The Foundation for a Meaningful Life
Kindergarten - Grade 9 in Southborough, MA
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Explorer Expo

Students in Ward Russell’s fourth grade social studies classes have been delving into the Age of Exploration by studying the seven reasons for exploration. Each student created a mini book featuring language and illustrations depicting each reason: curiosity, national pride, expanding trading routes, spreading religion, desire for greater wealth, foreign goods, and fame. The size of the books required students to carefully consider how to convey their understanding of the cause and effect of exploration with compelling imagery and limited text. 

Students used their understanding of the reasons for exploration as a jumping-off point to their Explorer Biography projects. Ward asked each student to learn about the life and accomplishments of a well-known explorer and distill that information into a poster-board display. Having already researched Native American tribes earlier this year, fourth grade students continue to hone their non-fiction research skills with this project. This year, students have been working on the essential skills of identifying a reliable resource, highlighting the critical information in a text, taking notes, and presenting their information as clearly and concisely as possible.

However, this year, Ward added a twist to the Explorer Biography project. Instead of presenting a slideshow to the class dressed in the costume of their chosen explorer, Ward organized an Explorer Expo inviting families and Lower School students to meet each explorer and hear them talk about their accomplishments and challenges in character! The requirement that students be able to answer questions in character incentivized them to dig more deeply into the life and experiences of their chosen explorer. “I wanted them to be aware of the time period, understand why that person chose to explore where they did, and be comfortable enough with the information to speak off the cuff,” says Ward. As visitors wandered around this trade show of explorers, each student gave a small presentation about the life and accomplishments of their explorer and answered questions in character. Explorers featured in the Expo included globetrotting journalist Nellie Bly, Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro, and mountaineer Tenzing Norgay. Click here to see pictures from the Explorer Expo.
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48 MAIN STREET
SOUTHBOROUGH, MA 01772
main number 508-490-8250
admission 508-490-8201