Seventh-Grade Immersion Experiences

While the eighth graders were in D.C., the seventh-grade class enjoyed a host of immersion experiences designed to bring their learning to life. Students could choose which immersion experience they’d like to participate in and spent two days exploring their chosen area of focus.

On Friday, April 26, each group presented to the rest of the class about their discoveries.

 

The first group explored entrepreneurship alongside Ms. Gallagher. After learning about topics such as profit margins, equity and how much money might be required to launch a company, they were tasked with designing a product and preparing a pitch. Products included an AI-powered app designed to help soothe a crying baby; a lunchbox that can heat and/or cool food; a device to increase hand strength to prevent teens from dropping expensive items like computers and phones; and a line of fishing products that includes a hook remover, lures and fishing-themed shirts.

As the culminating activity, the students delivered their pitches during a Shark Tank competition, with the judges asking tough questions and deciding whether or not they’d like to “invest” in the company.

 

The second group, called Savoring Diversity: Roots to Recipes, was led by Ms. Inghram and Ms. Farmer. They explored the heart of their cultural heritage, uncovering the rich traditions and diverse flavors that define their identity. On this adventure they were able to use the lens of cuisine to connect with their roots to explore their family backgrounds and identify dishes that hold cultural significance.

After visiting vendors at the West Side Market that serve authentic dishes related to their culture, students dived into the stories behind each dish, learning about the traditions and family legacies that have been passed down through generations. They each brought back food from their culture for a potluck back at school, where they shared their dishes and tried different cuisines for the first time. Students then did individual presentations on the culture they researched.

To showcase their learning, as a culminating activity, the group created a Jeopardy game with questions about the six countries they explored - Ireland, Columbia, France, Italy, Germany and India - which their classmates competed in. The experience afforded students the chance to savor the flavors of diversity and deepen their understanding of their cultural heritage. 

 

The sports regulations and statistics group led by Ms. Dombi learned about the scoring used in a variety of games - cornhole, spikeball, darts, pickleball and basketball - and talked about statistical analysis. They then headed to the Guardians vs. Red Sox game, where they had the opportunity to meet James Venzor ‘15, who is a data scientist doing analytics for the Guardians! 

 

Under the direction of Ms. Fantelli, the artistic odyssey group participated in a host of activities designed to spark creativity and imagination, before completing their own creative projects. They began with a visit to the Cleveland Museum of Art, where the saw the Monet in Focus exhibit and also got to explore a different genre of art, abstract art. They then enjoyed a culinary experience, discovering how chefs use food to produce a work of art. The group made their own pieces of art, creating beautiful fruit pizzas. Next, building on an immersive experience they saw at the museum in which an artist used his paintings to make a story, the students wrote haikus, which they then illustrated. Finally, they explored Matisse’s work and discovered that after his eyesight failed later in life, he took up paper cutting. The group enjoyed doing their own paper cutting. 

 

Inspired by their many art forms they experienced, each student then had the chance to create something of their own. The pieces ranged from original songs created after researching and learning how to use the digital media equipment, to sketches to acrylic art. 

   

Finally, Mr. Austin led a group of students who wanted to learn about how to make a podcast. They had the chance to talk with Gilmour parent and hockey coach Andy Baskin, who is also a legend in Cleveland sports radio on 92.3 The Fan. He recently started a podcast and talked to the group about the importance of creating something specific to you and your interests, and the difference between radio and podcasting. He then helped them come up with ideas for their own podcasts.

 

After the brainstorming session, the students set to work, creating their own podcasts, complete with their own thumbnail images. Podcast topics included a review of favorite musicals, a murder mystery, sports and their impact on individuals and families, and Taylor Swift!