SPARK and DREAM Lab
Ignite Curiosity. Engineer Dreams.
SPARK units are inquiry-based learning experiences that use art to express science and social-studies understanding through a social-justice lens. Students develop questions, theories, and strategies while engaging in interactive, cross-disciplinary activities that connect their learning in meaningful ways.
SPARK units also engage community connections and seek to build bridges with the world beyond Giddens. Students venture on field trips and engage with experiences designed to establish real world understanding of complex topics. Often, guest speakers and presenters come to the school or join us remotely to help our students think more deeply about the topics, or to be interviewed as experts in their field. These opportunities help students gain awareness of the vast resources available to them as they pursue lifelong learning.
DREAM Lab follows the STEAM tradition—using technology, engineering, and math to drive student inquiry, dialogue, and critical thinking. Learners dive into experiential projects, persist through problem-solving, collaborate with peers, and iterate through the creative process.
The “A” in DREAM is intentionally open-ended: it can stand for art, architecture, agriculture, an auditory approach, or expanding access. Whatever the discipline, students connect skills and imagination to turn ideas into reality.