International School of Denver students take learning beyond the classroom in their “How We Organize Ourselves” Unit of Inquiry

This fall, second-grade students at the International School of Denver took their learning into the community through a heartwarming visit to Brookdale Senior Living. The experience, part of their “How We Organize Ourselves” Unit of Inquiry, offered students a unique opportunity to connect with older generations, explore the roles people play within a community, and put their inquiry skills into action.

Learning by doing: Connecting curriculum to community

The collaboration between ISDenver and Brookdale Senior Living began last year with a few exploratory visits. Encouraged by the meaningful exchanges that took place, this year the second-grade teaching team decided to make the partnership an ongoing part of every unit’s “taking action” phase.

“Our goal is to provide real-world contexts for what our students learn,” Lizzy Gong, G2 Chinese Faculty, explained. “We believe deeply in learning by doing. Brookdale gives our students a meaningful environment where they can apply their knowledge, develop empathy, and grow as global citizens.”

This visit aligned perfectly with the current unit’s focus on how societies organize themselves through various helpers and roles. Students had already studied helpers within their school and local community, from nurses and maintenance staff to firefighters and transit professionals. Meeting the residents and staff at Brookdale offered them a new perspective on how people contribute to society across different stages of life.

Preparing young inquirers

Before the visit, the students spent several weeks preparing thoughtful interview questions. They practiced formulating meaningful inquiries, listening attentively, and communicating respectfully. These skills are central to the IB Learner Profile attribute of “Communicator.”

“The students weren’t just learning to ask questions,” Javier San José, G2 Spanish Faculty, shared. “They were learning how to connect with others, listen to personal stories, and see the evolution of community roles through history.”

Moments of connection and discovery

The visit itself was filled with powerful, touching moments. One of the most remarkable occurred when a student from Ethiopia began speaking with a Brookdale resident who had once been a teacher there. As they talked, the resident realized she had known the boy’s parents years earlier and had even held him as a baby. She returned to her room and brought back a photograph of herself with the student’s mother, holding him as an infant. “It was breathtaking,” said one teacher. “A beautiful reminder of how small and interconnected our world truly is.”

Another memorable highlight came when students met Jerry, a former San Francisco Giants player, who spoke to them about life as a professional athlete and the importance of education, communication, and perseverance. “He reminded our students that success in any field requires more than talent. It takes hard work, learning, and strong values,” Teresa Ferrandez, G2 Spanish Faculty shared.

Throughout the visit, students displayed genuine curiosity and compassion. They listened intently, asked thoughtful questions, and quickly formed warm connections with the residents. One student declared, “I want to stay here and live!” while another shared that it was their favorite school day ever.

Perhaps most telling of all, students immediately began asking when they could return. “Their desire to reconnect with their new friends at Brookdale is the greatest testament to the success of this experience,” said the teachers. “They don’t see it as a one-time visit. They see it as a friendship.”

Lessons beyond the classroom

The residents shared stories and advice that deeply resonated with the students, emphasizing values such as perseverance, empathy, and purpose. They encouraged students to choose careers that “fill the heart, not the pockets,” and shared how helping society can take many forms, not just through paid work, but through acts of care and service.

“These conversations gave our students a richer, more human understanding of what it means to be a community helper,” the Grade 2 teachers reflected. “They saw that roles evolve over a lifetime, and that everyone continues to contribute in meaningful ways.”

The ISDenver second-grade team plans to continue integrating visits to Brookdale into future units. “Our hope is to make this an enduring partnership that grows with each visit,” they shared. “We want to deepen these friendships, strengthen our students’ sense of community, and help them see that learning happens everywhere, especially in the connections we build with others.”

Through this ongoing collaboration, ISDenver students are not only exploring how communities are organized. They are actively shaping one. By bridging generations and sharing stories, they are living out the school’s mission to develop compassionate, globally minded learners who understand their power to make a difference.