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Chemistry

This fall students in fifth and seventh grade will be studying chemistry and why it matters. To begin our unit of study, students performed and observed experiments involving physical and chemical changes. From there, students were brought outside to search for physical and chemical changes in their own backyard. The emphasis on this unit of Read More >>

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Animal Classification Part 2

If you need a reminder, check out the Part one description from last semester.   This project was designed as a year long project with time as one of our tools.  Another tool that The New School frequently utilizes is looking at the same big idea in multiple forms, and during multiple times of a Read More >>

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Hot and Cold

Hot and Cold is science unit for our youngest students which was started when the distance learning period began. We started by exploring the melting of an ice cube. How long did we think it would take for an ice cube to melt? Then we considered ways we could make the ice cube melt faster. Read More >>

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Human Body

Students have been studying the fascinating systems within the human body that help us perform our daily functions. Our 3rdand 4thgrade students started with studying the human brain and how it is composed of several different parts that each control a specific task within the body. Stations were created to stimulate different parts of the Read More >>

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Elephant in the Garden Book Club

Our 7thand 8thgrade students have spent the last several weeks reading a fantastic book, “An Elephant in the Garden by the acclaimed author Michael Morpurgo. Students have read through the eyes of Lizzie, a teenage girl living in Dresden, Germany during the second world war. Through Lizzie’s eyes students read about the horrific bombing of Read More >>

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Brain Development

On the first day, I shared how the brain physically develops.  I showed a great PBS video called The Developing Child.  I showed the kids the different areas of the brain and talked about what “jobs” they have, such as sight, hearing etc.. I had the kids do a quiz with me from PBS (attached) Read More >>

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Belfer Archive Field Trip

Our oldest students, grades 5-8, were treated to a field trip extraordinaire last week. A year ago this outing was recommended by a grandparent of one of our students, but wasn’t a “fit” for our curriculum. This year as we began to plan for a Sound Unit, we knew this was the moment. So we Read More >>

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Teaching and Learning through Games

Why do we play games?  What do they accomplish for teaching and learning? We have games for math, language arts, social studies, science and strategy.  We have games for inside and outside. We have cooperative and competitive games.  We have games we buy and we have many more games teachers and children have made. As Read More >>

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PROGRESSIVE EDUCATION AT THE NEW SCHOOL

School is a part of life.   Knowledge is constructed through play, direct experience, use of resources, and social interaction.   Learners are active participants, problem solvers, contributors, and social beings.   Social-emotional learning at school is an essential part of children’s development.   Teachers are facilitators who guide and foster thinking, creative expression and Read More >>

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Persuasive Essay

Our four oldest students participated in a four-session writing short course on persuasive essays. The students read and listened to examples of persuasive writing. They learned how writing is only persuasive when there is an audience the author seeks to move. They learned how research, reasoning and anecdotes could be used in crafting strong supporting Read More >>