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News & Articles

How Project-Based Learning (PBL) Prepares Kids for Life After School

By Sam Rud | December 20, 2022

Competency-based Learning

We genuinely believe that students must be invested in what they are learning, and the curriculum must be relevant to students’ lives.

Cameron Smith Talks Project-Based Learning on The School Success Podcast

Press & Recognition

In this episode of The School Success Podcast, Mitchell Slater talks to Cameron Smith, Bennett Day School’s co-founder and CEO, about Bennett’s unique, project-based approach to education.

Project-Based Learning at Bennett Day School Presentation

News & Articles

Project-Based Learning: An Investigation of Justice in the United States

By Sam Rud | October 11, 2022

Project-Based Learning

During the last trimester of the 2021-22 school year, our Upper School students investigated our justice system in their project-based learning (PBL) class. Their learning was driven by these essential questions: What is justice? How does our justice system work? Where and to whom does our justice system fail? How can we make our system more just? …

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Last night, Bennett Day Upper Schoolers invited th

Last night, Bennett Day Upper Schoolers invited the community to Trimester 1 Demo Night to see how #ProjectBasedLearning (PBL) comes to life. ✨

Centered on the theme “Life and Death,” our 9th and 10th Grade students have spent the last 11 weeks exploring profound questions like 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺?, 𝘋𝘰 𝘸𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘦?, and 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨? Their work blended STEM and humanities: conducting apoptosis labs, building life cycle models, applying the scientific method, interviewing experts from different faiths, and even visiting a mortuary lab. After weeks of group exploration, each student followed their curiosity to develop projects that reflected their unique interests and skills.

With a focus on “Urban Planning,” our 11th and 12th Grade students explored ways to create positive and lasting impact in the city. From neighborhood walks and SWOT analyses to synthesizing data and historical information to draw conclusions, they applied precision and creativity to tackle real-world problems. Students had the opportunity to learn from College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs professors at UIC (@thisisuic) and meet with stakeholders in their chosen neighborhoods to better understand their specific needs and challenges. Their Demo Night projects, which will live on after last night, showcased thoughtful solutions and innovative designs aimed at improving our neighborhoods here in Chicago.

Demo Night isn’t about the final products—it’s about celebrating the process: the curiosity, collaboration, and perseverance that drives every project. We’re so proud of the work our students presented and the conversations their projects sparked! 🩵

#discoverbennettday #demonight #learnbydoing #handsonlearning #chicagohighschool #urbanplanning #lifeanddeath #STEM #humanities #PBL #independentschool

Trimester 1 Middle School Demo Day ✅ Today, our

Trimester 1 Middle School Demo Day ✅

Today, our students had the opportunity to present their learning from the past 11 weeks of their Project-Based Learning (PBL) journey. This trimester’s theme, What is My Place in the Universe?, took students on a deep dive into science, mythology, and history—from exploring the mysteries of dark matter and the scale of the universe to learning about different civilizations and their creation myths.

Some students created artistic representations of the Milky Way, nebulas, and the multiverse, while others built and tested rockets (one student made their own rocket fuel from scratch) or found unique ways to present their research on topics of interest such as space politics, the halo effect, solar power, and Norse mythology.

Demo Day is all about accountability, ownership, and giving students the chance to “show what they know” in an authentic and public environment. 🩵

#discoverbennettday #projectbasedlearning #middleschool #demoday #mythology #space #whatismyplaceintheuniverse #learnbydoing #handsonlearning #chicagomiddleschool

In addition to their cross-curricular Project-Base

In addition to their cross-curricular Project-Based Learning (PBL) course, our Upper Schoolers take three “Studio” courses each trimester. In short, Studios allow students to dive deep into very specific topics. ✨

During 9th and 10th Grade, students take required studios in Mathematics, Language, and Research/Presentation Skills. In 11th and 12th Grade, students can engage in advanced topics across the curriculum.

Last week in Biological Perspectives in Environmental Contexts with Dr. Hurst, students analyzed blood cells from frogs, rabbits, fish, birds, and humans. After examining slides under microscopes, they identified cell structures and discussed how white blood cells’ shapes contribute to their immune functions. They were also asked to consider the impact of environmental and genetic factors on blood cells and how examining blood smears could contribute to diagnosing conditions that affect blood cell production, such as anemia or leukemia.

These thoughtful explorations reflect the depth of learning that’s happening every day here at Bennett. 🩵

#discoverbennettday #biology #bennettdayupperschool #projectbasedlearning #handsonlearning #science #biologylab #learnbydoing #learndeep #standout #gofurther #chicagohighschool

Rigor without purpose is just stress. At Bennett,

Rigor without purpose is just stress. At Bennett, we believe that a school does not have to choose between high-quality outcomes for its students and their social and emotional well-being. 🩵

Want to see how we’re reimagining what school can be? We invite your family to stop by our Open House on Saturday, November 16 between 10:00 am - 12:00 pm to:

✨ Chat 1:1 with Bennett Day School teachers, students, and parents/guardians

✨ Explore our newly expanded West Loop campus located at 955 W. Grand Ave

✨ Sit in on Information Sessions with Leadership
…and more!

Click the link in our bio to register or visit bennettday.org/open-house 🩵

#discoverbennettday #projectbasedlearning #competencybased #socialemotionallearning #studentwellbeing #handsonlearning #progressiveeducation #purposefuleducation

Last weekend, Bennett Theater took audiences on an

Last weekend, Bennett Theater took audiences on an eerie and imaginative journey with their production of 𝘎𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵!✨

In this Halloween-inspired show, our talented students explored the idea of fear, featuring three lesser-known Brothers Grimm tales brought to life with creative staging, live music, and puppetry.

From the quirky tale of “Hans-My-Hedgehog” to the dark twists of “The Juniper Tree,” 𝘎𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵 invited viewers to ponder what thrills and chills us, and why some of us like to be scared 😱

Thanks to everyone who made this show possible - our Director, Steven Slaughter, the cast & crew and their incredible parents/guardians, Bennett faculty, and the larger community who continue to support our growing theater program.

Last but not least, we want to give a big shout-out to Nella & Ehlery, our first-ever middle school student directors! These two capable and creative young thespians asked Mr. Slaughter directly for this opportunity and took the lead on directing Acts 1 & 2. 🩵

#discoverbennettday #bennetttheater #grimgrimmergrimmest #grimmerest #brothersgrimm #middleschool #bennettdayschool #hansmyhedgehog #thejunipertree #thethreesnakeleaves

Did you know that our Upper Schoolers go on a retr

Did you know that our Upper Schoolers go on a retreat at the beginning of every school year? ✨ This overnight experience is always a highlight of the year, packed with fun, bonding, and personal growth!

Last month, our students spent two nights at @campmanitowa where they embraced new experiences, made new connections, and worked together as a team — key parts of our advisory program. Students enjoyed the thrill of zip lining, got creative with arts and crafts, tested their skills in archery, and graced the stage during the talent show. The annual game of capture the flag provided some friendly competition - shout out to the juniors for taking home the W!

These retreats are all about strengthening sense of self, building trust, and fostering friendships across grade levels. We can’t wait to keep this tradition going! 🩵

#discoverbennettday #bennettdayupperschool #retreat #campmanitowa #projectbasedlearning #learnbydoing #socialemotionallearning #teambuilding #progressiveeducation #bennettbluejays

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