Our Spring Expeditions

Windsor 6 -- Portland by the Numbers

Windsor 6 ranks Portland's livability from a kid's point of view in Portland by the Numbers. The students in Windsor 6 will be collecting data to answer the question: How do kids rate the livability of Portland? As the students collect data from other students throughout the district, they will develop a list of the 10 features of this city that students value today. They will then begin to collect data to rate the city on these features of livability. A presentation of the data to city officials will take place on June 10th.

York 6 -- Seeds of Culture

In Seeds of Culture, York 6 students examine the relationships among geography, food and culture. We will explore celebrations and customs around food, as well as follow the journey of a seed to each particular food. Our kick off will take place in and around Portland, as small groups of students visit area ethnic restaurants and sample native foods. One of our goals, also, is to work with the Cultivating Community project in Portland, and bring a garden to King Middle School. Finally, we are planning to create our own restaurant for a night, here at King.

Windsor 7 - Pieces of Me

Windsor 7 wraps up two years of work together with an exploration of self-expression and identity in Pieces of Me. How do artists draw from experience and memory to create works of portraiture and self-expression? In Pieces of Me, the students of Windsor 7 will create summative portraits of themselves in poetry and mixed-media. Drawing from work with local and national artists - in combination with elements from each of their classes - students will create unique multimedia portraits with accompanying poems. Their work will be shared at a theatrical poetry reading at the St. Lawrence Arts and Community Center in late May.

York 7 -- The Final Frontier

York 7 blasts off into, the Final Frontier - a collaborative science fiction adventure. The expedition was inspired by a message that inexplicably appeared on the York 7 blog:
Greetings Earthlings! This is Commander Joh of the Counsel of Intergalactic Calamities. I have some disconcerting information to reveal. Unfortunately, on June 1, 2009, your planet will disintegrate, destroying all Earth-based life forms. It is York 7's mission to construct a space colony containing the prime specimens of humanity. This space colony must be able to sustain human life for 1000 Earth years. Use all of your skills, as well as your knowledge of ecology, architecture and sustainability.To assist you in your mission, find comfort in knowing that one of your teachers is a member of the Final Five.

Windsor 8 -- Truth or Consequences

Windsor 8 students will investigate the mass media's manipulation of truths, and how propaganda can shape our lives in Truth or Consequences. To kick off the expedition, students will spend three days establishing thoughts and ideas about the truth. We will learn from Renat Zarbailov, a New York-based multimedia artist who has traveled the world documenting peoples' beliefs about truth. Along with contemporary works and beliefs about truth, students will consider how the Nazi Party used techniques of propaganda to instill fear and take the lives of millions of people. Finally, students will collaborate with Maine College of Art faculty and students to design, create, critique, and display Truth Ads that disclose hidden truths about often misrepresented topics. Technology will play a vital role in the expedition as students use the Windsor 8 blog, graphic design software, video, and the internet to research, reflect, and communicate their findings.

York 8 -- Pier Pressure

York 8 delves into the contentious past and present of Maine State Pier planning in Pier Pressure. Portland's waterfront is ever changing and always in the news. York 8 students will begin looking at the past, present and potential future of the Maine State Pier and the surrounding area. Students will be creating scale plans of a sustainable design for the Maine State Pier. Students will also research the history, the economic and environmental issues, and the viability of their proposed designs. York 8 students will also be looking for parental and community based feedback concerning one of Portland's most valuable resources.

Intermediate ELL -- The Sea and Me

Intermediate ELL Students explore life in and along the Casco Bay in The Sea and Me. We will explore the life of Casco Bay and answer such questions as: Why do scientists study the ocean? Who and what lives in the Casco Bay? And what threatens the health of our bay? Our class will be exploring water quality, investigating life forms, and studying different food webs related to the Casco Bay. We will be teaming with a class from East End Community School. Some very exciting highlights of our expedition will include going on a whale watch, visiting the Gulf of Maine Research Institute and working with scientists in the field. Our final product will be student written and published books on their research of the plants and animals of Casco Bay. We will be working with an area illustrator on this project as well as an area author.

Beginner ELL -- We Came, We Saw, We Learned

We Came, We Saw, We Learned gives beginner ELL students an introduction to the expeditionary learning model while celebrating their own heritage. Students will have the opportunity to celebrate their unique cultural experiences by reflecting on their lives in the past (homeland and family), in the present (learning experiences in their new homeland), and in the future (where their learning will take them 15 years from now). The final product will be a composite picture book of the personal stories of the students in their own words.

Expeditions from Fall 2008

York 6 -- Rock the Vote

York 6 students will be paying special attention to the upcoming presidential and state elections as part of their Rock the Vote expedition. Not only will they be learning about the candidates and issues, they are hoping to teach the school about them, as well. Our students will work in committees to plan a schoolwide mock election, in conjunction with the nationwide Studentwide Mock Election. More...

Windsor 6 -- Lead On

The first expedition for Windsor 6 is about leadership. The students are using Americans Who Tell the Truth, by Robert Shetterly, as a core text. In mid-September they visited the exhibit of portraits from Americans Who Tell the Truth which were on display at USM in Lewiston. Two days later they met with the artist, Robert Shetterly, at King and questioned him about his process and his work, including how he defined “truth” and how he selects the people he features. The students are currently studying three leaders as a whole group: Mr. McCarthy, Jackie Robinson, and Rachel Carson. Through this process they are learning the research skills they will need to research their own leader. More...

York 7 -- 1000 Years Without a Bath

York 7 has begun their medieval expedition, A Thousand Years Without a Bath. Students will create and take on fictional roles of lives in the middle ages, and will finish with a performance at the State Street Church. Each student will create a character based upon roles of that time, and write a memoir or a journal entry about what life was like for that character. Eventually the different characters will meet one another in skits produced by the students. More...

Windsor 7 -- It's All Greek to Me

Windsor 7 kicked off our fall expedition with a lively Greek festival and spirited Olympic games. We call this expedition It's All Greek to Me. Students will study the ancient Greeks in all content areas and learn about their contributions to our modern world. The guiding questions are: Who were the ancient Greek "super" heroes? and what is the ancient Greek legacy to our world today? Their task will be completed when they produce and present a comic book anthology of their discoveries.

York 8 -- Four Freedoms

In the fall of 1941, as the United States considered it's probable entry into World War II, Franklin Roosevelt delivered a State of the Union speech outlining the four freedoms America would fight for: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from fear, and freedom from want. Norman Rockwell depicted these four freedoms in a now famous series of paintings as part of the U.S. war stamps effort. In the Four Freedoms expedition, King students examine Rockwell's paintings and the historical origins of the four freedoms in the context of their own values, images, and perceptions of the world today. More...

Windsor 8 -- WINDsor in Motion

Did you know that imported oil is the source of 90% of Maine's energy consumption annually? More significantly, the amount of potential clean and renewable energy from wind in the Gulf of Maine could meet the state's needs one hundred times over. The students of Windsor 8 are going to confront both of these facts during their expedition WINDSor in Motion. They will be collaborating with former governor Angus King and local energy experts to address Maine's impending energy crisis. They will analyze the current wind farm debate in Maine, and culminate the expedition with presentations of their own electricity generating wind turbine models before an audience of energy experts.

Expeditions from Spring 2008

York 6 -- Alien Invaders!

York 6 is fighting Alien Invaders! No, it's not an expedition about science fiction. Rather, the students and teachers of York 6 are joining forces with the City of Portland and the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to address Maine's invasive species epidemic.Along the way, we will be collecting data on invasives in Maine, working to reduce invasives in Portland and at Biddeford pool, and disseminating our findings through the design and production of informational pamphlets and posters.

Windsor 6 -- Riverworks

With a kick-off date of April Fool's Day and a culmination date of Friday the 13th of June, how can the Riverworks expedition lose? We will be following in the footsteps of former Riverworks expeditioners, taking on the role of scientists as we collect and test water samples along the Presumpscot River. We willtake the time to walk the riverbanks and appreciate what the Presumpscot has to offer, creating artwork and making scientific observations. We will also canoe the river to collect our water samples; the data we obtain will be used by community groups to improve the quality of life of the river and those who inhabit its ecosystem. As well as looking back at the history of the river, students will also explore current issues. We are fortunate to have many community partners who will share their knowledge along the way, allowing students to connect with many who have dedicated themselves to improving a river that American Rivers chose as one of America’s Most Endangered Rivers (2000).

York 7 -- Making It Home

York 7 is exploring the American immigrant experience in Making It Home. Working with local immigrants -- from former King students to community elders in Portland -- our students will get a close up and personal perspective on the immigrant experience. The expedition will culminate in a series of monologues written and performed by the York 7 students.

Windsor 7 -- Sparks of Liberty

During this expedition, the students of Windsor 7 will focus on four events from 1770 to 1775 that helped spark the American Revolution: the Boston Massacre, the Boston Tea Party, Paul Revere's ride, and the funeral of Christopher Seider. We will develop background knowledge of these topics in our classes as well as on fieldwork experiences in Boston at the Freedom Trail. The expedition really gets going when, on a trip to Boston, the students will "discover" a cache of 75 period diaries (one for each Windsor 7 student!) written by citizens who witnessed each of these four sparks. Each student now assumes a role as an historian, interpreting and reporting on one of the diary entries, creating an illustration for the entry, as well as an historical reenactment of an excerpt of the diary. Our work will all be published in our own on-line journal -- the Sparks of Liberty. Is it fiction or is it history? You decide.

York 8 and ELL -- Four Freedoms

In the fall of 1941, as the United States considered it's probable entry into World War II, Franklin Roosevelt delivered a State of the Union speech outlining the four freedoms America would fight for: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from fear, and freedom from want. Norman Rockwell depicted these four freedoms in a now famous series of paintings as part of the U.S. war stamps effort. In the Four Freedoms expedition, King students examine Rockwell's paintings and the historical origins of the four freedoms in the context of their own values, images, and perceptions of the world today. Like Rockwell, each student will create a piece of art that captures her of his interpretation of one of the freedoms. Their work, and the students' artist statements, will be hung in a local gallery.

Windsor 8 -- WINDsor in Motion

Did you know that, every day, 56% of the energy produced in the United States is wasted due to inefficient technologies and designs? More remarkable is the fact that the potential for unharvested wind and solar energy far exceeds human consumption. The students of Windsor 8 are going to address both facts during their expedition WINDS or in Motion. The students will be collaborating with local energy experts and the Director for Facilities of the Portland Schools to audit and alter our electricity use at the school. They will analyze the current wind farm debate in Maine, and culminate the expedition with presentations of their own wind turbine models to the city council.

ELL Intermediate Level -- Coming to America

The ELL Intermediate level class is working on an expedition called Coming to America: 400 Years of History. We will examine why the Pilgrims left their homeland, faced perilous challenges, and came to America. Students will gain an understanding about how the United States is truly a land of immigrants, some newer and some have been here a very long time. Some final products will include: a self portrait with autobiography (an ethnographic story) and several games made by our students to help people study for the Citizenship Test.

Multigrade Rooms -- Weather Wise and Into the World of Arthropods

In King's Corner Cafe (Room 109), we are doing an expedition called Weather Wise. We are learning what causes weather conditions and what happens as a result of weather. The students are building weather instruments and gathering and recording data on a weather board and in a weather log. We are also learning how to predict the weather.

In room 218, we are going deep Into the World of Arthropods. We have adopted bess bugs, hissing cockroaches, millipedes, and even some local creatures. We are developing stories about bugs and have developed a really cool blog with videos and information all about our expedition.

Expeditions from Fall 2007

York 8 Students Test Their Engineering Instincts

Windsor 6 kicks off our two years together with the "Windsor All Stars" expedition and a partnership with the Portland Sea Dogs. Students will learn about themselves and each other by developing a sense of individuality and team. They will become familiar with expeditionary learning and King Middle School by experiencing their first expedition as "rookies." The Sea Dogs will spotlight the expedition product, individual rookie cards, and the students at our culminating event at Hadlock Field to a crowd of fans (peers, teachers, and parents).

York 6 is Takin’ Care of Business! Starting mid-October, the students of York 6 will be getting paid for coming to school, completing homework, helping classmates, and being respectful. With their earnings, the students will be creating businesses in small groups and putting their work to the test at the York 6 Carnival in December. There’s plenty of math to be completed (Ms. Murphy is the Banker), taxes to be paid (Mr. Michaud is the government), and formal business proposals to be written for the Executive Director of the York 6 Carnival, Mrs. Hatch.

River to the Sea is the fall expedition for Windsor 7. Students will work as scientists as they focus on the health of the Fore River. Throughout our work, the students will gather information to answer the guiding questions: What clues do plants provide about the health of the Fore River ecosystem? Why should we care about the health of the Fore River ecosystem? What is good data and how do we use it? Our final product will be a scientific analysis of the health of the Fore River. This work will be presented to officials of the city who are the stewards of this area

York 7 is investigating phytoplankton as the doorway for studying climate change in "Warming Waters." We will collect and analyze data from the Gulf of Maine, collaborate with area experts, understand the history of our environment and learn to interpret graphs and satellite imagery. Our final culmination will include a poster gallery where we will present findings to our panel of experts, parents, teachers and fellow community members.

Windsor 8 students will investigate the mass media's manipulation of truths, and how propaganda can shape our lives. Students will learn how the Nazi Party used propagandato instill fear and take the lives of millions of people. Students will read the play version of "The Diary of Ann Frank" to understand and sympathize with one of Hitler's victims. Students will also collaborate with local journalism and advertising experts to analyze the evidence here in our own community.

York 8 is immersing itself into the world of engineers. We are learning that almost everything that we do - from the moment we get up in the morning, until the moment we go to bed at night - is influenced by the work of an engineer. The students will investigate the many types of engineers, the engineering design process and ways in which engineers use science and math to influence those designs, and the ethical questions that arise as engineers develop their ideas.

ESL students will learn about nutrition, human anatomy, and Maine's local farming and fishing industry. "Healthy Futures" don't always come naturally, but some times our cultural traditions teach us ways to ensure a "Healthy Future". Students will also share and explore how their own diverse cultures help contribute to our overall health and wellness.

What causes weather? What are the effects of weather? Room 109 is the next weather center. Students and teachers will be gathering weather data, making observations and predictions, and identifying changes caused by weather in our world.

Windsor 6: What's the connection between phytoplankton, global climate change and life in Maine? In Living Water , the students and teachers of Windsor 7 are heading to the bay to collect data and monitor the plankton bloom--collaborating with scientists working to impact climate change and restore our fisheries.

In the expedition Animal Maine-ia,York 6 students apply their knowledge of web design and information systems to produce a digital field guide to Maine's wildlife, rich in student artwork and scientific information. The final product will be featured on our school web site.

York 7 (formerly York 6) students will examine how students, staff and faculty produce and dispose of waste here at King in our spring expedition Talking Trash.   After analyzing the trash--yes, we're going through the garbage--students will explore the feasibility of recycling and reusing to reduce the waste that King produces.

In Windsor 7 The Forces are with Us the teachers and students of are combining studies of music, science, space, mythology and natural disasters to create an original dance performance set to take the stage on March 21st at King.

Windsor 8: Who is your hero? What are the characteristics of heroism? These are the questions that the students of Windsor 8 will be exploring in Heroes. Their conclusions, and the biographies of their heroes, will be on display in a museum of heroes, as well as in the Windsor 8 Heroes Wiki.

In Engineering Your Future, York 8 students are studying how engineering has transformed nearly every event of our lives. They will meet with local engineers at King and off site, and will be engineering their own boats while producing an encyclopedia of engineering.

Learn more about the Expeditionay Learning Schools national organization.