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Fractions

A small group of students in first, second and third grade explored fractions using multiple representations of ONE.  With parquetry pieces they considered the fractional parts of a hexagon. In the process they learned that the denominator means how many equal parts are in the whole, in ONE. While the numerator indicates how many of Read More >>

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Butterfly class

In January, we continued our butterfly class. As always it allowed for wonderful conversations on big ideas. One day we began to talk about butterflies, discussing that they don’t stay around to nurture their young. We talked a little about the difference between human, butterflies: learning from our parents or knowing through instinct. But of course, Read More >>

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Electricity

The youngest students have recently begun a unit on electricity.  We follow the same format we used for our Butterfly class.  We meet once a week for 50 minutes.  For the first half hour we read and talk.  For the next 20 minutes we have a studio time where we break up into 4 or Read More >>

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What does it mean to Individualize Curriculum?

Your child is like no other. At The New School we build our relationship with your child based on the understanding that each child processes their thinking and actions based on prior experiences, unique ways of accessing information and expressing their understandings.  Each week we develop an individual plan for your child. This plan, what Read More >>

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Snowflake Bentley

Inspiration for our Valentine Bags this year came from the picture book titled, Snowflake Bentley. The book tells the story of a man called Wilson Bentley who spent his lifetime studying snowflakes. He saw snowflakes as small miracles. Just as each snowflake is unique, so too are the designs created by our children. In the Read More >>

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Dragon Books

Our kindergarten and first grade students have practiced several language comprehension skills while channeling an appropriate fantasy outlet through the book, “Brave Martha and the Dragon.” We practiced character analysis skills by using text evidence and inferential skills to describe characters based on both physical characteristics and personal character traits. Students practiced using a variety Read More >>

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Bats

Our second through fourth graders have recently wrapped up a science unit on bats. In this unit we studied unique qualities and characteristics of specific bat species, compared bats to birds, learned about echolocation, and contributed to bat conservation. Some of our activities allowed students to create replica bat species using exact measurements and physical Read More >>

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Dragonling Book Club

For the past several weeks our book club read Jackie French Koller’s fantasy chapter book, Dragonling. This book follows the relationship of a young boy, Darek, who goes against everything he knows and befriends a young dragon in hopes to return him to his homeland and find a replacement family. Each week we met to Read More >>

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Johann Sebastian Bach

Johann Sebastian Bach’s Concerto for 2 violins, the Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 in F Major, Suite for Orchestra No. 3 in D Major and the Concerto for 2 pianos and Orchestra in C Minor inspired us in many ways. After listening to his music we enjoyed learning about the composer by reading Tom Leonard’s “Becoming Read More >>

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Sewing

Six of the oldest students just completed an exciting sewing project! First the children had to get certified by the Fayetteville Free Library’s staff. An hour long course taught them the parts of the sewing machine and how to thread it, fill a bobbin and more! Our second class involved designing a bargello patchwork quilt. The children selected fabric, donated by Read More >>