Learning by Doing - BASIS Independent Manhattan

At BASIS Independent Manhattan, our content-rich curriculum is complemented by plenty of opportunities for students to see ideas in action—both in and out of the classroom. We delight in giving students the opportunity to deepen their understanding of material and how it relates to the world around them, as well as explore problems from new angles.

Hands-on work and projects are present in all grades and subjects, especially through our primary Connections course and Project Week, but we take special care to allow students to learn through doing outside the four walls of their classroom. As a private school in New York City, our students are offered limitless opportunities to see coursework through a different lens.

Field TripsProject Week

Field Trips

At BASIS Independent Manhattan, New York City becomes our playground. We are uniquely situated in one of the most culturally rich and intellectually-stimulating cities in the world, allowing our teachers access to numerous amazing resources.

Our field trips are designed to make the curriculum come to life! For example, first graders go to a local Chinese restaurant to order in Mandarin and learn how to make dumplings from scratch; fourth graders studying suspension bridges during engineering walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and draw its structure from different perspectives; fifth and sixth graders go to the Apollo Theatre for a history and music lesson about the evolution of the blues and how it is the foundation for modern music around the world.

Project Week

The last week of school means Project Week at BASIS Independent Manhattan! This is an opportunity for students in all grades to work with their peers on multidisciplinary projects and to engage in a fun, new activity or trip with various grade levels. These projects challenge our students to be cooperative learners and to function as a team.

At the Lower School, our teachers collaborate on project themes that are so fun our students don’t even realize how much they are continuing to learn during the process. This also is an excellent time for students to get outdoors and take various field trips in NYC.

At the Upper School, Project Week means pack your bags! Students embark on national and international trips, while some even include a few visits to colleges and universities in the area.

Field Trips

Project Week

At the Upper School, Project Week means pack your bags! Students embark on national and international trips, while some even include a few visits to colleges and universities in the area.