Students learn about the culture and history of Chicago’s Pilsen community by observing the murals in the community. On this tour, led by the Pilsen Mural Tour Company, students investigate both how the history of the community and its citizens inspired the murals, as well as the impact of the presence of murals on the spaces they occupy.

Students get an up close look of the water cycle and witness a step by step tour of the process of transforming dirty water into a clean, potable resource.

On this trip to City Farm, students focus on Millennium Development Goal 7 which strives to ensure environmental sustainability. Students learn about City Farm‘s efforts to use vacant lots for their farming, composting, and recycling programs. They also volunteer as farmers for the day to contribute towards City Farm’s environmental efforts.

Students examine what differentiates mediocre tools and great gardening tools. The ultimate purpose of this experience is that students will be able to design their own. Home Depot employees show students how tools are used, and explain the parts that make up the tools, and which tools are most effective and why.

The Invisible Institute is a journalistic organization operating in Chicago that seeks to not only report news, but also to inspire dialogue. Firmly rooted in the democratic function of journalism, it focuses on investigative reporting to affect change in the social and political spheres of Chicago, especially in the areas of police misconduct and corruption. During this FE students explore the gap between what is reported in print and television news versus what is actually happening around the city. Students ask questions during this site visit with Mr. Kalven, a veteran investigative journalist and Founder of the Institute. Prior to the FE, students will have explored the Invisible Institute’s website and a recent article on the killing of a young black male by police in Chicago, and responded to a set of questions about both. This information contextualizes the experience for students and catalyze questions and discussion during the visit.

During a unit on Urban Planning, students study and build bridges. This Field Experience allows students to see the big picture of Chicago, including the skyscrapers and the bridges surrounding the loop.

Students explore photojournalism through Vivian Maier’s Chicago street photography in this visit to her exhibit at the Chicago History Museum.Prior to the visit, students learn about Maier and her artistic champion, John Maloof-who also co-created a documentary about the photographer,and read a Mother Jones article by Alex Kotlowitz on Maier and her work. During this FE students will reflect on the 5 w’s of journalism, photo composition, and descriptive language

This visit brings to life students’ prior blueprint investigations. Students get to see the layout of an established theater and make deductions based on what is available to patrons in terms of amenities.

Students explore the journey of heroes, both fictional and real. During this FE, students have an opportunity to study a real, local hero by actually visiting Jane Addams’ home/workplace. Students will be led on a guided tour of the museum by a staff person, and will search for evidence of heroism as they learn about Jane Addams, early Chicago social reform, and the history and ongoing service programs of Hull House.

Design students learn how to make things better. This visit to the design firm, Gravity Tank, is designed to introduce the class to professional designers, and to get them to start thinking like designers. Students tour gravitytank’s office, speak with the various professionals working there and complete a design/empathy exercise.

Our study of Rhetoric, teaches students to identify specific influential elements in both print and visual text. This Field Experience gives students the practice needed for learning to evaluate visual art for rhetorical devices. Students visit two exhibitions at DPAM of political art and receive a guided tour of the museum from its Director.

The purpose of this Field Experience is to follow the life of fruits and vegetables to understand the different hierarchies and patterns of labor throughout the food’s journey from earth to mouth.

Design Students study bicycles, their evolution and how they are put together, in order to ultimately design their own. On this visit students speak with a bike shop employee about the parts that make up a bike, their purpose, and the choices designers make when using certain parts over others.

Students examine poetry as an oral tradition of storytelling. Students visit the Poetry Foundation and receive an introduction to the organization by its Library Director. Afterward, students explore the Poetry Library and engage with selections from the Foundation’s virtual Chicago Poetry Tour to hear and see different stories from and about the city.

All Chicago and Oxfam address Millennium Development Goal 1 which strives to eradicate poverty. Students learn about the many programs that All Chicago supports to prevent homelessness. Presenters teach students about the lack of housing available for homeless youth in Chicago as well as share resources for advocating for those in need with dignity.

The students participate in a workshop on taxes, how they are collected, and where they are put to use. This Field Experience explores the role of financial literacy in the lives of youth and adults.