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Multiplication and Division

Students in the middle grades have been working on division and multiplication using our TERC series of Investigations books.  We’ve explored the number chart with skip counting, played games like Tricky Triangles, written riddles for our classmates to solve and completed worksheets on arrays.  We even read and solved riddles from the book Each Orange Read More >>

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Lewis and Clark

Our Lewis and Clark unit began with a Visual Thinking Strategy (VTS) exercise using a map showing the Louisiana Purchase. Then we discussed President Thomas Jefferson’s instructions to Lewis & Clark before they set off on their mission. Students had to take on the role of Meriwether Lewis or William Clark and write a letter Read More >>

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Mesopotamia

This fall, the middle group of students studied Mesopotamia. They began their study by looking at the differences between settled and nomadic people. Outdoors, they participated in a role play scenario in which they were nomadic Sumerians hunting and gathering food, creating shelter, and making clothes, tools and weapons. In small groups they read “If Read More >>

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New and Goods for Capitals and Punctuation

This year we have a group of children in the 2nd and 3rd grades that were ready to develop a better awareness of the conventions of writing, including capitals and punctuation. We decided that we would use the familiar format of New and Goods but with a different focus. The first session showed what we Read More >>

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Wishes, Lies and Dreams

Inspired by Kenneth Koch’s book, Wishes, Lies and Dreams children in second and third grade spent six weeks writing poems about sounds, dreams, colors, comparisons, and lies. They were most intrigued and excited about writing about lies! White Mitten by Syris I had a white mitten As white as the snow I did snow angels Read More >>

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Small Moments

The second and third graders are proud to have published their small moments stories! They took part in a writing workshop where they realized that they can learn to be better writers by studying other authors. Angela Johnson, Ezra Jack Keats and our fellow New Schooler Jonah became mentor authors to the students. Through their Read More >>

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Mummies in the Morning Book Club:

Six students took part in a book club and read Mummies in the Morning by Mary Pope Osborn. This book club gave the students a chance to further their knowledge about mummies and pyramids. At book club meetings the students shared predictions for the up coming chapters, responded to comprehension questions, and worked through packet Read More >>

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Data and Graphing

This fall the younger group of students in 2nd and 3rd  grades began a data class with Johnna our student teacher. Throughout this class the students demonstrated the ability to collect numerical data, represent class data in a variety of ways and develop language used to interpret data. Johnna modeled each step before the students Read More >>

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Green Eyed Monster

This mini unit explored the connections between visual art and language arts, and how both are used to creatively tell stories and express emotions. After listening to the picture book, Go Away Big Green Monster by Ed Emberley children were introduced to adjectives as descriptive words. The students then brainstormed adjectives they could use for Read More >>

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Creating a Nature-Classroom Interface

Creating a Nature-Classroom Interface. By Emily Martin  To synthesize their knowledge of biomes, the 3rdgraders at TNS along with the 1st and 2nd graders were involved in a lesson allowing them to delve deeper into these habitats.  Emily Martin, senior at SUNY ESF, brought to the table a lesson plan about competition in the natural Read More >>