Learning Beyond the Classroom

Field trips are an important part of an IB MDS education. By immersing students in real-world settings, field trips deepen academic understanding as students experience firsthand what they have been learning in the classroom. 

This week several classes hit the road to explore and engage directly with the material they are studying. As part of a study of ecosystems, our second-grade students traveled to South Mountain State Park to work with a park ranger and experience a variety of ecosystems.

Our 3rd and 4th grade students stepped back in time during a visit to the McDowell House to relive when local heroes, Charles and Joseph McDowell, gathered the Overmountain Men and laid plans leading to the defeat of the loyalists at the Battle of King’s Mountain.

Field trips are not only for core classes. Enrichment classes also venture out to explore topics in greater depth. Friday evening, Mrs. Stark, MDS Music teacher, took a group of music-intensive students to the symphony to hear the music of John Williams, possibly the most famous music score composer of all time, scoring Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, Home Alone, Jaws, Jurassic Park, E.T., Schindler's List, Superman, and many more.

At MDS we believe field trips are an essential component of education. These experiences deepen students' understanding, spark curiosity, and open doors to new possibilities, making them an invaluable part of the learning process.

Learning happens everywhere,
Dr. Mikusa
Head of School