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Atoms and Molecules

This semester the 6th, 7th, and 8th graders spent 5 weeks learning basic chemistry! We started with the structure of the atom and decoding the information in the periodic table of elements, atomic numbers, atomic masses, etc. We then discussed the importance of electrons and covalent bonds. We started drawing simple organic and inorganic molecules Read More >>

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The Amendments to the Constitution

This year the fifth and seventh grade group worked together in their social studies class to investigate the amendments. The students worked with their student teacher, Amelia, and looked deeper into the constitution and the amendments that were added. Students were able to individually identify initial issues that were in the constitution, and work with Read More >>

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The Constitution

Over the winter five of our oldest students looked at American History and specifically the Declaration of Independence and the forming of the Constitution. After Visual Thinking Strategies to interpret the Join or Die cartoon, students read sections of the Declaration, putting the text into their own words. Then they recited their sections.We then turned Read More >>

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Systemic Racism

Our children, our students, live in a world that has developed all kinds of media and ways to transmit information, disinformation, ideas, and images.  They hear the media, adults, other peers talking about events and opinions as they move through their days.  Some of these ideas are exciting and innovative, others are darker and disturbing.  Read More >>

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Kate Woodle, Children’s Book Illustrator

Kate Woodle conducted a four-week, illustration workshop for the seven oldest students. Kate kicked off her workshop as a Mystery Guest for the whole school, where she described the process of illustrating a children’s picture book. To the smaller class, students had to bring a fictional story they had written. Kate showed them how to Read More >>

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Simple Machines

Students in grades 5-8 participated in a simple machines unit.  Our class started this unit by defining terms that had to do with simple machines and looking at cartoons drawn by Rube Goldberg to finding simple machines in his silly and complex drawings. During another class we watched a Myth Busters video about pulling out Read More >>

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Silk Road

This spring the oldest students started a unit on the Silk Road. The four objectives of this unit included being able to identify the major physical features that hindered travel between China and Europe. To discover how ideas, cultures and goods were exchanged through the Silk Road. Relate the ideas of trade and globalization to today. Compare Read More >>

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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 >>

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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 >>