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What Are Academic Exhibitions?

Academic Exhibitions are a Graduation Requirement:

In their final years at Mustard Seed School, our oldest students are all expected to prepare a total of eight academic exhibitions (four each year) as a part of their graduation requirement. The varied academic exhibitions touch upon eight domains: The Visual Arts, Music & Performance, History & Government, Literature & Language, Service & Leadership, Mathematics, Science, and an area of personal challenge. For every exhibition, there is, naturally, an essay requirement as well.
    • Grade 7:
      • Visual Arts or Music & Performance (November)
      • History & Government (February)
      • Science (March)
      • Literature & Language (June)
    • Grade 8:
      • Visual Arts or Music (November)
      • Service & Leadership (February)
      • Mathematics (March)
      • Personal Challenge (June)

What happens in an exhibition? 

In each exhibition, every student performs an on-demand and/or planned task, prepares a public presentation, and submits a created artifact which shows evidence of learning in multiple areas.  In the process, students work across disciplines. They organize their knowledge and defend what they have learned.  They communicate well through demonstration, conversation, and writing.  They engage wide audiences, including peers, younger students, multiple teachers, parents, and other invited guests.   It is a very challenging process and a tangible assessment of all that they have learned.  Throughout, students are regularly expected to demonstrate an understanding of essential questions, critical and creative thinking, alternate perspectives, relevance, and connections. In other words, students need to show themselves to be individuals who are well prepared to do high school work and more.

At this moment, our 8th grade soon-to-be graduates are rigorously preparing for their Service and Leadership exhibition.   To see the depth and breadth of the work ahead, check out the current syllabus:
To see the result of their efforts, please plan to join us in Upper School worship at 2:30, almost any school day between January 23 and February 11.  All parents are invited to join us. A more specific schedule will be available within a week.

Also, check out this blog post to get a glimpse of the fantastical Music Exhibitions that took place last November!

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