Here are some of the exciting things that are happening
around the school and in the classrooms. Below is a short summary of projects, field trips, lessons, and experiments happening in grades K-8.
Discoverers I: They have taken recent field trips to the Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens and Winghaven to study about nature and the environment. They have also been working on reducing, reusing, and recycling through independent and buddy projects with the third graders.
Discoverers II: They are beginning their plant study. They will be learning about the parts of plants that are edible, what are the best growing conditions and the best environmental conditions for plants.
Discoverers III: The second graders just completed an engineering unit in science where they experimented with the best materials for constructing a wall. This integrated nicely with their Ancient China unit. The students then got to demolish their walls to see whose was constructed with the strongest materials. They also completed a structures project, using the same engineering principles.
Investigators I: They are studying about the Revolutionary War and will be writing their own Declaration of Independence where they will state what rights they believe children should have. They are also going to see Tomas and the Library Lady at The Children's Theater for Spanish which is connected with their language arts curriculum and study of immigration and economics.
Investigators II: Fourth graders just completed a novel study on A Wrinkle in Time. Students completed a research project where they studied about real people in history who fought against evil to connect with the theme in the novel.
Investigators III: Students are studying landforms in science. They are constructing a landform and creating a topographical map of the landform. A second student will be taking the topographical map to recreate the landform shown.
Apprentice Scholars I: Sixth graders have been working on hang gliders and catapults in math and science class. They have used their knowledge of mathematical formulas to construct, test, and modify their projects.
Apprentice Scholars II: Students have just completed their solar car projects which connected their math and science curriculums. They went to the Charlotte Motor Speedway to race their cars and demonstrate what they have learned.
Apprentice Scholars III: Eighth graders are preparing for their trip to Washington D.C. in early May. They are also planning on going to see "The Conspirator" as a field trip. These will both connect their classroom experiences in a way that brings their learning to life.
Day. It was great to visit three classrooms and attend the arts program that night. The enrichment teachers developed interesting, informative and energetic programs. The children did a wonderful job, appeared at ease and to be enjoying themselves.
Spanish/English bilingual books for the Biblioteca Punta Banco, located in the remote village of Punta Banco in Costa Rica. Mrs. York's class will be collecting books after spring break until the end of the school year. 