06/05/2026
A cornerstone of a Learning Project education is what we call the Independent Research Study, or IRS. Each spring, students in grades 3-6 are given the freedom to select a topic that is of personal interest to them, then develop a series of questions to be researched over several weeks, describe their findings in expository form, and create a project inspired by their research.
Among other objectives, this project is designed to enhance the students’ critical thinking skills, promote autonomy and time management, synthesize a number of writing skills taught over the year, and then provide an opportunity for public speaking/presentation. Typically, students relish this opportunity to dive deep into a topic they are particularly curious or passionate about, further promoting a love of learning.