PolyAcademics
Curricular Travel
WELCOME! Our Application for the 2027-2028 school year is now open.
Poly provides students myriad ways of learning that extend beyond the classroom.
All Middle Schoolers enjoy curricular excursions within New York City and the tri-state area that enhance learning. Among the local curricular travel experiences students enjoy include:
- Hands-on STEM work with the Billion Oyster Project
- Touring collections and special exhibits at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Natural History, and Brooklyn Museum
- Observing assemblies at the United Nations
- Learning stunt moves from the high-energy team at STREB Extreme Action
In Grades 7 and 8, Poly’s faculty crafts optional, multi-day trips designed to enhance the curriculum in a real-world experience. Students may hone their language skills, see firsthand the places they’ve studied in history or English class, experience diverse cultures, and gain a broader perspective on global issues.
Middle School Multi-day Curricular Travel Paths in 2026-2027 include:
Chicago, Illinois (Grade 7)
On this five-day journey, our Grade 7 students will embark on an expedition into the science, skylines, and stories that make up the diverse fabric of the city of Chicago. Visiting several museums and other sites, students will unlock the secrets of the city’s architectural marvels, admire its literary legends, and appreciate its scientific achievements. In addition to a variety of hands-on, interactive experiences, students will tour the Museum of Science and Industry, engage in a workshop with the American Writers Museum, and learn about the diversity that encompasses Chicago’s identity by visiting several neighborhoods around the city. By the end of the trip, students will return home with a deeper understanding of how urban landscapes can spark scientific innovation and inspire artistic expression.
London, England (Grade 8)
Our Grade 8 London trip immerses students in the city’s rich literary and theatrical heritage. In this five-day London adventure, eighth graders will travel through 400 years of literary and performing arts history. We will listen to the stories of literary legends and explore London’s East End, home to the art and literature of vibrant immigrant communities for the past 200 years. We will also learn about the influence of British imperialism on contemporary culture and see some of the oldest versions of Shakespeare’s work, in print and on the stage. Students will attend two theater performances, participate in three interactive workshops, learn from several guided visits, and enjoy many small bites and meals from around the world—and will come home with countless memories and new ideas about the role of literature and performing arts in the world today.
NEW! Panama (Grade 8*)
In an immersive six-day excursion, Grade 8 Spanish students and heritage speakers will journey into the heart of Panama to explore the ways that global history, ecology, and Spanish language intersect. Throughout the experience, students will learn about how Panama’s juxtapositions have shaped the modern world, including the fragility of its diverse ecosystems, the indigenous watershed management that supports global trade systems, and the influence of world economic forces on local economies. Students will understand the engineering feats of the Panama Canal—and the workers that made its existence possible, at great cost. They will visit the Smithsonian’s Punta Culebra and participate in hands-on workshops at the Biomuseo to learn about how scientific researchers are helping to fight a warming world. Finally, students will learn from indigenous experts whose work sustains ecosystems the rest of the world depends upon. All of these experiences will be grounded in Spanish language immersion. Students will return home with a greater understanding of the responsibilities of being a global citizen.
* This Path is open to Grade 8 students who will have successfully completed at least Spanish 1 by the time of travel or who are a heritage speaker.
Current families can find out more information about our upcoming 2026-27 Curricular Travel by visiting the Parent Portal.
Read more about our recent Middle School Curricular Travel Paths:
