What is an Expedition?
LMCJS is an EL Education school — part of a national network rooted in expeditionary learning. An Expedition is a multi-week, scholar-led investigation of a real-world question, the kind of learning that doesn’t fit on a worksheet. Each grade takes on a different topic. Each scholar does original research, builds something tangible, and presents her findings to the community. Three times a year, we open our doors so you can see for yourself.
Real Questions
Each Expedition starts with a question that matters in our scholars’ lives — survival, energy, plastics, resilience, identity. No filler.
Deep Research
Scholars learn from experts, do field work in Baltimore, and build evidence-based arguments. They become the experts.
Real Products
Every Expedition ends with something built — a kit, a model, a campaign, a presentation. Our girls make things that make a difference.
Public Sharing
At the end of each Expedition, we host a Celebration of Learning. Family, neighbors, and partners walk the studios and meet the scholars.
Our girls deserve schools that take their questions seriously.
Expeditions give our scholars the time, the trust, and the resources to chase ideas to their roots. They learn that their curiosity is fuel — and that the world is theirs to study, shape, and serve. We don’t prepare girls for someday. We invite them to do the work now.
What our scholars carry with them.
Research Skills
Investigation, evidence, citation, argument.
Creative Voice
Confidence to ask questions and make things.
Community
Real relationships with Baltimore and beyond.
Collaboration
Listening, leading, sharing the spotlight.
Built to Bloom
Rooted here. Ready everywhere.
Every grade asks one big question all year.
Each Expedition lives inside the grade’s year-long question. Different topics, different seasons — same lens. From fall to spring, our scholars chase the same thread of inquiry through new material.
Who is She?
Who are They?
Who are We?
Who am I?
Fall, Winter, Spring.
Each season brings a new Expedition and a new Celebration of Learning. Families, alumni, partners, and the wider community are warmly welcome at every one.
November 6, 2026
Leaders of Change
Our scholars study athletes for social change, monument-makers, voting rights, and the Constitutional Convention — and ask: how do communities advocate for what they need?
February 25, 2027
Pathways of Expression
Your story, your culture, your future. A school-wide gallery walk and stage showcase featuring our scholars’ work in art, theatre, dance, and Chinese language.
May 27, 2027 · 1–3 PM
Built to Bloom
Natural disasters, sustainability, plastics, and survivorship — across grades 5–8. Doors open. Studios full of work. Scholars ready to talk.
This Year · 2026–27
Three seasons. Four grades. Real questions.
Each Celebration of Learning shares out a full trimester of scholar work. Open any season to see what each grade is investigating.
★ Fall Celebration · Coming Up
Leaders of Change
Thursday, November 6, 2026 · 1–3 PM
Leaders of Change
How do communities advocate for what they need? Across the fall, scholars study the movements, monuments, and moments that shaped what change looks like.
5th Grade · Who Is She
Athlete Leaders of Social Change
The stories of women in sport who used their platforms to move history forward.
6th Grade · Who Are They
The Power of a Movement
Studying Apartheid, the anti-Apartheid movement, and what makes a social movement succeed.
7th Grade · Who Are We
Voting Rights & Response
How do people react when their rights are taken away? Scholars produce podcasts telling those stories.
8th Grade · Who Am I
The Constitutional Convention
How does the Constitution protect our rights? Scholars stage a town hall to answer.
Winter Celebration of the Arts
Pathways of Expression
Thursday, February 25, 2027 · 1–3 PM
Pathways of Expression
A school-wide gallery walk and stage showcase. Your story, your culture, your future — told through visual art, theatre, dance, and Chinese language. Winter is where our scholars step into the artistic voice they’ve been building all year, across every grade.
Spring Celebration · Lillie May Day
Built to Bloom
Thursday, May 27, 2027 · 1–3 PM
Built to Bloom
Doors open. Studios full of work. Scholars ready to talk. Spring is Lillie May Day — our biggest celebration of the year, tied to the birthday of the woman our school is named for.
5th Grade
Natural Disasters
Prepared girls prepare communities.
6th Grade
Energy & Sustainability
Girls growing the future.
7th Grade
Plastics & Systems
What we throw away never goes away.
8th Grade
Survivorship & Resilience
Healing is also a form of leadership.
How the afternoon flows.
Plan to arrive on time and stay for the whole program. The Celebration is an hour-long structured experience, not a drop-in.
What to bring
Yourself and questions for our scholars. They’ve prepared to talk through their work.
Accessibility
Campus is wheelchair accessible. ASL interpretation can be arranged in advance — mention your request when you RSVP.
RSVP
Help us plan programs. RSVP at least one week before each celebration to info@lilliemay.org.
Spring Celebration · May 27, 2027
About Lillie May Day
Where we honor our namesake.
Our Spring Celebration is more than a share-out of scholar work. It’s Lillie May Day — a day to honor the woman our school is named for, feed our community, and remember why we do this.
A Day of Service
Honoring our namesake.
The day is built around service, learning, and leadership — just as Lillie May Carroll Jackson lived hers.
Cupcake Birthday Moment
Celebrating her legacy.
We pause together to celebrate the life, leadership, and legacy of Lillie May Carroll Jackson — born May 25th. Cupcakes for everyone.
On Your Way Out
School Store & Pantry.
Take home LMCJ merch from our School Store, and grab from the Community Pantry as you leave.
Many ways to walk with us.
Attend a Celebration
Come to any of our three Celebrations of Learning. No experience needed — just curiosity and a willingness to ask a question. Subject line: RSVP + which celebration.
Volunteer at a Celebration
Help welcome families, staff hospitality, or support scholars on the day of a celebration. Subject line: Volunteer + which celebration.
Serve as an Expert
Visit a class before a celebration as a subject-matter guest. Our scholars interview experts as part of their research. Subject line: Expert + your area of expertise.
Partner With Us
Local business and nonprofit partners — we’d love to talk about how to support an Expedition. Subject line: Partnership.
@lmcj_scholars · lmcjcharterschool.org · #BuiltToBloom
