Eighth Graders Explore 12th Street Beach

This November, TCS eighth graders traveled to 12th Street Beach as part of their student-driven documentary project. After a train ride and a bus transfer, they arrived ready to observe, question, and explore.

Working in small project groups, students spread out to search for birds, capturing footage and experimenting with different angles and approaches. The experience expanded beyond birdwatching when educators from the Adler Planetarium invited students to look at the sun through special filtered telescopes. This unexpected opportunity connected their project work to broader scientific inquiry.

Back at school, students wrapped up their afternoon with lunch, independent reading, and classroom jobs. Through project-based learning and outdoor education, experiences like this help students grow into lifelong learners—eager to ask questions, collaborate, and discover.