9th GradeFlex Friday Experience

The9thGradeExperienceat Baxter isall about giving incomingstudentsthetoolsthey'll needtosucceedin later yearsof FlexFridayat Baxter.In serviceof this mission,studentstakeseveral fieldtripstodifferent sites aroundPortlandtoget out intothecommunityand learnabout art,theenvironment,technology,and society.Examplesfromthisyear include:

- East End Beach:Tomeasurewater qualityand micro-plasticsinthesandandocean.

- ecomaine:Tolearnwhereour trashand recyclingreallygo,andhow tothink responsibly about thewastewecreate.

- Portland Museum of Art:Tolearnabout ancient andcontemporaryart,andmakesome art andpoetryof our own.

- ForeRiver Sanctuary Preserve:Tohikeand document what weseeintheenvironment.

Asemergingindependent learners,thesefirst year Flex Fridaystudentsmakeapodcast inagroupof peerswith thesupport of aninstructor Our fieldtripsset usupto consider storytellingof eachof thelocationstowhich wetraveled.Duringeachfieldtripweconsider the followingquestions:

- If youweretomakeapodcast about today'sfield trip,what wouldthecommunityimpact be?

- What project management strategieswouldyou use?

- What writingstyleandpodcast format would makemost sense?

Our studentsstudy writing, community impact, and project management