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 >>
Persuasive Essay
Our four oldest students participated in a four-session writing short course on persuasive essays. The students read and listened to examples of persuasive writing. They learned how writing is only persuasive when there is an audience the author seeks to move. They learned how research, reasoning and anecdotes could be used in crafting strong supporting Read More >>
History and Lincoln
Students in the upper grades this fall started a unit on the Civil War. Before we delved into this history topic they were asked three questions to respond to individually and then discuss as a group. They were asked: What is history? Who Cares? Why study it? Some of their responses were: Events leading Read More >>
Density and Viscosity
This spring students in eighth grade participated in a science class that explored density and viscosity. Our class started with viewing a short video on density with water, oil and syrup. Students were then asked to come up with ten questions they had and then narrow them down to the best three. Students then shared Read More >>
Writing Workshop with Paul
Three of our middle school students participated in a four-session workshop designed to enhance the skills of developing writers. In preparation, the students read “War Horse” by Michael Morpurgo — a story of World War I told through the eyes of a horse. Students discussed the the book and author’s writing style, and then wrote Read More >>
We Rise Above the Streets Field Trip
Through our Making the World a Better Place unit, students in grades 4 – 8 got to participate in a morning of service for the organization: We Rise Above the Streets. At the organization’s office, students helped pack bags of personal hygiene items that would be handed out to homeless and food insecure individuals Read More >>
Enterprise America Field Trip
This fall students in grades 4-8 got a chance to participate in a WCNY program called Enterprise America. Students got to run a simulated city for a day. Each student was assigned a job and given tasks on how to complete that job. Students also had to manage their paychecks, pay health insurance and figure Read More >>
Bubble Science
This fall, students in grades 6-8 participated in a unit on bubbles. We started this unit by creating a small and large frame that could help us explore soap solution. Students were then asked what they would like to know about soap bubbles and what surfaces they would like to test to see if they Read More >>
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 >>
Advanced Math Class
Two students in 7th grade are working at an advanced pace on 7th grade materials. Since the start of the year, they have reviewed topics of fractions, decimals, and a variety of other topics to bring them up to speed on going through our new text book. Our topics this fall have included The Language of Read More >>