G11 students had the opportunity this week to travel to Madrid, Spain, one of the cultural centers of Europe for thousands of years with an extraordinary artistic heritage. Applying their skills learned in the classroom, this trip allowed our group of intrepid travelers to discover the world beyond and learn from it in a meaningful way.
The students explored Madrid’s extensive and diverse private collection starting with Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum. The museum visit was especially beneficial for History, Spanish B, and Visual Arts students. They then went to the Prado Museum, where students studied a variety of exquisite works of Goya and sculptures. Visual Arts students had a particular focus on curatorial practices.
Geography students collected primary data by studying the presence of urban stressors in the center of Madrid. They took pictures of particular sites and identified reasoning behind early trends between noise, air pollution, foot, and vehicular traffic.
Spanish speaking students had a chance to experience Madrid’s cinema and theater scene, giving them an authentic insight of the country’s history and culture.
Through the aforementioned activities as well as by exploring some of Madrid’s key sites, including the infamous bunkers in Parque del Oeste, History students were able to delve deeper into the intricacies and long-term effects of the Spanish Civil War. Such historical sites gave the visual arts students the opportunity to capture this through sketching. Thursday continued with a visit to the amazing Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina, which is an art museum, gallery and library, and world famous for the painting “Guernica” by Picasso, which all students had a chance to see. Rounded off by an emersive art exhibition, including original paintings, light, sound and virtual reality depicting Sorolla’s finest work.
The trip’s multi-purpose aim was to improve and develop Spanish language skills, get to know Spanish culture, develop creative, critical thinking and research skills. Students had the chance to taste authentic Spanish cuisine, explore the city’s vibrant history and neighborhoods. Academic trips like this provide students with an unparalleled opportunity to apply the skills they learn in the classroom to real-life situations in unfamiliar environments. They broaden students’ horizons, challenge their perspectives, and help them develop valuable life skills such as adaptability, independence, and problem-solving.
