by newschoolsyr | Jun 19, 2021 | 2020-2021, grade 1, grade 2, Kindergarten, science, Uncategorized
When Animal class began again in January of this year, we started with a book called The Butterfly and the Lamb. As is often the case, while the book seems very simple it is addressing an important issue: the difference between animals who need to be nutured for some...
by newschoolsyr | Jun 17, 2021 | 2020-2021, grade 1, grade 2, grade 3, Kindergarten, Social Studies, youngest students
Post Card Museum After completing a scavenger hunt in the Syracuse area to find a place from a historic postcard, students had to compare their postcard to the current location. Using a visual thinking strategy they tried to notice all the similarities and...
by newschoolsyr | May 29, 2021 | 2020-2021, grade 1, grade 2, grade 3, Kindergarten, Social Studies
From mid-April to the beginning of May, the K-3 students embarked on a journey to learn about the Erie Canal. The unit began with discussions about the ways in which people and goods move from place to place today. After creating a list of how we move from place to...
by newschoolsyr | May 29, 2021 | 2020-2021, grade 1, grade 2, grade 3, Kindergarten, Uncategorized, visual arts
After reading She’s Wearing a Bird on her Head we learned about the remarkable efforts of Minna Hall and Harriet Hemenway, two determined women activists who founded the Audubon Society to protect birds. Then we admired the extraordinary paintings by James...
by newschoolsyr | May 14, 2021 | 2020-2021, grade 1, grade 2, grade 3, Kindergarten, writing workshop
Lucy Calkins inspired a poetry unit for our students in grades K-3. Starting in May, each week of this unit inspires children to consider a new “ingredient” or strategy. The unit began with experimenting with looking at ordinary things in a new way. Subsequent classes...
by newschoolsyr | Jan 14, 2021 | 2020-2021, grade 1, grade 2, grade 3, Kindergarten, language arts
Vooks is an online digital library with animated books aimed towards young readers. Throughout the fall, going into winter, I would show the students a Vook and during the reading, I would pause the video and ask students questions about the book we were watching....
