• The Clock of Eons transformed into the Timeline of Eons, which "stretched" into large and beautiful charts that we will use to study the changes life has undergone since it first appeared on Earth. 
• The History of Bread, a Fundamental Needs lesson,  led us on a tour of the "staff of life" as it changed through time, and we baked our first loaf to share at snack time.
• Measurement work featured weight and temperature, and practice with both.
• Peace studies included a discussion of how we can make someone's day better by a simple act, or a kind word, and resulted in many good ideas from the children. These good ideas were put into practice with our "peace fortunes." Giving and receiving a thoughtful, heartfelt compliment was practiced, too.  
• Our Thirds began their long-awaited atlas work, which will have them creating many different kinds of maps of the various continents of the world.  

During the bitter cold of last week, the Middle School once again trekked to our home away from home, Upland. The thermometer peaked at fifteen degrees, which was comparatively balmy compared to the dangerous temperatures on top of Mt. Snow where many of the students were scheduled to be that day. The experience in Upland included the mandatory consumption of S'mores made on the fire and overall fun and frolic. It was wonderful to see our outdoor campus cloaked in snow. When we last left it in late October, there were few leaves left on the trees.  

On Monday morning we hosted Jackie Trepanier from the Brattleboro Justice Center. The center is staffed by a number of individuals who volunteer their time to bring a different understanding of justice to the legal system. We spent the morning exploring what restorative justice is and attempting to put it into practice by applying it to a community issue, namely the misuse of the kitchen. We are continuing our exploration of conflict next Monday with a visit from Anna of the Women's Freedom Center. Our focus will be on domestic abuse and gender inequality. On Tuesday morning a panel of veterans from the Brattleboro American Legion are arriving to talk to us about service and their wartime experiences.

Students are hard at work creating their own personal representation of peace films. The films originate with an original poem or song and grow from there. The plan is to have a screening next Friday morning and then post the finished films on the Hilltop website.

Enjoy the weekend!