The capstone of IGSS is the CREATE Project--an opportunity for students to research and take action around a topic of their choice.
Conceive: For some students, it’s easy to come up with a project idea that is meaningful and engaging. For others, this is very challenging. Some students choose topics that came up in classes that were interesting but they didn’t have a chance to pursue. Or they pick something they’ve always wondered about or wanted to know more about but never had the chance to research. Still others select a topic they’ve already dug into but want to go even deeper.
Research: Whether they are working towards an academic paper or another sort of final product, students read widely on their topics. As part of their research, students are required to conduct one expert interview.
Engage: Our hope is that with this work, each student is authentically engaged in whatever project they’ve selected. The forward to Growing Minds, an old IGSS summer reading book, mentions “classrooms where teachers are encouraged to create a living connection between children’s minds and the material” (xiii). CREATE is not simply an academic exercise. Instead, engaging in a “living connection” is what we would most like to see.
Action: This is the part where students are expected to DO something about their research and their projects. Students must leave the classroom and library behind and go and do something. Each student has a mentor and weekly check ins to help with designing a project and staying on track. Students grapple with time management and overcoming a range of obstacles along the way.
Transform: This is at the very heart of these projects. The idea of transformation is double-edged: if the project is really successful both students and the world are transformed. Students are transformed by the realization that they have become agents in helping to change the world. School is no longer something that oppresses, rather it is an organization of people and resources that are at their disposal, something that they can use as a tool to effect change in the world. And even if it’s in small ways, the world is transformed, too. Maybe Wilmette will allow me to have chickens; maybe more people will think it’s a good idea to have a garden on a roof or at a school or at home…
Exhibit: At the conclusion of the CREATE project, students “stand and deliver” their projects on the concourse and help to bring their projects to the wider community. This part is what makes the project “authentic” in the best possible educational sense. We also have an evening presentation where students may invite parents, guardians, and community members to share in the celebration of students’ learning.
The images below are a very small sampling of some of the IGSS CREATE projects from across the years.
Julia's CREATE focused on how to combat plastic in the ocean.
Students and community members gather to hear presentations on a wide variety of topics.
Sam warns his peers about the dangers of vaping.
Many students are interested in topics related to well being and mental health.
Graham's exploration of drag included history and practice. His action project showcased drag artists as part of a fashion show produced in conjunction with a group of IGSS students.
Zoe worked with the Social Work department to develop a project highlighting the benefits of art therapy.
After becoming a bee keeper herself, Kirby visited local schools to teach children to appreciate the role bees play in our lives.
Caroline negotiated with Union Pacific, the Village Board of Winnetka, and other officials to receive permission to paint a mural under the viaduct on Winnetka Avenue.
The finished mural reminds students and community members of their beauty every day!
Maren built a raised garden bed on the roof of a local hardware store.