Cycle 1
Where Your Stand
Ever wonder who lived here before the roads, the buildings, the schools—even before the first cities or states?
In this course, you’ll dig into the deep roots of your local land. You’ll find out:
Who lived here hundreds or thousands of years ago? What happened when settlers arrived? What names, languages, and traditions existed right where you’re standing? You’ll explore museums, interview experts, meet community members, and walk the actual land you're researching.
Your mission? To tell the real story of where you stand—and pass that knowledge on to others in creative, powerful ways.
It’s time to go back as far as possible and bring those stories forward.
Cycle 2
Revolution on Stage
Love history and theater? Step into the spotlight as we bring the American Revolution to life through musicals, skits, and creative performances! From Hamilton to 1776, you'll explore how music, drama, and storytelling turn history into show-stopping art.
Along the way, you’ll analyze scenes, learn literary and dramatic techniques, and dive into hands-on projects—including writing your own historical script or song. You'll also get creative with costume and prop design, learning how visual elements bring characters and eras to life on stage.
By the end, you’ll be ready to perform a mini-production that makes history unforgettable.
Cycle 2
Fever 1793
Prepare to dive into a world where history and imagination collide! Fever 1793 is a historical fiction novel set during Philadelphia’s Yellow Fever pandemic, written by Laurie Halse Anderson. Although this is historical fiction, it is based on the terrifying true story of the fever that killed upwards of 150,000 Americans during the Revolutionary period.
This expedition will be rich in discussion, and students are expected to read the assigned chapters before meetings, ready to discuss material with peers. During this expedition, we will be exploring elements of literature, honing our writing skills, and comparing and contrasting historical plagues—such as Yellow Fever—with the Coronavirus pandemic.
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to create an awe-inspiring Virtual Museum Exhibit. This isn't just any exhibit; it's your chance to shine a spotlight on the untold stories and hidden whispers of Philadelphia in 1793, as captured in Fever 1793.
Cycle 3
Power and the Pen
How do words change the world? In this expedition, students explore the nonfiction voices that shaped U.S. history—from founding documents and abolitionist speeches to environmental warnings and poetic calls for justice. Through powerful texts by writers like Frederick Douglass, Ida B. Wells, Rachel Carson, and Martin Luther King Jr., students will analyze how nonfiction writing has been used to fight injustice, inspire action, and define the American identity.
Blending U.S. history with American nonfiction literature, this expedition strengthens students’ skills in analysis, research, and persuasive writing. Students will critically examine real historical texts and connect them to the present, ultimately discovering that the power to speak out and spark change isn’t just for people in textbooks—it’s something they can do, too.
Cycle 3
Sewing the Seeds of Civil War
Grab your needle and thread, and get ready to time travel back to the 1860s. In this expedition, we will explore the causes and effects of the Civil War and understand the important role that sewing played at home and on the battlefield. The urgency for uniforms pushed the development of the sewing machine, which transformed this craft.
During the expedition, we will read and discuss letters, photographs, and diary entries to understand what life was like and how sewing was a means of survival and self-expression. What did it mean to be a citizen of the country?
Who was denied this, and why? Each week, students will research a particular historical event about the Civil War and plan their sewing project around one particular Civil War theme—like perseverance, loss, or bravery. They will connect their present day to the past. Come help add to the tapestry of stories about this challenging and transformative period in our history!
