Field Experiences

GCE is unique for the way we use our amazing city as a classroom. We’re proud of the way we help students to explore all Chicago has to offer.

The Field Experience (FE) Program exposes students to real-world environments where they explore their interests, apply what they’ve learned in the classroom, and expand their knowledge through firsthand interactions of local and global consequence.

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Working with Bikes at Working Bikes

By Adam Cohen-Leadholm / November 3, 2019
November 30, 2023 @ 2:16 pm CST

Juniors in Design & Engineering met with Anna, the volunteer coordinator at Working Bikes in Pilsen to learn about the anatomy and the mechanics of bikes. In the second unit…

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Better Design at the Greater Good Studio

By Adam Cohen-Leadholm / October 25, 2019
November 30, 2023 @ 2:16 pm CST

Juniors in Design & Engineering have been pursuing the guiding question, How does design process impact product and experience?. Specifically, students have been investigating the design of gardening tools and…

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Carrying Water @ The Chicago River

By Hiu To / September 29, 2019
November 30, 2023 @ 2:16 pm CST

Freshmen in the Water class visited the Chicago River to collect water. In the first unit of this STEAM course, students have been pursuing the guiding question, why is water…

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Studying the Chicago River on a Water Taxi

By Hiu To / September 29, 2019
November 30, 2023 @ 2:16 pm CST

In the first Unit of the Water class, the Freshmen have been pursuing the guiding question, Why is water so common yet so rare?. As a part of their investigation,…

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Investigating the Economics of Rideshare at the Chicago Lyft Hub

By Hiu To / September 29, 2019
November 30, 2023 @ 2:16 pm CST

The Seniors in the Economics course have been investigating the guiding question, How do we make choices in a world of limited resources and limited time?. In the course, students…

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Creation Stories with Lily Be

By GCE Lab School / September 16, 2019
November 30, 2023 @ 2:16 pm CST

In the first unit of the Stories course, Creation, students explored stories from a variety of cultures that try to provide answers to the questions: Why does the world exist?,…

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Meeting Human Needs at Lincoln Park Community Service

By Brent Mix / September 15, 2019
November 30, 2023 @ 2:16 pm CST

Unit I of SDGs & You is entitled Access, and it asks students to investigate the first, second, and fourth Sustainable Development Goals: No Poverty, No Hunger, and Quality Education (respectively).…

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Creating Drama at The Goodman Theater

By Hiu To / May 16, 2019
November 30, 2023 @ 2:16 pm CST

In the Sophomore Humanities course, Drama, the students have been investigating the guiding question, How does drama stage and heal our roles in society?. Specifically, they have been studying how…

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Going Beyond Our Limits with Sensei Lavin

By Hiu To / May 1, 2019
November 30, 2023 @ 2:16 pm CST

The Seniors in the Endurance class have been pursuing the guiding question, how much are you willing to endure to change the world?. In the first unit of this Humanities…

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Farm to Table at Big Delicious Planet

By Hiu To / April 26, 2019
November 30, 2023 @ 2:16 pm CST

The Freshman in the Food class has been pursuing an answer to the guiding question, What is the ecology of planting?. In the first unit of this STEAM course, students…

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Studying Ecosystems at Patchwork Farms

By GCE Lab School / April 22, 2019
November 30, 2023 @ 2:16 pm CST

The Freshmen taking Food have been pursuing the guiding question, What does a balanced ecosystem look like?. In the first unit of this STEAM course, students are investigating the types…

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A Test of Endurance

By GCE Lab School / April 19, 2019
November 30, 2023 @ 2:16 pm CST

Seniors in Endurance are investigating the journeys of endurance of historical fictional and non-fictional heroes. They are tasked with answering the guiding question, How do you endure mental and physical…

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Eat Your Neighborhood with Odd Produce

By Hiu To / April 19, 2019
November 30, 2023 @ 2:16 pm CST

The Freshmen in the Food For Thought class have been investigating the guiding question, How are food systems shaped and how do they shape the world?. As a part of…

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From Farm to Cup at Metropolis Coffee Company

By Hiu To / April 11, 2019
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November 30, 2023 @ 2:16 pm CST

Freshman in the Food For Thought class went to Metropolis Coffee Company’s roastery to learn about the life of the Coffee plant. Students were welcomed into the state-of-the-art roastery where…

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The Truth Behind MPG at Tesla

By Hiu To / March 8, 2019
November 30, 2023 @ 2:16 pm CST

In the second unit of the Fuel class, the Freshmen have been pursuing the question, How does matter become energy?. In pursuit of an answer, students have been studying the…

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Experiencing Sound at the Chicago Music Exchange

By Adam Cohen-Leadholm / February 28, 2019
November 30, 2023 @ 2:16 pm CST

In the second unit of the course, Light, Sound, and Time, the Juniors have been investigating the guiding question, What does life sound like?. As a part of their investigation,…

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Defining Dogma at the Muslim Community Center

By Sharon Holmes / February 28, 2019
November 30, 2023 @ 2:16 pm CST

The Sophomores in Forbidden Books have been investigating the guiding question, How are minds fanaticized?. Specifically, the students have been examining why books have been forbidden for dogmatic reasons through…

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Looking Through a Pinhole

By Hiu To / February 13, 2019
November 30, 2023 @ 2:16 pm CST

The Juniors in Light, Sound, and Time have been focusing on light and investigating the guiding question: What would life look like without light? . In order to illuminate answers…

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Closing the Loop at The Plant Chicago

By Hiu To / January 11, 2019
November 30, 2023 @ 2:16 pm CST

In the third unit of the Biomimicry Elective, the students have been investigating the guiding question, What would a fungus do?. In this unit, students have been investigating fungi and their…

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Want Not, Waste Not at The WasteShed

By Hiu To / January 7, 2019
November 30, 2023 @ 2:16 pm CST

Students in the Game Changers Elective have been pursuing the guiding question, How do game components come together?. In this unit of this game design course, students have been examining…

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