Academics
|
Gallery of Student Work & Learning Expeditions
|
|
Our 8th-grade students, inspired by Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton, have been on a mission to tell the stories of those whose stories often go untold. Our students have written the life stories of immigrants in the Annunciation community in order to show the incredible strength, resilience, and humanity of immigrants in our community. They have also analyzed the concept of the American Dream throughout history and within their own lives to create their own American Dream. Finally, our students have used design thinking in science to create a floor plan for our school, leaving a legacy at the school, just like Hamilton left a legacy for America.
Nuestros estudiantes de octavo grado, inspirados por Hamilton de Lin-Manuel Miranda, han tenido la misión de contar las historias de aquellos que no se cuentan. Nuestros estudiantes han escrito las historias de la vida de los inmigrantes en la comunidad de Anunciación para mostrar la increíble fuerza, resiliencia y humanidad de los inmigrantes en nuestra comunidad. También han analizado el concepto del Sueño Americano a lo largo de la historia y dentro de sus propias vidas para crear su propio Sueño Americano. Finalmente, nuestros estudiantes han utilizado el pensamiento de diseño en la ciencia para crear un plano de planta para nuestra escuela, dejando un legado en la escuela, al igual que Hamilton dejó un legado para Estados Unidos. CLICK HERE TO READ THE SPRING 2025 STORIES |
|
7th Grade | Inside Out and Back Again: A Closer Look at our Community and Selves
Inspired by the book Inside Out and Back Again by Thannha Lai, our 7th graders have created their own book of heartfelt poems in which they bravely share how their own lives have been turned “inside out and back again.” In addition to these poems, our 7th graders have created icons of individuals that they believe are modern-day saints and viewed the influence of location and those who come before us in their lives. Ultimately, these images allow them to better see themselves and those around them as saints in our Church.
Inspirados por el libro Inside Out and Back Again de Thannha Lai, nuestros alumnos de 7.º grado han creado su propio libro de poemas sinceros en los que valientemente comparten cómo sus propias vidas e identidades se han invertido "al derecho y al revés". Además de estos poemas, nuestros alumnos de 7º grado han creado íconos de personas que creen que son santos modernos y han visto la influencia de la ubicación y de aquellos que nos precedieron en sus vidas. Últimamente, estas imágenes les permiten verse mejor a sí mismos y a quienes los rodean como santos en nuestra Iglesia.
Inspirados por el libro Inside Out and Back Again de Thannha Lai, nuestros alumnos de 7.º grado han creado su propio libro de poemas sinceros en los que valientemente comparten cómo sus propias vidas e identidades se han invertido "al derecho y al revés". Además de estos poemas, nuestros alumnos de 7º grado han creado íconos de personas que creen que son santos modernos y han visto la influencia de la ubicación y de aquellos que nos precedieron en sus vidas. Últimamente, estas imágenes les permiten verse mejor a sí mismos y a quienes los rodean como santos en nuestra Iglesia.
6th Grade | Water & Life
|
Our students synthesized what they learned about water issues in the United States and Laudato Si to create materials educating our community on our water quality, what community members can do to help, and why households should test their water. In addition, 6th graders created visuals & written explanations to interpret their lawn survey data in a professional scientific paper.
Nuestros estudiantes sintetizaron lo aprendido sobre los problemas del agua en Estados Unidos y Laudato Si para crear materiales que educan a nuestra comunidad sobre la calidad del agua, cómo pueden ayudar los miembros de la comunidad y por qué es importante analizar el agua en los hogares. Además, los alumnos de 6.º grado crearon materiales visuales y explicaciones escritas para interpretar los datos de su estudio del uso de agua en un artículo científico profesional. |
|
5th Grade | Not One, But Millions: Solutions in CST
In science, the fifth graders created posters sharing awareness for the different types of pollution and how we can lessen it in our community and in ELA they created a proposal and plan for our school to begin composting. They also shared letters with our janitorial staff expressing our gratitude for their dignified and important work! In math, they used their knowledge of conversion and fractions to create recipe cards of family recipes to share with the community. Finally, to wrap it all up, they created large canvas paintings in art class to represent each of the 7 Catholic Social teaching principles being lived out. These canvases are meant to hang in the halls of the school to remind us all of CST!
En ciencias, los alumnos de quinto grado crearon carteles para concientizar sobre los diferentes tipos de contaminación y cómo podemos reducirla en nuestra comunidad. En Lengua y Literatura Inglesas, crearon una propuesta y un plan para que nuestra escuela comience a compostar. ¡También compartieron cartas con nuestro personal de limpieza expresando nuestra gratitud por su valiosa e importante labor! En matemáticas, usaron sus conocimientos de conversión y fracciones para crear tarjetas de recetas familiares para compartir con la comunidad. Finalmente, para finalizar, crearon grandes lienzos en la clase de arte para representar cada uno de los 7 principios de la Doctrina Social de la Iglesia (CSID) que se practican. ¡Estos lienzos están pensados para colgar en los pasillos de la escuela como recordatorio de la CST!
En ciencias, los alumnos de quinto grado crearon carteles para concientizar sobre los diferentes tipos de contaminación y cómo podemos reducirla en nuestra comunidad. En Lengua y Literatura Inglesas, crearon una propuesta y un plan para que nuestra escuela comience a compostar. ¡También compartieron cartas con nuestro personal de limpieza expresando nuestra gratitud por su valiosa e importante labor! En matemáticas, usaron sus conocimientos de conversión y fracciones para crear tarjetas de recetas familiares para compartir con la comunidad. Finalmente, para finalizar, crearon grandes lienzos en la clase de arte para representar cada uno de los 7 principios de la Doctrina Social de la Iglesia (CSID) que se practican. ¡Estos lienzos están pensados para colgar en los pasillos de la escuela como recordatorio de la CST!
4th Grade | Peaceful Poems for a More Perfect Union
In science, fourth-graders coded original video games inspired by the poems, speeches, and powerful people they read, with the hopes of uplifting their untold stories. In ELA, our final product is original poems written, inspired by the people we have studied. We want to honor the people in our community and tell their story to inspire others. Our poems were guided by themes we’ve learned, such as love of family, tributes to great men and women of color in our country, and causes of peace, compassion, and justice. Our poems will be used for Annunciation’s Peace Day each year.
En ciencias, los alumnos de cuarto grado programaron videojuegos originales inspirados en los poemas, discursos y personajes influyentes que leyeron, con la esperanza de enriquecer sus historias aún no contadas. En Lengua y Literatura Inglesas, nuestro producto final son poemas originales escritos, inspirados en las personas que hemos estudiado. Queremos honrar a las personas de nuestra comunidad y compartir sus historias para inspirar a otros. Nuestros poemas se inspiraron en temas que hemos aprendido, como el amor a la familia, los homenajes a grandes hombres y mujeres de color de nuestro país y las causas de la paz, la compasión y la justicia. Nuestros poemas se usarán cada año para el Día de la Paz de la Anunciación.
En ciencias, los alumnos de cuarto grado programaron videojuegos originales inspirados en los poemas, discursos y personajes influyentes que leyeron, con la esperanza de enriquecer sus historias aún no contadas. En Lengua y Literatura Inglesas, nuestro producto final son poemas originales escritos, inspirados en las personas que hemos estudiado. Queremos honrar a las personas de nuestra comunidad y compartir sus historias para inspirar a otros. Nuestros poemas se inspiraron en temas que hemos aprendido, como el amor a la familia, los homenajes a grandes hombres y mujeres de color de nuestro país y las causas de la paz, la compasión y la justicia. Nuestros poemas se usarán cada año para el Día de la Paz de la Anunciación.
3rd Grade | The Byzantine Empire
Students worked in groups and created informational pamphlets about a specific topic related to the Byzantine Empire. Our upcoming community service project: Students and their families will gather coloring books and supplies for a local women’s shelter.
Los estudiantes trabajaron en grupos y crearon folletos informativos sobre un tema específico relacionado con el Imperio Bizantino. Nuestro próximo proyecto de servicio comunitario: Los estudiantes y sus familias reunirán libros para colorear y materiales para un refugio local para mujeres.
Los estudiantes trabajaron en grupos y crearon folletos informativos sobre un tema específico relacionado con el Imperio Bizantino. Nuestro próximo proyecto de servicio comunitario: Los estudiantes y sus familias reunirán libros para colorear y materiales para un refugio local para mujeres.
2nd Grade | Growing Our Garden: Interconnectedness in Nature and Community
Each student created an informational pamphlet about a garden helper of their choice. In the pamphlet, they explained their garden helper’s role in the garden community, how to care for their garden helper, and similarities between garden communities and human communities. Their pamphlets also include a labeled illustration of their garden helper, a photo from our fieldwork, and a sentence describing their favorite part of this expedition
Cada estudiante creó un folleto informativo sobre un ayudante de jardinería de su elección. En el folleto, explicaron el papel de su ayudante en la comunidad, cómo cuidarlo y las similitudes entre las comunidades de jardinería y las comunidades humanas. Sus folletos también incluyen una ilustración de su ayudante, una foto de nuestro trabajo de campo y una frase que describe su parte favorita de esta expedición.
Cada estudiante creó un folleto informativo sobre un ayudante de jardinería de su elección. En el folleto, explicaron el papel de su ayudante en la comunidad, cómo cuidarlo y las similitudes entre las comunidades de jardinería y las comunidades humanas. Sus folletos también incluyen una ilustración de su ayudante, una foto de nuestro trabajo de campo y una frase que describe su parte favorita de esta expedición.
1st Grade | Amazing Animals: Caring for God’s Creation
As a final product, students created an illustration and wrote a summary about their animal. They made postcards to give to our guests Celebration of Learning!
Como producto final, los estudiantes crearon una ilustración y escribieron un resumen sobre su animal. ¡Hicieron postales para regalar a nuestros invitados de la Celebración del Aprendizaje!
Como producto final, los estudiantes crearon una ilustración y escribieron un resumen sobre su animal. ¡Hicieron postales para regalar a nuestros invitados de la Celebración del Aprendizaje!
Kindergarten | Serve, learn, love through Friendship!
To celebrate the end of a joyful and faith-filled year, our kindergarteners created a meaningful final project that beautifully reflected their journey together. Each child planted a flower to symbolize how we grow not just as individuals, but as a caring community rooted in serving, learning, and loving. Kinder also took a special moment to share kind words and thoughtful compliments, making sure every classmate felt seen, valued, and appreciated. To complete the project, the students recorded a heartwarming video where they answered two questions about their growing friendships with one another and with God. This expedition captures the spirit of our classroom: one full of friendship, faith, and the joy of growing together.
Para celebrar el final de un año alegre y lleno de fe, nuestros alumnos de kínder crearon un proyecto final significativo que reflejó a la perfección su camino juntos. Cada niño plantó una flor para simbolizar cómo crecemos no solo como indivíduos, sino como una comunidad solidaria basada en el servicio, aprendizaje y amor. Los alumnos de kínder también dedicaron un momento especial a compartir palabras amables, asegurándose de que cada compañero se sintiera reconocido, valorado y apreciado. Para completar el proyecto, los alumnos grabaron un video conmovedor donde respondieron dos preguntas sobre su creciente amistad entre ellos y con Dios. Esta expedición captura el espíritu de nuestra clase: uno lleno de amistad, fe y la alegría de crecer juntos.
Para celebrar el final de un año alegre y lleno de fe, nuestros alumnos de kínder crearon un proyecto final significativo que reflejó a la perfección su camino juntos. Cada niño plantó una flor para simbolizar cómo crecemos no solo como indivíduos, sino como una comunidad solidaria basada en el servicio, aprendizaje y amor. Los alumnos de kínder también dedicaron un momento especial a compartir palabras amables, asegurándose de que cada compañero se sintiera reconocido, valorado y apreciado. Para completar el proyecto, los alumnos grabaron un video conmovedor donde respondieron dos preguntas sobre su creciente amistad entre ellos y con Dios. Esta expedición captura el espíritu de nuestra clase: uno lleno de amistad, fe y la alegría de crecer juntos.
Preschool | Courageous Contributors of our Community
Our final product is a heartwarming video of the children answering the question of “What would you like to be when you grow up?” This video shows that every career can be a community helper, and we get to observe what every preschooler would like to be.
Nuestro producto final es un video reconfortante de los niños respondiendo a una pregunta de “¿Qué te gustaría ser cuando crezcas?” Este video muestra que cada carrera puede ser una ayuda para la comunidad y podemos observar lo que a cada niño en edad preescolar le gustaría ser.
Nuestro producto final es un video reconfortante de los niños respondiendo a una pregunta de “¿Qué te gustaría ser cuando crezcas?” Este video muestra que cada carrera puede ser una ayuda para la comunidad y podemos observar lo que a cada niño en edad preescolar le gustaría ser.
Learning Highlight Reel:
Remembering Past Expeditions
Learning Expeditions Archive
Check Out Past Final Products:
Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story? | 8th Grade
Whose stories get told? Whose stories don’t? How can we tell the stories of those who history might otherwise forget? These questions have been at the center of the 8th grade’s expedition, in which they have studied the life of Alexander Hamilton, the experiences of immigrants in America, and the stories of immigrants in their own community. In writing the stories of immigrants in their community, viewing the concept of the American Dream throughout history, and using design thinking to create a legacy project, our 8th graders have ensured that their legacies and the legacies of people in their community will live on.
8th Grade Class of 2024 Stories
8th Grade Class of 2023 Stories
8th Grade Class of 2022 Stories
8th Grade Class of 2024 Stories
8th Grade Class of 2023 Stories
8th Grade Class of 2022 Stories
CST: You and Me! | 5th Grade
|
Fifth graders learned about the 7 Catholic Social Teaching (CST) Principles and how the Catholic Church calls us to “be doers of the word, not hearers only.” Across Catechism, reading, writing, CREW, and science, fifth-graders dove into the details of each principle and discovered how their words and actions can be living examples of God’s love as members of the Body of Christ.
5th Grade Class of 2024 Podcast - CST: You and Me! Volume 2 5th Grade Class of 2023 Podcast - CST: You and Me! Volume 1 |
|
Windows to the World: Overcoming Barriers in Literacy | 3rd Grade Spring 2024
|
The third-grade class discovered that many of the Little Free Libraries in our neighborhood were almost empty and decided to hold a book drive to help update the books circulating in our neighborhood. They created high-quality brochures detailing the book drive and shared them with our school, our neighbors, and their own families and communities. They spent several weeks adding these collected books to our neighborhood libraries, making sure on a weekly basis that each library was full and tidy. They also built their own little free library, The Sci-Library, which will focus specifically on books about science and the world around us, to share with our neighborhood.
Los estudiantes descubrieron que muchas de las Pequeñas Bibliotecas Gratuitas de nuestro vecindario estaban casi vacías y decidieron realizar una colecta de libros para ayudar a actualizar los libros que circulan en nuestro vecindario. Crearon folletos de alta calidad que detallaban la colecta de libros y los compartieron con nuestra escuela, nuestros vecinos y sus propias familias y comunidades. Pasaron varias semanas agregando estos libros recopilados a las bibliotecas de nuestro vecindario, asegurándose semanalmente de que cada biblioteca estuviera llena y ordenada. También construyeron su propia pequeña biblioteca gratuita, The Sci-Library, que se centrará específicamente en libros sobre ciencia y el mundo que nos rodea, para compartir con nuestro vecindario. |
|
Where In The World is Mary? | First Grade Spring 2022
Mrs. Roberts was taking the school on a journey around the world with Mary, but couldn’t find a good children’s book. So, we decided to write one for her. It’s called Where In The World Is Mary?
Theatre Performance of 'Brother Rabbit' at the Walnut Room Theatre | Middle School Spring 2017
With the support and direction of the CSU 4-H Theatre program, our Annunciation middle school “Young Performers" theatre troupe performed their rendition of “Br'er (Brother) Rabbit & Other Stories” on stage at the Walnut Room, a great local restaurant and concert venue in RiNo, near our school! We are incredibly proud of the excellent performance our students put on, and want to give special thanks to the Walnut Room for hosting the event, as well as tremendous gratitude to Ken Grimes & Robert Franklin of the 4H theatre program.
5th Grade Visual Arts Exhibit at the Redline Gallery
5th Grade | Fall, 2016
In collaboration with local artist Dr. Ella Maria Ray, the Annunciation 5th grade students created an art exhibition displayed at the Redline Art Gallery in Denver's RiNo Arts District. In this installation, our students celebrate our multicultural community, call out injustices they see in our neighborhood, and explore their hopes and fears for our city and our nation. Their work has been featured by Westword, ABC Channel 7 News, Telemundo Denver, and Univision/Entravision Denver.
In collaboration with local artist Dr. Ella Maria Ray, the Annunciation 5th grade students created an art exhibition displayed at the Redline Art Gallery in Denver's RiNo Arts District. In this installation, our students celebrate our multicultural community, call out injustices they see in our neighborhood, and explore their hopes and fears for our city and our nation. Their work has been featured by Westword, ABC Channel 7 News, Telemundo Denver, and Univision/Entravision Denver.
What Is A Bird?
Preschool Expedition | 2015-2016
How do you know if an animal is a bird? What do we look for? Well, after all of our learning, do we know birds! In this expedition, we learned how to identify birds by four general characteristics, and we learned what kinds of habitats birds need to survive. We also learned about a special bird - our school mascot, the cardinal - and what makes it stand apart from other birds. Check out our video and our work to learn all about birds, especially the cardinal!
How do you know if an animal is a bird? What do we look for? Well, after all of our learning, do we know birds! In this expedition, we learned how to identify birds by four general characteristics, and we learned what kinds of habitats birds need to survive. We also learned about a special bird - our school mascot, the cardinal - and what makes it stand apart from other birds. Check out our video and our work to learn all about birds, especially the cardinal!
Worms Are Not Yucky!
Kindergarten Expedition | 2015-2016
In Kindergarten, we believe that worms are important, but most people think they're bad. So, we wanted to learn about worms and change people's minds! In this expedition, we became scientists: scientists who study worms - oligochaetologists. In the first case study, we investigated the life of a worm (life cycle, body parts, habitat, what it eats…etc). Then, we explored what oligochaetologists do and learned more about our worms through experiments. Check out our work and our video about why worms are not yucky!
In Kindergarten, we believe that worms are important, but most people think they're bad. So, we wanted to learn about worms and change people's minds! In this expedition, we became scientists: scientists who study worms - oligochaetologists. In the first case study, we investigated the life of a worm (life cycle, body parts, habitat, what it eats…etc). Then, we explored what oligochaetologists do and learned more about our worms through experiments. Check out our work and our video about why worms are not yucky!
How'd That Get There? The Mysterious Story of Seashell Fossil Found in the Mountains.
6th Grade Expedition | 2015-2016
During the summer of 2015, we found a sea shell fossil in a canyon in northwest Colorado. We were shocked! How did it get there? Was Colorado under water in the past? So, we set off on a five-month-long learning expedition to answer that question. We conducted field work in the mountains, worked with Joe Sertich (Paleontologist & Curator of Dinosaurs) from the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, and read and wrote a lot about the geologic history of our state. As a final product to show all we learned, we wrote and published a book about the geologic history of Colorado, complete with illustrations (click on the cover on the right to read the entire book online or order a copy). In this book the seashell (named MJ), takes us on a journey through time to experience Colorado over the past 400 Million Years! We hope you enjoy our book & contact [email protected] to order a copy!
During the summer of 2015, we found a sea shell fossil in a canyon in northwest Colorado. We were shocked! How did it get there? Was Colorado under water in the past? So, we set off on a five-month-long learning expedition to answer that question. We conducted field work in the mountains, worked with Joe Sertich (Paleontologist & Curator of Dinosaurs) from the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, and read and wrote a lot about the geologic history of our state. As a final product to show all we learned, we wrote and published a book about the geologic history of Colorado, complete with illustrations (click on the cover on the right to read the entire book online or order a copy). In this book the seashell (named MJ), takes us on a journey through time to experience Colorado over the past 400 Million Years! We hope you enjoy our book & contact [email protected] to order a copy!
Restoring Our River in RiNo
7th Grade Expedition | 2015-2016
At Annunciation, we are fortunate to have a river ecosystem right in our neighborhood, but really, how healthy is the South Platte River ecosystem in the city? What can we do to improve it so trout and other native species can thrive there? In this expedition, we explored the biology and ecology of a healthy, interdependent, and balanced Colorado river ecosystem, and developed ways we can lessen the city's impact on our river. We even established a cold-water river ecosystem tank in our classroom, complete with trout and a diversity of macroinvertebrates like mayfly nymphs and crawfish. In collaboration with Denver Water, the Earth Force, and Wenk & Associates Landscape Architecture firm who is leading the construction of the new riverside park in our neighborhood called RiNo Park, we are putting our learning to good use! We have given input and design ideas to the architects to help make the new RiNo park a beautiful and enjoyable community space, while also using the park to make the river ecosystem more natural and healthy.
At Annunciation, we are fortunate to have a river ecosystem right in our neighborhood, but really, how healthy is the South Platte River ecosystem in the city? What can we do to improve it so trout and other native species can thrive there? In this expedition, we explored the biology and ecology of a healthy, interdependent, and balanced Colorado river ecosystem, and developed ways we can lessen the city's impact on our river. We even established a cold-water river ecosystem tank in our classroom, complete with trout and a diversity of macroinvertebrates like mayfly nymphs and crawfish. In collaboration with Denver Water, the Earth Force, and Wenk & Associates Landscape Architecture firm who is leading the construction of the new riverside park in our neighborhood called RiNo Park, we are putting our learning to good use! We have given input and design ideas to the architects to help make the new RiNo park a beautiful and enjoyable community space, while also using the park to make the river ecosystem more natural and healthy.
Tiny Organisms, Big Role!
7th Science Expedition | 2014
Just because you don't see or notice them doesnt mean they're not doing something important. In this expedition, we explored the important role of tiny organisms, like microbes and macroinvertebrates in the South Platte River. For our final product, we created post cards that were presented to the Greenway Foundation of Denver to be used to teach the public to appreciate the river ecology.
Just because you don't see or notice them doesnt mean they're not doing something important. In this expedition, we explored the important role of tiny organisms, like microbes and macroinvertebrates in the South Platte River. For our final product, we created post cards that were presented to the Greenway Foundation of Denver to be used to teach the public to appreciate the river ecology.
