Students in grades K-2 started a social students unit this fall on explorers. Students were first asked to explain the difference between an Explorer and Exploring and came up with statements such as: Explore means to look for things and Explorer is something or someone that discovers things; Explore means to find things and Explorer is someone that Read More >>
Multiplication/Division
A group of seven 3rd and 4th graders have been learning all about multiplication and division this winter. With multiplication, they started with cluster problems which break large problems such as 358×27 into small clusters of easily known multiplication sentences such as: 300×2, 300×20, 50×20, etc. Once the smaller problems are solved, students figure out which cluster will help Read More >>
GLIMPSES OF AFTER SCHOOL; FALL
The first day of the After School Program and the weather is lovely. We ease into the afternoon with tales of summer. Potluck with families at Ryder Park! We have outdoor fun raking leaves, building fairy houses, playing tag and role playing. We build structures and cavort in the woods and on the grass, gather Read More >>
Cells, Trees and ESF (Written by Nora, Neona and Marina)
This year, Neona and Nora’s science class was learning about plant and animal cells. To get a better understanding of plant cells we visited E.S.F. (Environmental Science and Forestry.) We went there for two and a half hours and in that time we visited two different labs. The first one we went to was Chuck Read More >>
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 >>
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 >>
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 >>
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.
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 >>
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 >>