1st & 2nd Grade Independent Research Projects

At Odyssey, even our 1st and 2nd graders take on Independent Research Projects (IRPs) - a cornerstone of how learning happens here.
Each student chooses a topic that genuinely fascinates them. Anything from forest rangers to Mars rovers, percussion to woolly mammoths, Egyptology to elk. From there, they learn how to research, organize their thinking, and turn information into understanding.
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But it doesn’t stop at a report.
They build. They create. They interpret what they’ve learned through trifolds and hands-on creative projects: dioramas, sculptures, videos, even elk chili, as a final expression of their study. Then they present on stage in front of their families and peers, practicing not just what they know, but how to share it. This is what sets an Odyssey education apart - students aren’t just absorbing information, they’re learning how to ask questions, follow ideas, and speak about them with clarity and confidence.
It starts early, and you can feel the difference.