectful of one another from start to finish. It was a beautiful representation of McAuliffe ideals, to see how amazing it can be when character, culture, and academic excellence are all in play.”

Humanities: Me, My Stuff, and Why

As part of the Me, My Stuff, and Why expedition, 6th grade scholars learned about globalization and outsourcing, conducted research on the policies of various shoe companies, and ultimately rated each company based on the company’s level of social responsibility and sustainable business practices.

At the culminating event scholars launched an app they created with their ratings of 12 companies in four categories to help others become engaged consumers. Additionally, they helped McAuliffe establish a textile recycling bin outside our school. During the event, scholars presented their findings of the companies they researched and led the audience in a discussion about what it means to be a consumer.

7th grade:

The Heroic Journey

During this expedition, scholars studied the hero’s journey and immigration by interviewing and sharing stories of immigrants in our community. Scholars first learned about each step in The Hero’s Journey and explored how it is used in The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. They then learned how to conduct an interview, fact check, and revise their work in order to speak to and share an immigrant’s story through the concept of The Hero’s Journey.

At their culminating event, scholars presented their interviewees’ stories by reading portions of the narratives they wrote. Scholars also shared illustrations they created to represent the community member they interviewed.

Creative Destruction

In this expedition, scholars investigated the powers that shape the Earth from above and below the Earth’s crust.  They conducted fieldwork in Western Massachusetts for three days and interviewed geological experts back at school via Skype.

At their culminating event, scholars shared their earthcaches–guides to the geological phenomena they studied.

8th Grade:

Climate Change

In this expedition, scholars used data and evidence to evaluate the role of human activities in raising global temperatures.  They explored weather patterns, climate, and ocean currents to figure out why Massachusetts had such a mild summer recently, yet the rest of the world was much hotter than normal. They analysed our school’s building to find ways that McAuliffe could improve its energy efficiency, and researched alternative energy sources that could potentially change the way McAuliffe gets its energy.

At their culminating event, scholars presented their comprehensive plan for ways our community can contribute to the reduction of climate change and our carbon footprint.

Taking a Stand

During this expedition scholars dove deeply into a case study about the Little Rock Nine, read To Kill A Mockingbird, and immersed themselves into individual research topics to create a podcast on Taking A Stand. Research topics included: Mental Health and Social Media, Effects of Video Games and Screen Time, Immigration, Race in America, Addiction and Substance Abuse, Gender Identity, Transgender Identity, and Race.

Eighth graders also wrote slam poetry surrounding identity and taking a stand, performing their final products at their culminating event.

“I was very Impressed, deeply moved, and awed by the maturity and delivery of each poem, the way each scholar took current events or personal experience and delivered such moving poetry was beyond words! Events such as these reemphasized the fact that choosing McAuliffe for Alex for middle school was indeed the best decision Paul and I made!” Karen Vaz, Parent, Class of 2018