Project Based Learning Electives provided by the Berrien Springs Virtual Academy
Michigan Explorers: Virtual Field Trips Around the Great Lakes State Spring 2026
All students must complete a project for these classes.
Instructor: Jessica Pelfrey
Email: pelfreyfamilyschooling@gmail.com
Day & Time: Asynchronous course; students complete assignments by weekly deadlines.
Start Date: Week of
Location: Online, Google Classroom
Grades: K-12
Course Description: Michigan Explorers: Virtual Field Trips Around Our State is an engaging and interactive online course that takes students on a digital journey across the Great Lakes State. Each week, learners will “visit” a new region of Michigan, discovering its unique history, geography, industries, and cultural contributions. From the iconic Mackinac Bridge to the bustling streets of Detroit, students will explore the many places that shape Michigan’s identity today. Through virtual tours, short videos, and focused activities, students will strengthen observation skills while learning how people and places interact in meaningful ways. Weekly creative assignments encourage students to apply what they’ve learned by designing travel brochures, diagrams, posters, maps, and informational journal entries. The course is designed for independent learning while still offering structure, creativity, and enrichment. Along the way, students will build a personalized “Michigan Explorer Scrapbook” that documents their travels and learning throughout the semester. This final project serves as both a fun keepsake and a demonstration of academic growth. By the end of the course, students will not only recognize major Michigan landmarks — they’ll appreciate how these sites contribute to our state’s communities, history, and future.
Michigan Explorers: Virtual Field Trips Around the Great Lakes State
*Please note: it is important to make as informed a decision as possible when choosing your student's Community Resource classes. Most locations will allow a student to drop a class after one meeting, at no charge if it wasn't a good fit for the student, but not all. Some classes plan ahead based on the number that have signed up and have purchased materials, hired teachers, etc. and there might be a fee for class time or materials given to the student if the student drops after one or two meetings. The school cannot pay for classes that students do not complete, so choose wisely; if you do not take the class off of your student's schedule by the deadline, you may be asked to pay for the class time incurred prior to dropping the class.
Teacher of Record: Lindsay Ransom
