In the fall, 2020, the 4-6 graders got to learn about rocks and minerals. To start our rocks and minerals class, we learned about the three rock types (Sedimentary, Metamorphic, and Igneous) and some characteristics of each type of rock, including how each type is formed. Then, we moved into how rocks are ever-changing and Read More >>
Archives for January 2021
Four Voices
A group of older students studied speech writing in a 5-session, online class. We listened to speeches written by Abraham Lincoln, Sojourner Truth and Frederick Douglass, and watched Martin Luther King deliver his “I have a dream” speech. We also discussed techniques for making writing for spoken voice more effective, and analyzed three videos delivered Read More >>
Four Voices
A group of older students studied speech writing in a 5-session, online class. We listened to speeches written by Abraham Lincoln, Sojourner Truth and Frederick Douglass, and watched Martin Luther King deliver his “I have a dream” speech. We also discussed techniques for making writing for spoken voice more effective, and analyzed three videos delivered Read More >>
Slave Trade
After the social injustice occurrences this past summer, The New School took it upon themselves to educate our students on the history to gain a better understanding of what is happening in our country. You could see our students learning about slavery and injustice all over the school. From Julie’s book club to Miranda’s read Read More >>
Vooks
Vooks is an online digital library with animated books aimed towards young readers. Throughout the fall, going into winter, I would show the students a Vook and during the reading, I would pause the video and ask students questions about the book we were watching. This is referred to as a “pause and ponder” on Read More >>
Africa
In the weeks leading up to winter break, our K-3 students had the opportunity to learn about another continent with our student teacher, Julie. She took them on a trip around the Earth to visit Africa (virtually, of course). To introduce this unit, she started out by using Google Earth to show the students our Read More >>
Butternut Creek 2020
At The New School we work hard to bring our curriculum alive, and to take our students out into the community for hands on learning experiences. This fall, as we started learning about fresh water biomes, we took our students in grades 4 – 7 to explore Butternut Creek. Nothing quite like donning a pair Read More >>
Animal Classification Part 3
This fall we resumed an Animal Classification Class that we had started last year. It included last year’s children and our newer children as well. We began with a long read aloud (and slide show-once we figured out how) called The Most Beautiful Rooftop in the World by Kathryn Lasky. It is a dense book Read More >>
Slave Trade
After the social injustice occurrences this past summer, The New School took it upon itself to educate its students on the history of social injustice in order to gain a better understanding of what is happening in our country. You could see our students learning about slavery and injustice all over the school. From Julie’s Read More >>
Kenneth Koch’s Wishes, Lies and Dreams,
Poetry Unit Kenneth Koch’s Wishes, Lies and Dreams, published in 1970, has long been considered a classic in its field. Herbert Kohl wrote that this is “perhaps the best book I have read portraying the joy and excitement young people experience when writing poetry.” Using this timeless book, for seven weeks, students in grades 4 Read More >>