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Lego Class

2nd and 3rd graders are using Legos to learn about simple and powered machines, using hands-on activities. First they investigated structures and forces, incorporating both rigid and flexible shapes in building deck chairs and drawbridges. Applying principles they learned about levers, they made drumming machines. Innovating, they added pieces or moved pieces around to change Read More >>

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The Haudenosaunee and Indigenous People. 

One of our objectives for this unit is for children to learn that each Native American tribe is a different culture, affected by the geography of the land where they live. Students collaboratively worked on a puzzle and map showing the many different tribes and where they lived. Students are working on research assignments and Read More >>

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James Pass Arboretum

Ten of our oldest students visited James Pass Arboretum to observe and draw one of its majestic specimens. Tim Regin, longtime advocate for the arboretum, met with us sharing the history of the arboretum and its trees. Each student was assigned a different tree. In advance they had to research the tree determining if it Read More >>

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Mithila Art from India

Many thanks to Shalinee Kumari for visiting the New School! Shalini is a Mithila-artist from India who was visiting SU for a residency. She came to The New School to share her amazing art form. Then she returned to help students create their own works based on the Mithila style.  “Mithila is an ancient painting Read More >>

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Karen Kerney, Artist

In early November,  Karen Kerney, celebrated artist from Syracuse Cultural Workers, visited our school. Well known for her charming fold out depiction of the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address, we invited her to our school to share her stencil art process. Then children had the opportunity to create their own stencil of something they are thankful for. Read More >>

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SUNY ESF Field Trip

In November a small group of our older students expressed an interest in visiting the Gateway Center at SUNY ESF to view some of the finest specimens of birds, mammals, freshwater and marine fishes, reptiles and amphibians in their Roosevelt WildLife Collection. For two hours they were granted access to a subset of this collection Read More >>

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Worms

This fall and spring our K-2s have been learning about Earthworms. We began by digging for real worms outside. We found some. We observed their behavior and drew them. We learned about what worms need to survive, their external features,their internal body parts, and their importance in our ecosystems. We have drawn and colored representations Read More >>

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Local History

Towards the end of the year we started a unit to learn about Syracuse’s past. We started with learning about how the development of the Erie Canal in the 1800’s impacted our city, bringing economic prosperity and immigrants to our region. In class discussions and games helped us learn about the people who both were Read More >>

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Electricity 

At the end of the year the students started learning about electricity. They were challenged to figure out how to light a lightbulb when given only a lightbulb, battery and one wire. In the process they learned about complete circuits, and the important parts of a battery and bulb. After lighting the bulb they were Read More >>

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Paper Quilts

The K-2s and I read the book, A Quiltmaker’s Gift, outside of the art room during their reading times. This book was about a woman who made quilts for the poor and needy. She taught a greedy king how to care for others and give back. The students had an opportunity to create their own Read More >>