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Lego Class

2nd and 3rd graders are using Legos to learn about simple and powered machines, using hands-on activities. First they investigated structures and forces, incorporating both rigid and flexible shapes in building deck chairs and drawbridges. Applying principles they learned about levers, they made drumming machines. Innovating, they added pieces or moved pieces around to change Read More >>

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The Haudenosaunee and Indigenous People. 

One of our objectives for this unit is for children to learn that each Native American tribe is a different culture, affected by the geography of the land where they live. Students collaboratively worked on a puzzle and map showing the many different tribes and where they lived. Students are working on research assignments and Read More >>

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James Pass Arboretum

Ten of our oldest students visited James Pass Arboretum to observe and draw one of its majestic specimens. Tim Regin, longtime advocate for the arboretum, met with us sharing the history of the arboretum and its trees. Each student was assigned a different tree. In advance they had to research the tree determining if it Read More >>

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Mithila Art from India

Many thanks to Shalinee Kumari for visiting the New School! Shalini is a Mithila-artist from India who was visiting SU for a residency. She came to The New School to share her amazing art form. Then she returned to help students create their own works based on the Mithila style.  “Mithila is an ancient painting Read More >>

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Karen Kerney, Artist

In early November,  Karen Kerney, celebrated artist from Syracuse Cultural Workers, visited our school. Well known for her charming fold out depiction of the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address, we invited her to our school to share her stencil art process. Then children had the opportunity to create their own stencil of something they are thankful for. Read More >>

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SUNY ESF Field Trip

In November a small group of our older students expressed an interest in visiting the Gateway Center at SUNY ESF to view some of the finest specimens of birds, mammals, freshwater and marine fishes, reptiles and amphibians in their Roosevelt WildLife Collection. For two hours they were granted access to a subset of this collection Read More >>

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Experimental Design

At the beginning of the year, we started a unit on Experimental Design.  Students had to “Save Fred” a gummy worm from drowning by only using paper clips.  Students had to write down their procedure and then decide if they had done the procedure in the best way possible. They compared with peers and discussed Read More >>

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Leo Lionni Author Study

In fall of 2024, students in the younger grades met once a week and focused on the theme and author’s purpose of a story. A book by Leo Lionni was read and connections and predictions were made, while discussions were had about the topic of the story. After each story, we worked on creating a Read More >>

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Artavist

Each week, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth graders learned about how various art forms can be used as a form of activism. In the beginning, students learned about the term, artavists, meaning individuals that use art to be an activist. After learning about artavists, we read the book,  Artavist by Nikkolas Smith. While reading, Read More >>

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Static Electricity

Electricity  This fall, the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh graders have been learning about static electricity, atom components, and electromagnetism. We started the unit by exploring the impact that electricity has on our lives. Students took a scavenger hunt around the school to develop a collective list about items that use electricity. Then, students created Read More >>