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Upper El at Nature’s Classroom: Embracing the Great Outdoors

Posted on by Karen Sankey

“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature – the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.” –Rachel Carson, Silent Spring

Connection with nature and a sense of appreciation for the natural world is more important now than ever. This week, our experience at Nature’s Classroom was an excellent way to achieve this connection. For the last three days, we have been immersed in the great outdoors, having unforgettable experiences from nature hikes and fire-making to pond exploration, science quests, and connecting through quiet evening activities like quiet sing-alongs and a campfire.

One of the highlights of our trip was our nature hikes. With our experienced naturalists, we ventured into the woods, where we encountered an abundance of flora and fauna. Through these hands-on experiences, the children witnessed the beauty of the natural world up close, fostering their curiosity and deepening their understanding of ecological systems. From identifying different plant species to observing wildlife in their natural habitats, our hikes sparked a profound appreciation for the delicate balance of nature.

Another highlight was the art of fire-making. Upper El students learned this ancient skill using carbon and flint. Under the guidance of our skilled instructor, Ranger, they discovered the science behind fire ignition and understood how early humans harnessed this powerful element for survival. This activity instilled a sense of self-reliance and respect for the tools and knowledge passed down through generations.

Through our pond exploration, students explored the wonders of aquatic ecosystems. Armed with nets and buckets, they dove into the world of frogs, tadpoles, fish, dragonfly nymphs, and many other captivating macroscopic creatures. This activity helped us develop a sense of environmental stewardship and taught us the importance of protecting these delicate habitats.

Nature’s Classroom isn’t just about exploring nature but also about engaging in scientific inquiry. During our Science Quest, we participated in hands-on experiments that bridged the gap between theory and practice. We learned about air movement, what fire needs to burn, and the effect of releasing carbon dioxide in a closed container. These activities encouraged critical thinking, problem-solving, and a deeper understanding of scientific concepts.

Our trip to Nature’s Classroom was an exceptional experience of connecting with nature and each other. Thank you for allowing your children to share this with us!

Have a great weekend,
Karen and Angie

Mrs. Hood: Listen up!

Posted on by Andrea Hood

In a world filled with distractions, developing concentration and focus is becoming increasingly challenging for young children. Sensorial works in Montessori education promote the development of these essential skills. Toddlers engage in activities that require sustained attention, such as sorting objects by size or shape, arranging objects in a specific order, completing puzzles, and more. These tasks demand concentration, enabling toddlers to develop their ability to focus for extended periods, a skill that will benefit them in all areas of life.

As we continued our studies of birds this week, the children received a lesson on the birds’ calls and songs. Children are learning to identify each bird sound through a fun work where the children press a button, hear the bird, and have to match the picture card with the sound. As every work in our environment has a control of error built within it, the child has the opportunity to self-correct by matching the color dot behind the card to the color of the button, helping the child to match the sound to the correct bird. As children practice this work, they will learn to identify the birds just by listening, and they won’t need to look at the back of the card anymore to be successful. To say that this has been a big favorite work is an understatement! It has been precious observing the children taking the time to listen carefully and observe the details of the birds’ pictures. We hope you can take time with your toddler around your backyard and listen to some birds singing! Your toddler might surprise you by recognizing the name of the bird!

In our language area, we have added a wooden family house. This is an excellent platform for enhancing a child’s cognitive abilities. As toddlers manipulate the house’s dolls, furniture, and accessories, they improve their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Additionally, arranging the furniture, organizing the rooms, and categorizing the items encourage logical thinking and spatial awareness. This work also stimulates imagination, creativity, language development, emotional intelligence, and social interaction. This is definitely a favorite work in our environment these days.

For food tasting, we explored a delicious plum, and it got 99% of likeness! I am confident we can still convince our one friend who didn’t want to try it! 😉

Enjoy the holiday weekend!

Mrs. Hood and Ms. Marissa

Lower El at Adventure Park!

Posted on by Ashley Beckett

The highlight of this week was an amazing field trip to The Adventure Park; full of climbing, zip lines, bravery, and trust. Each of us challenged ourselves to try elements of the ropes course which were challenging and, at times, even a little scary. Every student should be proud of the effort they put in this day, not only in their own experience of trying new things, but also in the help and encouragement they extended to their classmates along the way. They worked together, with more experienced climbers helping the less experienced ones. They offered words of motivation when friends were nervous and they cheered when their peers completed a course. These students exhibited outstanding teamwork. Bravo Lower El!

Thank you so much to the wonderful parents who volunteered to chaperone, you all were a tremendous help!

Mrs Wilson: Bye, Bye Birdies, Hello Aquatic Life

Posted on by Cynthia Wilson

 

This week marks the conclusion of our exploration of spring and birds. As we transition to summer, our focus will shift to the ocean and aquatic life. The children will delve into the world of ocean and pond creatures, including the life cycle of a frog. Ms. Sara has kindly brought some tadpoles from her pool to show the children, who will learn about the various stages of a frog’s life, including eggs, tadpoles, tadpoles with two legs, froglets (four legs), and adult frogs.

The children commemorated Memorial Day by crafting their own red, white, and blue flags. They began by tearing small pieces of red and blue paper using their fine motor skills. Each child then took a turn to use a glue stick to attach the paper pieces onto a flag-shaped paper. Finally, we affixed their flags onto paper straws.

On Thursday, we held the final food-tasting session for the school year, where the children had the opportunity to try out a delicious and juicy watermelon. It was quite amusing to see some of them struggling to guess the fruit’s identity, with responses ranging from blueberry and grape to strawberry!

Thank you all for the wonderful birthday flowers, treats, and cards. I feel truly loved!

Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!

Cynthia and Sara

Mrs. Doyle: Enjoying the Outdoors!

Posted on by Michelle Doyle

“There must be provision for the child to have contact with nature; to understand and appreciate the order, the harmony and the beauty in nature,”- Maria Montessori 

Every day your children spend time learning, working together, and exploring our natural playground. Daily outdoor learning helps to develop healthy, active lifestyles and routines for the children, while providing them with hands-on experiences in our natural world. Our beautiful natural playground provides unique experiences to stimulate the children’s creativity and contribute to their appreciation of nature.

Helping children develop an appreciation for the outdoors is one of the significant benefits of regular outdoor play. The outside world is full of beautiful sounds, sights, textures, and life. Exposing children early on to the beauty of the world around them can be the perfect way to boost the aesthetic development of a child, allowing them to be more aware of all the beauty around them.

Here’s to rising temperatures, longer days, and the opportunity to spend extra time exploring the outdoors!

Wishing you a week filled with peace and love!

Michelle & Maria

 

Mrs. Lopes: Enjoying the Outdoors!

Posted on by Amanda Lopes


“There must be provision for the child to have contact with nature; to understand and appreciate the order, the harmony and the beauty in nature,”- Maria Montessori 

Being outdoors ignites a unique excitement and curiosity in children that cannot be replicated in the classroom (unknown).

Every day your children spend time learning, working together, and exploring our natural playground. Daily outdoor learning helps to develop healthy, active lifestyles and routines for the children, while providing them with hands-on experiences in our natural world. Our beautiful natural playground provides unique experiences to stimulate the children’s creativity and contribute to their appreciation of nature.

Helping children develop an appreciation for the outdoors is one of the significant benefits of regular outdoor play. The outside world is full of beautiful sounds, sights, textures, and life. Exposing children early on to the beauty of the world around them can be the perfect way to boost the aesthetic development of a child, allowing them to be more aware of all the beauty around them.

Here’s to rising temperatures, longer days, and the opportunity to spend extra time exploring the outdoors!

Wishing you a peaceful week,

Amanda & Hema

Mrs. Semmah: Enjoying the Outdoors!

Posted on by Kaoutar Semmah

“There must be provision for the child to have contact with nature; to understand and appreciate the order, the harmony and the beauty in nature,”- Maria Montessori 

Being outdoors ignites a unique excitement and curiosity in children that cannot be replicated in the classroom (unknown).

Every day your children spend time learning, working together, and exploring our natural playground. Daily outdoor learning helps to develop healthy, active lifestyles and routines for the children, while providing them with hands-on experiences in our natural world. Our beautiful natural playground provides unique experiences to stimulate the children’s creativity and contribute to their appreciation of nature.

Helping children develop an appreciation for the outdoors is one of the significant benefits of regular outdoor play. The outside world is full of beautiful sounds, sights, textures, and life. Exposing children early on to the beauty of the world around them can be the perfect way to boost the aesthetic development of a child, allowing them to be more aware of all the beauty around them.

Here’s to rising temperatures, longer days, and the opportunity to spend extra time exploring the outdoors!

Wishing you a peaceful week,

Kaoutar & Sue

Middle School: Week In Review

Posted on by Michelle Lamb

We are approaching the end of May, and it has been a great week of learning and looking forward to next week’s trip.

First of all, the Middle School teachers want to congratulate this year’s 8th-grade class on their successful Expert Presentations this past Monday. The culmination of five months of research, writing, and practice, the 8th grade delivered 15-30 minute presentations to an audience of faculty, families, and peers. Without the use of a podium, students commanded the stage. They educated the crowd on the following topics: The Great White Way: A History of Broadway, The Final Verdict: Reality TV Court v. The Official Courtroom, The Power of the Present: How Social Control Affects Teenagers, and “You Never Thought That Hip Hop Would Take it This Far”: An Evolution of A Genre. It was a truly impressive evening. Bravo, Class of 2023!

Math

In the Pre-Transition math class, students concluded their learning of Chapter 8 and wrote their last unit test of the school year. This class has studied dividing fractions, reciprocal values, and solving ratios from a word problem. This class also started working on the end-of-the-year project titled Dream Vacation. Students randomly selected a budget amount to plan their dream vacation and will be required to pick a destination. This project includes calculating all travel expenses, planning meals, and constructing a 3D model of a famous landmark they “plan” to see on their vacation.
In the Transition math class, students were excited to start building their GeomCity project. This project includes creating a mini dictionary with the geometry terminology in the Chapter 11 glossary; constructing a 3D cityscape with a cylinder, prisms, and pyramids; and picking a unique theme for their new town. Students will have until June 9th to complete this project and present the final draft to their peers.
In the Algebra math class, students received mini lessons on factoring polynomials and learned to complete the square in a binomial. In addition, students started solving part one of their Escape Room end-of-the-year project. Students will need to solve the paper puzzle escape room challenge and then have an opportunity to design their own. This project is due June 9th in order for the other students to have a chance at solving each other’s unique escape rooms.
 
Make Joke: Who invented arithmetic?……Henry the 1/8
Science

6th-year Earth Science students continue exploring their unit, Formation of the Solar System. This week, students hypothesized how the arrangement of our solar system was created in addition to the spacing between each planet. To do this, students were assigned groups to space out dodgeballs according to the respective distance from each other and the sun. From this, students were able to gain a much better perspective of the length of our solar system and the reasons why planets are in their current locations.

7th-year Physical Science students will begin their new unit, Friction. The objective of this unit is for students to be able to define friction, explain how it relates to kinetic energy and the transfer of energy between objects that are in contact with each other, and describe how friction can affect the motion of an object.
8th-year Life Science students have begun their Body System Project, which consists of dissecting a dogfish shark and sheep brain. Throughout this process, students are encouraged to identify each specimen’s key features related to the concepts learned throughout past units. In addition, students will have opportunities to work with both specimens, referencing diagrams throughout.
Humanities
6th-grade Humanities students continue to read the class novel, Shooting Kabul by N.H. Senzai. The students have rich discussions about the plot, historical context, and characterization. Poetry Tuesday had students drafting their versions of Nikki Giovanni’s “Knoxville, Tennessee,” a nostalgic poem about summer. This week students also completed their final current events presentations for the year.
7th-grade Humanities classes continue their Powerful Leaders unit and progress to the mid-1900s. They are learning about how the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (Nazi Party) gained traction and Adolf Hitler’s rise. Additionally, students are learning the history of Anti-Semitism, stemming from the first millennium. They will read the short memoir, Four Perfect Pebbles, by Marion Blumenthal Lazan, about her and her family’s experience during the Holocaust. Finally, students completed their final current events presentations for the year.
8th-grade Humanities students began the week with Expert Presentations and then spent a day reflecting on the experience. Next, they brainstormed and drafted their graduation speeches. The class also spent a class reading and discussing the U.S. National Anthem, “The Star Spangled Banner.” This was accompanied by reading and analysis of U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limon’s poem, “A New National Anthem.”
We are excited to travel to Washington, D.C., next week with the students!