Each child at The New School was given a replica of an old postcard of a Syracuse scene. Postcards showed parks, downtown scenes, and places of interest such as Oakwood Cemetery. Using VTS (Visual Thinking Strategies) children were asked to look at the picture and describe what was happening, and what made them say that? Read More >>
Syracuse Local History
Time Travel at The New School To introduce our Local History unit all the children at The New School were sent home a different historical postcard of a Syracuse scene. The postcards were dated from the 1920’s to 1930’s. Using Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS), students were asked to look at the postcard and list as Read More >>
13 Colonies
After studying the early explorers to the New World we turned our attention to the people who decided to settle in the New World – the early colonists. Each student was assigned one of the 13 colonies to research the answers to a number of questions. First they had to learn where Read More >>
From Europe to the New World
For the older student, our early American History unit began in September with a study of the early explorers to the New World. The students were divided into four groups (countries): Spain, France, England and Holland. Each group is responsible for researching and presenting information on an explorer from their country. At school we have Read More >>
Native American Exhibit
The New School’s Native American Exhibit Pueblo – Andy Zamora and Nick RussellNavaho – Zerbie Hynson and Emmy NewmanTlinglit – Sam Pullman and Quin DeliaSeminole – Evelyn Caldwell and Martin Welych-FlanaganSioux – Bobby Simmons and Savannah KrabacherIroquois – Haleigh Summers, Syris Dwyer, Muta PamojaApache – Neona Krabacher, Alaira Otteson, Sam ProppCheyenne – Autumn Kerr, Greer Read More >>
Reconstruction
In February nine of the oldest students started a Reconstruction unit. First we went back to the Declaration of Independence and the students were asked to rewrite one section in their own words:We hold these Truthsto be self-evident,that all Men are created equal,that they are endowed by their Creatorwith certain unalienable Rights,that among these areLife, Read More >>
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
During Read Aloud, the 5th – 8th graders listened to “Where the Mountain Meets the Moon” by Grace Lin. In this story Min-Li, a young Chinese girl, becomes a hero as she travels to find her family’s fortune by talking to the Man in the Moon. Along the way she learns many good lessons about Read More >>
Poetry
Inspired by Kenneth Koch’s Rose, where did you get that red? book the older students spent a month studying the poems of Wallace Stevens: Thirteen Ways to Look at a Blackbird, John Ashbery: Into the Dusk-Charged Air, and Arthur Rimbaud: Voyelles. Kenneth Koch’s prompts for children are both motivating and creative. Our final poem was Read More >>
Rooster Play
In early December the youngest children performed a play based on the Ancient Chinese story of how the rooster lost his horns. Ladies and Gentleman. We are glad you are here to watch our play. The play was a collaborative effort, with each child adding details until we told the story. The children spent weeks Read More >>
China Mystery Guest
On Thursday, October 28, 2010 we were hosts to our first Mystery Guest of the year. Our thirty students had three minutes to find out why Emily was at our school. In those three minutes they could only ask Emily yes or no questions. Our students quickly guessed Emily was with us to teach us Read More >>