May Term 2026 Highlights
After six days of adventures, learning, and bonding with their fellow classmates, EA May Term 2026 has come to a close! During this annual academic program, Upper School students and teachers explored a diverse range of innovative topics in great depth, with daily updates of their exciting journeys near and far documented on our Instagram stories.
From writing mysteries with AI, designing escape rooms, and pitching Shark Tank-style business ideas to making macarons in France, exploring the culture of Spain, and studying wildlife in the Galápagos Islands, students pursued new interests, deepened existing passions, and experienced an unforgettable end to the school year.
This year, 33 courses and trips happened simultaneously. See below for highlights from some of the courses, and be sure to check out our photo highlights.
ARTS & CREATIVITY
Through visual art, storytelling, design, music, theatre, and media, students expressed ideas in imaginative and meaningful ways. These courses fostered artistic growth, collaboration, and hands-on creative exploration while encouraging students to discover new forms of communication and self-expression.
In Agatha, Arthur, and AI: Writing a Classic Mystery with AI, students not only used AI tools to create their own mysteries, but partnered with 4th graders to bring their story ideas to life.
Designing and making the traditional Senior Shield is a coveted May Term class for three seniors. After a trip to pick up supplies, the trio got to work sawing, sanding, and staining the shield that will be presented at graduation and hung in the halls of the Athletic Center. This year's theme reflects America's 250th birthday.
Musical theater is more than entertainment; it is a reflection of identity and imagination. In Triple Threat - Musical Theatre: History, Performance, & Purpose, students examined the history and structure of the American musical. An outside choreographer worked with students on their acting, dance, and performance skills. Music teacher Jim Erwin held one-on-one singing rehearsals, as Theatre Department Chair Dan Clay helped performers "tell the story" through dance and purposeful acting. The troupe ventured to the Arden Theater to see Dear Evan Hansen. Students performed and showed off their newly acquired skills in their final presentations.
In Inked Up!, students explored the history of printmaking, from its early roots in Japan to its role in shaping modern art and communication. After guided studio work, museum visits, and artist-led workshops, students created their own linocut, monoprint, and calligraphic print designs.
HISTORY & CULTURE
By exploring history, ethics, civic engagement, religion, and cultural identity, students gained a deeper understanding of the people and events that shaped society. These experiences encouraged thoughtful discussion, critical thinking, and meaningful connections between the past and present.
After analyzing historical films, researching primary documents, and hearing from film industry insiders, student-filmmakers in Hollywood and History: Battles, Biographies...Bogus? pitched their very own historical film ideas, spanning from a French Revolution thriller to a gritty Nirvana biopic.
The National Constitution Center, Valley Forge Park, and the Brandywine Battlefield brought Defining Independence: Philadelphia and the Revolutionary War to life for students as they reviewed battle maps, learned about clothing and uniforms of the times, and explored military technology. A highlight also included seeing Bishop William White's house in Philadelphia.
Local community organizations reaped the benefits of the Now That Our Chapel Service is Over course as students volunteered each day throughout the region. Students oversaw food distribution at The Memorial Church of God in Christ, "shopped" for families in need at the Mitzvah Circle, supported SHARE, worked at the Surrey Services for Seniors, and helped St. David's Church prepare for its annual fall fair.
STEM & INNOVATION
Focused on inquiry, experimentation, and design, these courses challenged students to solve problems and think creatively. Through science, engineering, entrepreneurship, and innovation, students explored real-world applications and considered how new ideas can influence the future.
In Escape EA: Escape Room and Design Challenges, students used inspiration from visits to local escape rooms to build their very own. On the final day of May Term, other Upper Schoolers were challenged to crack the code in student-created Alien Abduction, Escape the Ship (Among Us), and Academic Dishonesty escape rooms!
EA Shark Tank allowed students to step into the role of entrepreneur and learn what it takes to bring an idea from concept to pitch. After hearing from a variety of real-world entrepreneurs, visiting local businesses, and learning about everything from branding and marketing to budgeting and problem-solving, students pitched their own business ideas Shark Tank-style!
In Sustainable Aquatic Futures: Engaging with Fish in the 21st Century, students participated in stream clean-ups, learned (and practiced) fly fishing, and visited hatcheries, all the while keeping in mind the environmental and economic impacts of aquatic ecosystems.
WELLNESS & ADVENTURE
Centered on personal growth, exploration, and experiential learning, these courses took students beyond the traditional classroom setting. Whether through wellness activities, outdoor experiences, or travel opportunities, students built resilience, strengthened connections, and engaged with the world in active and memorable ways.
It was an action-packed week for EA adventurers who explored France. The journey began with visits to some of Paris's most iconic sites, including Notre Dame and the Musée d'Orsay, while also learning how to make scrumptious macarons. Students experienced moving moments visiting World War II battlefields in France and Belgium, laid wreaths to remember soldiers from Ypres who lost their lives more than 100 years ago, and visited Omaha Beach and the American Normandy Cemetery perched above the Normandy coast. Other highlights included Mont Saint-Michel, St. Malo, where students went sand carting, and Auvers-sur-Oise to see Vincent Van Gogh’s grave and kayak on the Oise River. It was "on a fait super voyage!"
Mountains to Sea took students to the Delaware Water Gap, where they studied landscape and aquatic ecology, took an amphibian inventory, examined the geographic history of Pennsylvania, and gave country dancing a try. The crew then headed to the Delaware Bayshores (Fortescue Beach) to study estuarine ecology, horseshoe crab conservation, and shorebird migration. Students also did some bird banding and rescued horseshoe crabs.
From learning about the sport of jai alai in San Sebastián to visiting a cheese farm in Arzua and participating in a scavenger hunt in Madrid, students on the Spain trip immersed themselves in the rich culture of the country while exploring its historical roots.
In Adventure | Strength | Community, students fostered their physical, mental, and spiritual well-being through a variety of activities. From biking and ziplining to canoeing and yoga, the group challenged their resilience, practiced teamwork, and grew closer as they went outside their comfort zones.