Blog

Ms. Kayser’s Class: STARLAB Planetarium

Posted on by skayser

 

The primary students got to experience the wonders of our solar system inside a portable planetarium brought to us by The Children’s Museum of West Hartford. Our experience started with one of the staff members sharing stories of old that explained what was in the night sky. He continued to say that the people would look up into the sky and connect the stars in shapes of different animals. To spark the children’s imagination, the presenter brought in a milk snake for the children to feel and examine first hand. They were able to then use that mental image when they went into the STARLAB to try to find the constellation, Serpens.

When the children were ready, the presenter brought the classes into the inflatable STARLAB. This amazing structure allowed the children to sit inside of it as they projected 3D images on the walls around them. We were able to watch the sun set and the constellations appear above our heads! We got to use our own imagination to try to connect the stars in different shapes before he used the technology to map them out right before our eyes. The children were so excited to experience the stars all around them, but the best part of the experience was taking off from Earth and landing on the moon.

Ms. Kayser and Ms. Alli

Wayne Thiebaud Inspired Clay Cake Boxes!

Posted on by Jen Reid

Lower and Upper Elementary students explored form, color, and pattern to create whimsical clay cake boxes. To start, we discussed the Pop Art movement and looked at the paintings of artist Wayne Thiebaud who is widely known for his colorful works depicting desserts such as pies, ice cream cones, cupcakes, pastries, and cakes. Students were very inspired by his artwork and began sketching their own cakes and cupcakes, letting their creativity soar as they chose its flavor and toppings! Lastly, students filled in their drawings with chalk pastel using shading and layering techniques.

Next, students translated their 2D drawings into 3D form using clay. The clay skills they learned and explored were the slip and score attachment method, pinching method, molding, coiling, slab rolling, smoothing and glazing. First, students designed paper templates using rulers to assist the building process. Then we rolled out slabs to use for the sides of our cakes and cupcakes, cut out the shapes using our templates, and then slipped and scored the parts together.

Lastly, I demonstrated several methods to design the top (such as coiling, pinching, and carving) and students choose what they wanted to do. Some students added cherries, candles or even little figurines! As long as they slip and scored properly, they were free to add any toppings they wanted. The tops were left unattached so their cakes and cupcakes can function as little boxes to keep things inside! After they are fired in the kiln once, students will paint them with unique colors using low temperature underglazes which will then be fired once more to become glossy.

This Week in Middle School

Posted on by Michelle Lamb

The weather is brisk, the holiday season is looming, and the end of the trimester is in sight. How can it be that we have been together almost three months? The time is flying by because we have been working hard in the classroom.

In math class the student continue the work of becoming mathematical problem solvers. The 6th years began the solving of equations and were introduced to the addition and subtraction property of equality.  The 8th years took a cumulative assessment and the entire class did exceptionally well.  They were also began finding the greatest common factor of monomials using prime factorization.

6th year students worked this week on identifying the density of minerals (quartz, marble, granite). This was determined by measuring each sample’s mass and volume. Students also had the opportunity to crack open geodes. Through the use of microscopes, the crystal formation of each geode was able to be observed under high magnification. Students will continue to work on defining the unique properties/characteristics of minerals. The 7th year students are discovering the atom (atomos – uncuttable). Students theorized how the periodic table of elements was originally assembled by Dmitri Mendeleev. The 8th years, also working with minerals, constructed crystalline structures representing silica tetrahedral chains.

6th year humanities classes worked on their essay writing skills. We focused on effective, introductions including hooks and thesis statements, organization, and outlining as a prewriting tool. Students have finished their outlines, written their introductions, and will finish drafting next week. 7th year students revised their papers for their community project. This long-term project is just about ready to be presented. Learning about different systems of government and their effectiveness, economic structures, judicial systems, allocating essential resources, diversity, living off of the environment, and healthcare systems were all learning experiences this project brought forth. Finally, 8th years are off campus and doing their internships. On Monday they went over how to gain the best experience in the time they are given by asking thoughtful questions, strategies for the work environment, making observations, and respectful ways to communicate.

We can’t wait to hear about the amazing experiences the 8th years had this week!

 

Suraj Kalaria ’17

Posted on by Danielle Ulacco

FWM Class of 2017, Hopkins Class of 2021

 

He was recently awarded the Mary Brewster Thompson Award. This award recognizes students in grades nine through twelve for fine scholarship, intellectual maturity, enthusiasm for academic pursuits, and the ability to share that enthusiasm with others.

 

From Hopkins School: “At the end of the school year, Hopkins awards various character and academic prizes to those students who have been selected by our faculty as the best representatives of the qualities that are associated with the individual prizes. In a very able and active student body, the winners of these prizes are indeed standouts.”

CONGRATS Suraj!

https://www.hopkins.edu/page/news-detail?pk=1189605

Lower Elementary: A Busy Work Week!

Posted on by Ashley O'Connell

In Lower Elementary we place great emphasis on meaningful academic work for each individual child. During their two to three hour long work cycle,  the children are able to plan their work and then chose the order in which they would like to accomplish it. This creates a feeling of ownership and focus within the children.

We have many different types of math going on in our classroom with multiple materials being used for the different operations. The Stamp Game is useful for all operations such as addition, multiplication, subtraction and division. The checkerboard is a favorite material used for multiplication. In geometry, the first years are enjoying learning about straight and curved lined shapes as well using the Pinwheels to sensorially explore that triangles construct many other shapes. The second years are learning how to add and subtract angles using the Montessori protractor.

The third years are exploring the body functions and external parts of seaweed in biology. The children love working collaboratively with one another on this work!

Mrs. Carroll’s Class: Joyful Citizens

Posted on by Cindy Carroll

These last few weeks have been a particularly busy and exciting time with your children. We have traveled through space, explored the eight planets, discovered that the sun is a star, rocketed back to the planet Earth, and are now exploring the first of seven continents; the orange continent, our continent, North America. We will continue to explore the plants and animals native to our continent, map North America’s countries, examine topography, and study how a continents’ proximity to the equator impacts its climate.

The Montessori cultural studies curriculum provides children with an opportunity to explore the whole world including the continents, countries, people, animals, terrain, music, and arts. Children use didactic Montessori materials to familiarize themselves with the needs of all humans for such things as food, housing, and clothing. This early cultural awareness helps cultivate independent, joyful citizens of our world.

We were delighted to have the Botsford volunteer fire department visit the school on Wednesday. The children were introduced to basic safety skills, and how firefighters dress for emergencies. Fire safety starts an early age. It is always a good time to speak with your child about fire safety and introduce her to family meeting points, escape routes, and emergency phone numbers.

Enjoy your week!

Cindy & Sharlene

A Bit of French with the Kindergarten!

Posted on by Francoise Cutrone

The children in Kindergarten had fun in French Class. We learned a new song about a butterfly (un papillon) and we all tried to make butterflies with our fingers (very challenging for some of them!). Often the purpose of doing many gestures when children are learning another language is to distract them from the new word itself. The student then concentrates more on the gesture and less on the word. The word becomes just part of the instruction and the students accept the new vocabulary as if they already learned it.

We also worked on tiny objects hidden in a small box. We opened to box to discover what was in it, learning the expressions “ouvrir, fermer” (open and shut). We played games using prepositions such as “dans, sur, and sous” (in, on, and under).

Ms. Kayser’s Class: Fire Safety

Posted on by skayser

It is hard to believe that the month of October is already behind us. It seemed like just yesterday that the children came into the class for the very first time, eager, yet cautious, to see what this new environment would bring for them. In these two short months, your children have been nothing but busy, taking in every experience we have given them and constantly looking toward what they will learn next!

This week we got the privilege of meeting the Botsford volunteer fire department and learned about fire safety. The children were so excited to meet them and hear about the important lessons they had to teach us about how to be safe in case of a fire.  Take some time this weekend to speak to your children about the presentation and what they should do if there is ever an emergency at home; they were so engaged and gave very thoughtful responses to the volunteer firemen, I bet they will really enjoy sharing everything with you!

The whole class got to go outside the school and explore a fire truck and even carry the hose! A few children from the primary classes even got to dress up as firemen and show the classes how to properly stop, drop, and crawl to safety in case of a real fire.

Our class spent time after the presentation writing letters to the fire department for them to display at the station. The children really hope the firefighters enjoy the letters and pictures!

Thank you to the volunteer fire department and all the men and women in the department who dedicate their lives every day to keeping us safe.

Ms. Kayser and Ms. Alli