In our seeds class the students were able to examine multiple different types of seeds. They looked at both dry and wet lima and kidney bean seeds. We first examined what the outside looked and felt like then the students were able to cut the seeds open and examine the insides so that they could Read More >>
Calder’s Circus
Step Right Up! The whole school spent this fall creating circus acts for our very own circus. We were inspired by the work of Alexander Calder and his amazing circus. We first watched a video of Alexander Calder presenting his circus (circa 1950). After generating a list of materials Calder used, and brainstorming possible Read More >>
Industrial Revolution
Our Industrial Revolution unit focused on the causes and effects of the Industrial Revolution. First we had to compare life in an agrarian society and how it was different during the industrial society. We looked at maps from 1860, 1900 and 1920 that showed how industrial centers started to grow and move west and south. Read More >>
Periodic Table
Children in grade 5-8th have participated in a class that has been exploring the periodic table. We started with thinking about how elements “look”. We built three different types of models to try and visualize these tiny building blocks. Our discussion included learning about atomic numbers, electrons, neutrons and protons. Read More >>
Explorers
Explorers class was a class that focused on a key question throughout the entire unit which was; did the explorers explore, encounter or invade the land they found? This question was asked many times throughout the unit. We read a book on Christopher Columbus called Encounter, after we read the book the vote was unanimous that Read More >>
Geometry Centers with Mary
This year we have continued math class with our youngest children by working on geometry. The first class looked at what they knew about a triangle. They drew pictures that included triangles and we talked about triangles having 3 sides and 3 corners. The second class we worked with 4 1/2 inch squares to visualize how Read More >>
The Seed Within
In this science class, the students read a book called “A Suitcase for Seeds.” The students were asked to make predictions about what they thought the seeds would look like, where they were located and how many there were. The students then got to analyze different fruits. We predicted what the inside of every fruit Read More >>
Lyle the Crocodile
This fall, students in Kindergarten and First Grade are exploring the fun of Bernard Waber’s loveable crocodile, Lyle. Each Friday we read a Lyle book and then draw and write about one part of the book. Students enjoy predicting what will happen in the story from the pictures, discussing vocabulary and drawing their own pictures Read More >>
Copy Word
Our kindergartner and a few of the first grader students participate in a once a week class called Copy Word. During this class, students are working on their fine motor skills through cutting and printing. Each class, students get to look through magazines and pick one word to “copy” neatly and accurately onto their paper. Read More >>
American History – The Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution.
Each year our social studies curriculum builds on what we have studied in the past. In September the oldest children revisited the Declaration of Independence this time focusing on the grievances articulated by the frustrated colonists. The list of grievances were divided between the students who, for homework, had to put them in their Read More >>