It was a busy week in Upper School!
On Wednesday and Thursday, eighth grade through high school were able to travel to Missouri State University for portions of the annual Public Affairs Conference. The theme this year was 21st Century Digital World. Topics included communication strategies, how educators use technology, the confluence of standardized testing and the digital age, data privacy versus data economics, engaging with others on a human level through the digital world, and the return of board games. Many of our Summit students had questions, engaged with the speakers, took notes, and all represented themselves very well.
(Eighth grade students Friday morning, playing Risk before school began.)
Back at school, students in middle school history classes are studying the West. In sixth grade, we learned about the Homestead Act and talked about migration westward, and then students took time to write creative pieces about what it might have been like to make this move. Each student has a unique take on this, and it was wonderful to hear their questions and see their research process as they worked to understand this era more fully.
In seventh and eighth grade, students are busy completing research projects that cover a range of topics from 1865 to 1900. One student is curious about the application of the law following the Civil War and the system of justice that was in place. Another is researching the federal response to lynching across the United States. Some are choosing to examine the United States’ purchase of Alaska and the timing of said event. A few are examining Ellis Island and its importance to the immigration process in the late 19th century. It’s been a joy to see these students utilize the research process, moving from topical information, to asking a solid question, to developing a thesis, and forming their argument in an essay or presentation. These projects are due before fall break, and I’m looking forward to seeing their final products.
In high school, students presented or made posters about a famous Missourian of their choice. We learned about General John J. Pershing, Jesse James, Ginger Rogers, Mark Twain, Eminem, Brad Pitt, and Walt Disney, just to name a few. Students dug beyond the general information known about these figures and examined the role Missouri had on their upbringing. This project also allowed for students to focus on their individual goals of improvement. Some chose to focus on brevity in presentations, others chose to focus on organization of content, and others had the goal of improving their research process by utilizing stronger sources.
(High school students working on their research projects outside on a nice day.)
