Between the Thanksgiving holiday and winter break, the schedule changes during these three weeks to accommodate a deeper dive into subjects in science and humanities. English and history classes are combined to tackle topics in civil rights, while in science students have an opportunity to spend concentrated time on hands-on projects. Eighth graders are building complex machines based on their study of physics from the fall, Seventh graders are busy working on their “Wonder” projects which allow them to structure a project based on their individual curiosities, and Sixth graders are doing some hands-on learning as they explore the brain and nervous system.
An important thread throughout the DCD middle school experience is the opportunity for students to have choice and agency in their learning. DCD’s mini-term is an excellent example of how we put this thread into practice. For instance, the 7th grade Wonder Project empowers students to create a project based on a particular curiosity or passion they might have. This year the science labs are buzzing with creativity: students are building roller coasters, creating unique vending machines, constructing Plink boards, analyzing NFL data and making predictions, developing and managing a self-run bake sale, and much more!
While this is a self-directed time with an opportunity for choice, students are required to complete some rigorous milestones for the different phases of their projects – brainstorming ideas, background research, documenting plans, executing, and time management (making sure they haven’t bitten off more than they can chew) are all important takeaways from this project-based learning experience.
