Spring is the season of travel at Chicago City Day School.
Sixth-graders recently visited France and Spain on language-immersion trips, while our seventh-graders embarked on a science expedition to Space Camp in Alabama. Later this spring, the eighth-graders will explore the history of Washington D.C. and surrounding areas.
Teachers say these experiences are often transformative for elementary-school students.
"Providing travel experiences at a young age helps students develop global awareness, empathy, and adaptability," said Señor Roberto Rubio, City Day's Spanish teacher, who led the trip to Madrid. "These experiences encourage curiosity, build confidence, and show students that learning extends far beyond the classroom."
City Day sixth-graders in front of Museo del Prado, Spain's national art museum.
Language Trips
The language trips brought sixth-graders to Madrid, Spain, or Paris, France, depending on which language they study at City Day. Both groups of students visited important sights and cultural attractions while strengthening their language skills via daily interactions with local residents.
In Spain, students toured a bullfighting arena; explored Museuo Del Prado, Spain's national art museum, and Palacio Real, the home of the Spanish royal family; attended a soccer game; and took flamenco lessons, to name just a fraction of their activities. In France, students visited Napoleon's tomb, explored Versailles, enjoyed a boat ride on the Seine River, and toured the Sacré-Cœr Basilica. Both groups also spent time with peers at local schools and ate at a variety of local cafes & restaurants.
"This trip brings immediate relevance and purpose to everything we do in the classroom," said Madame Kelsey Morehead, City Day's French teacher. "Students return with stronger listening and speaking skills, a deeper understanding of French culture, and a renewed sense of motivation and curiosity."
Students enjoy a celebratory leap in front of the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel in Paris.
Space Camp
The seventh-graders, meanwhile, spent a week at Space Camp in Huntsville, Ala., exploring the science behind space and space travel. The students conducted a simulated space capsule mission, experienced low gravity via the camp's 1/6 Gravity Chair, studied the technology that allows astronauts to survive in space, and much more.
Teachers said students' interest in space travel and STEM concepts in general grew exponentially throughout the week.
"You could see their curiosity build each day," said Zachary Pollack, grade 7 teacher at City Day. "It was particularly interesting to see how they connected their learning to real-world events. Many of the concepts we explored tie directly to current NASA missions, including Artemis II. Seeing students make those connections made the experience meaningful and relevant."
A student prepares for a simulation of working in space outside the capsule.
Graduates of City Day often cite one or more of these travel programs as being among the most memorable experiences of their time at the school. Educators at the school say its commitment to travel makes it stand apart from other elementary schools.
"At this age, these experiences are especially powerful because they shape how students see the world early on," Mme. Morehead said. "Rather than viewing another culture as distant or abstract, they begin to understand it as real, accessible, and connected to their own lives. That shift is foundational — not just for language learning, but for developing open-minded, confident individuals."
See more photos from the trips below.
- Interested in learning more about how City Day students explore the world? Contact our admissions team today.
