Middle School Milestones: Where Travel & Learning Collide

By Sarah Hibshman Miller '98

Students in their Primary School years at Laurel often look up to the older girls. When jumpers and Butler gear turn to plaid skirts, classes start to look a little different, and the homework gets a little heftier! Another Middle School milestone that students countdown to are class trips. Starting in Sixth Grade, each grade embarks on some fun adventures in its first month of school. Students have the chance to spend a few nights learning and having fun alongside their classmates; bonding and making deeper connections with one another as they enter into a brand new school year. These milestones are one of many defining moments of Middle School at Laurel.

It All Starts In Sixth Grade

Sixth Grade is the first official year of Middle School at Laurel, and for most students, it is a whole new way of learning in a different kind of classroom environment. Laurel puts emphasis on getting to know and trust your classmates before truly diving into a more stringent curriculum. This past year the Sixth Grade visited Great Lake Adventures where they bunked in cabins and participated in camp activities like canoeing, archery, and fishing. Lots of team building and bonding took place in the three-day adventure as a way to foster deep bonds among the class.

“We had ten new students this year,” said Kristin Hicks, Sixth Grade Dean and Middle School math teacher. “Our class trip is always a great way to engage new students and provide an atmosphere that encourages getting to know one another, creating memories, and having a lot of fun as a class.”

While older grades focus on tying curriculum into their class trips, Sixth Grade humanities teacher Josh Johnston commented that for Sixth Grade, “The social curriculum is the curriculum.” He said, “Classrooms where students don't know or trust each other means they can't take risks because they might be scared of social consequences. Furthermore, poor engagement can lead to behavioral issues and, ultimately, less learning.”

Research has shown that relationships between students and teachers are also a vital factor that can help determine a student’s success in class. The Sixth Grade trip is not only focused on creating student connections but is a great way for students to get to know their teachers in a relaxed setting outside of the classroom.

Seventh Grade Takes Chicago By Storm

Humanities in Seventh Grade takes a deep dive into “power”—specifically, who has it and how they acquired it. Students investigate eras of political transition in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and explore the impact of shifts in power on social systems and communities. English and humanities teacher Caitlin Moury said, “There is no better city than Chicago to study if you’re thinking about power and transition—the city has truly transformed itself multiple times! There are so many ways Chicago is a microcosm of the United States and world history, from the interactions between Native American tribes in the area and early French colonizers and missionaries to the prejudice against immigrants found in the story behind the Great Chicago Fire.”

Another large learning component in Seventh Grade is a study of the 1893 World’s Fair, which took place in Chicago and was arguably the main event that kicked off the 20th century. “Every issue that came up during the World’s Fair, from the treatment of women, People of Color, and Indigenous people, to the spread of new, innovative products and technologies, to the power of advocacy and protest, connect to all the history they’ll study in school,” said Ms. Moury, whose motto as the students have come to learn, is “Everything goes back to the World’s Fair.”

Before embarking to Chicago, students spent weeks researching different World’s Fair attendees and hosted a roundtable where Laurel faculty members had the chance to interview them. Dressed in the garb Ida B. Wells, Susan B. Anthony, Buffalo Bill Cody and Thomas Edison wore in 1893, students came in character and prepared to answer questions as their chosen World’s Fair attendees. This experiential learning unit always gets students excited to then head to Chicago to immerse themselves even further in the learning.

“The Museum of Science and Industry is a building that’s original to the fair, and students were amazed by the vastness of the structure,” continued Ms. Moury. “I reminded students that it was just ONE of many buildings from the fair! In Jackson Park, the original site of the 1893 World’s Fair, we walked a trail that featured an original bridge from the fair and strolled through the Japanese garden which was a favorite of fairgoers.”

Students also spent time touring some of the more famous sites in the city, including Millenium Park and the famous sculpture “Cloud Gate” aka “the Bean.” Art, Chicago history, and architecture were all a part of the Chicago experience, beginning with a walk around the Art Institute of Chicago. “Students especially loved recreating works of art right in front of the famous paintings and sculptures,” said Diane Landoll, Middle School math teacher and trip chaperone. “We also visited the Chicago Architecture Center to get a solid overview of the history of building (and fire) in the city. The Architectural River Cruise was fascinating for the girls, and they loved seeing the history of Chicago’s tallest and most famous buildings from the water.”

Of course, no trip to Chicago would be complete without some deep-dish pizza! Students loved trying some of the famous Chicago-style pie and also enjoyed getting “lightly roasted” by their waiter at Ed Debevik’s, one of Chicago's most famous retro-themed ’50s diners where snarky servers in flashy costumes like to razz their customers.

EIGHTH GRADE HITS THE STREETS OF WASHINGTON, D.C.

The social studies curriculum in Eighth Grade focuses on the U.S. Government and the birth of our nation. Students began the year studying the seeds of the American Revolution and then analyzed the Declaration of Independence. A trip to Washington, D.C., was the perfect segue to deeper learning of our government. In preparation for the trip, students also paired up to research the various monuments on the itinerary in D.C. and presented findings to classmates in advance to further enrich their experiential learning.

Teachers carefully selected museums and other attractions that aligned with classroom learning to provide meaningful connections. “The African American Smithsonian was chosen to explore untold stories, connecting students' understanding of African American history from pre-slavery to modern times,” said Candace Maiden, Interim Director of Middle School and Co-Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging. “This deepened their engagement with broader American history lessons. We also incorporated the American History Smithsonian, aligning exhibits with key topics such as wars and pivotal moments in U.S. history. These choices were intentional and supported and enhanced historical concepts taught in class.”

In addition, students saw the Washington Monument, the Iwo Jima Memorial, the Holocaust Museum, and the Spy Museum, where they had some interactive fun. The class also enjoyed a special breakfast at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building and took photos at the Capitol before their visit to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.

While the many Washington memorials and museums were a draw for students, the real excitement comes with the independence girls get a taste of on this annual trip. “It offers them a sense of independence from their parents along with valuable bonding time with friends,” Ms. Maiden continued. “In Eighth Grade, we emphasize giving students more ownership of their learning, allowing them to explore the museums with adult guidance while fostering their curiosity. The students consistently demonstrate remarkable maturity, staying engaged and using the trip to deepen their understanding of the historical and cultural lessons they've learned in class.”