The Importance of Outdoor Education
At Explorer West, we believe in the transformative power of the outdoors. Our students trade classroom walls for natural landscapes for ten days a year, taking unforgettable journeys that blend learning, adventure, and community. Fall Trips: Setting the Stage for Adventure Students gear up for three-day excursions designed to kickstart the school year with a…
Read MoreSocial Studies with Tim and Daniela
6th Grade: Before spring break students turned in a formal paragraph about Ötzi the Iceman, which concluded our unit on the Neolithic Agricultural Revolution. After break I led the class through an exploration of the concepts of belonging, fitting in, and identity. Using the prompt “I am _____ ,” students thought about what identifiers they…
Read MoreCascadia Latin Conference at Explorer West!
A Day of Fun, Competition, and Achievement Last Saturday, Explorer West hosted the much-anticipated Cascadia Convention, a gathering that brought together students from various schools to engage in a day filled with athletic, creative, and academic competitions. We were excited to host the convention for the second year! Joining us were students from Our Lady…
Read MoreProgram Update: Language Arts with Lisa and Cilla
Happy Spring from your Language Arts department! 6th Grade: Sixth graders just finished the novel, One Crazy Summer, and are preparing to write a literary analysis essay. Last week they completed an exercise, “Analyzing a quote,” which helped them generate ideas and organize the information they need for a body paragraph. This exercise involves four…
Read MoreProgram Update: Science with Kristin and Virgil
6th Grade: The 6th graders have been exploring what happens to light after it’s been emitted from an object like a lightbulb or the sun. By tracing light’s path, they’re learning that some light can be absorbed and turned into infrared (heat). This is why it is better to wear a light-colored shirt on a…
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