May Term is back! During this two-week academic program, Upper School students and teachers are exploring a diversity of innovative topics in great depth. Daily updates of their exciting journeys near and far can be seen via our Instagram stories and on the May Term Twitter. See below for week two highlights from some of the courses our students are participating in during May Term, and be sure to check out our week two photo highlights!

Missed week one highlights? View course updates and photos from the first five days of adventures!
 

A League of Our Own

After seven days of research, interviews, and field trips, students in A League of Our Own made their "pitch" to start a new MLB expansion team—complete with operating budget, environmental impact study, proposed stadium, logo, uniform design, and the team's proposed ties to its community—to team of four judges who intently listened and questioned students. Students "pitched" the Kentucky Comets (Lexington), Reno High Rollers, Memphis Rhythm, Indianapolis Mustangs, and the Buffalo Boar, with the the cities of Lexington, Kentucky (Kentucky Comets) and Reno, Nevada (Reno High Rollers) being selected for expansion teams. "What I love most about this class is how much it challenges the students to think about a fun and interesting problem," said Upper School English Teacher Anna Safford '09. "The students all get very into the enjoyable process of designing uniforms and logos and picking a name, and then they very quickly realize that they also have to consider a wide range of financial, civic, environmental, and historic concerns and working out creative solutions to all of those questions really forces them to elevate their thinking."
 

Galapagos 

It was a fascinating 11 days for students who traveled to the Galapagos Islands during May Term. Upper Schoolers started the trip off in the heart of the Andean Valley, where they learned about the processing of milk, wool, and medicinal plants. They then made their way to Isabela Island (via boat!), where they suited up in snorkel gear to explore incredible marine life. The highlight of the trip was snorkeling with turtles and exploring a maze of lava bridges in crystal clear turquoise water. The group also also hiked along the rim of the second largest volcano in the world and experienced microclimates and different life zones on the island. Another highlight was a visit to Floreana, one of the region’s oldest islands, that is filled with endemic species, including native seals and geckos. Junior Shelby Pasternack's video recapped many of the group's adventures!
 

The Art of Noticing

Do you ever stop to smell the roses? Throughout the two weeks of May Term, The Art of Noticing course aimed to truly notice the world around them. Through interdisciplinary methods, students engaged in the teaching and writings of ornithologists, photographers, meditation guides, naturalists, poets, artists, architects, and more. Highlights of the course included outings to the Brandywine Museum of Art, The Discovery Center, Blue Bell and Wissahickon Parks, and Stoneleigh Mansion, as well as hatha yoga and breathwork with Middle School Psychologist Dr. Lily Hall. Their final project included the creation of DIY magazines representing how they've come to freshly notice the world around them.
 

Seriously, Dough! 

Over the eight days of May Term, students in Seriously, Dough! mastered the craft of baking, from foundational sourdough starters to from-scratch donuts, cookies, and breads. The class toured local bakeries to learn from the experts in addition to experimenting in the science lab-turned-kitchen. The final two days provided a delicious challenge, as student teams participated in themed bake-offs with a panel of four faculty judges. In these half-day competitions, students created cake with a surprise, edible architectural pieces, and more. They also made perfectly-decorated sugar cookies with the help of the Digital Design students, who provided 3D-printed cookie cutters.
 

Get Real: Internships to Gain Real-World Experience

The unique Get Real: Internships to Gain Real-World Experience course offered students the opportunity to work alongside EA parents and alumni in diverse industries including architecture, business, interior design, environmental services, fashion, medicine and non-profits. Students began the course by learning about the importance of internships from speakers like Digital Marketer Isabella Sanchez '16 and Oxbridge Group Managing Director Ann Kraftson '85. Then, each student worked at their assigned internship for the rest of May Term. By the end, they summarized their experience and reflected on the skills they've learned. Students spent their internships shadowing everyone from Judge Karen Marston '86 to eye surgeon Dr. Paula Ko.  
 

Defining Independence: Philadelphia During the Revolution

What was Philadelphia like at the time of the American Revolution? From Independence Hall, the Museum of the American Revolution, and Christ Church, to Fort Mifflin and Valley Forge, students visited many sites in the footsteps of our forefathers to gain a sense of what occurred in our nation's infancy. They also developed a timeline of the Revolution and examined different perspectives of freedom and independence by learning the stories of people who either supported or opposed the revolution. By the last day, students premiered their original documentary videos about what independence means to them.
 

Writing, Directing, Performing

In Writing, Directing, Performing, Upper School students explored the fundamentals of both creative writing and the dramatic arts. In groups, students focused on which aspects most interested them, from screenwriting to music to acting. They developed short scenes based on dramatic prompts, such as "a noise off-stage" and "a broken expectation," and played improv games to help gain artistic confidence and openness. In the end, each student group had a finished piece of work that was crafted through a highly collaborative creative process. 
 

Culture Vultures

With an appreciation for the arts, the Culture Vultures course spent May Term exploring the various ways in which artists have left their mark on modern society via painting, film, literature, music, and culinary arts. Some of their projects included writing and illustrating a children's book with the help of Lower School students, learning the ropes (or silks!) at Philadelphia School of the Circus Arts, learning about African Diasporic dance and culture from EA Dance Instructor Nai-Whedai Sheriff before heading to the Berrard Brown Dance Studio for a performance and instruction, visiting the Barnes Foundation, and viewing cultural films at Regal Edgmont Square.
 

Positive Vibes Only

After garnering an understanding of positive psychology, the Positive Vibes Only group spent their eight days discovering how happiness and optimism can lead to achievement. Through taking an indoor cycling class, traveling into Philadelphia to volunteer at MANNA and Broad Street Ministries, performing mindfulness and breathing techniques, flowing through an outdoor vinyasa yoga session on Smith Field, and performing random acts of kindness, students embarked on a personal experiment to become more positive thinkers and actors.
 

Southern Italy

The Southern Italy May Term trip was nothing short of spectacular! After spending their first few days in Naples visiting the Herculaneum ruins, the Spanish Quarter, and Mt. Vesuvius, the group headed to Matera, where they took the path of the Seven Stones, saw the Crypt of the Original Sin, harvested and prepare their own Italian meal (including fresh pasta!), and hiked the Sassi. A visit to Masseria Scalera Farm to make cheese, hiking at Vallone della, visiting a Donkey Farm at La Valle Degli Asini, olive oil tasting, and spending a beach day at Torre Canne were additional highlights. After feasting on traditional Italian foods such as bruschetta, gelato, and pasta, the group ended their Italian adventure in Rome, where they took in sights such as the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Arch of Constantine, Roman Forum, and the Vatican.