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Glimpses of After School; Winter

On an early November day, we stay outdoors later than usual to soak up the gorgeous weather, and enjoy using soccer balls.   A few days later, rain and a cold wind keep us indoors for the first time this school year and one child pulls out his guitar while others choose games–Amazing Labyrinth, Jellybean Land–and Read More >>

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James Pass Arboretum Project

Over the summer of 2014, teachers at The New School decided that the older students would take part in a year-long study of trees, where they would learn about tree identification, and how the study of a tree’s habit, its leaves, bark and fruit provide identification clues. As we researched our options of places we Read More >>

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Native Americans and their Biomes Part II

After creating a landscape depicting the biome where their Native Tribe lived, children were given a Native American myth or legend to read and study. Each child was challenged to retell the story to their peers using all the skills ably demonstrated by gifted storyteller, Vanessa Johnson. Some of skills the children identified when Vanessa Read More >>

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Flying Airplanes!

How do airplanes fly? That is a question that our younger students (K-2) explored during Investigations. They made paper airplanes and tested them to see how far they could fly. Then they modified their planes to see if they could get them to fly farther. They compared their recorded distances to draw their conclusions.

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Civil War Class

The oldest group of students finished up their in depth study of the Civil War. After learning about the local abolitionist movement and underground railroad here in Syracuse at the Onondaga Historical Association, the students analyzed the causes of the war from both the north and souths perspective. They read and interpreted the inaugural address Read More >>

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Mr. Wizard, aka Buzzy Dale, Mystery Guest

The New School now has its own Mr. Wizard! Buzzy Dale (Chloe’s father) is sharing his love of teaching science and knowledge as we explore electricity and magnetism. His first demonstration had the children enraptured as he demonstrated how electricity flows through conductors, and is stopped by insulators. He also demonstrated how materials vary in Read More >>

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Megan Wagner-Flynn visits as a Mystery Guest

Megan Wagner-Flynn visited The New School, not as Evan’s sister, but as a Mystery Guest! The students guessed that she was here to share about her experience as a former student at The New School and they were right. Megan brought 3 of her end of year gifts she received. She shared the meaning of Read More >>

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Phil Brill, Mystery Guest

Phil Brill, Valor’s Grandpa and author of a children’s book, The Red Bottle, was in town visiting his family. He offered to come to school and share his real life story that inspired him to write The Red Bottle. He shared the lovely story of his trip to the beach where he found sea glass. He talked Read More >>

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Writing Workshop – The Elements of a Good Story

A small group of older students have been discussing the important elements of a great story. First we considered setting and the children created a drawing or map of a place or setting that intrigued them. The following week we discussed character and the importance of considering the inner as well as outer traits of Read More >>

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Book Club: Two Tickets to Freedom

The oldest students have all read Two Tickets to Freedom: The True Story of Ellen and William Craft, Fugitive Slaves by Florence B. Freedman. This has been part of their social studies unit on the Civil War. After completing the assigned reading, they met in small groups to discuss questions that not only exercised their comprehension Read More >>