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Middle School: Week in Review

Posted on by Michelle Lamb

 

What a beautiful week! There were even three birthdays that were celebrated! The MS is taking advantage of all of the nice fall weather until we are too cold to stay out for long in the winter months. We are so lucky to have been able to spend half of our day on Thursday outside at both the Stream Study and the Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary. Also, 8th-grade Leadership baked over 80 Snickerdoodle cookies for Oktoberfest (and some to share with their classmates). Here’s a quick class update:

Humanities

In grades 6 & 7 Humanities, students presented their research about the dynasties of China. The classes made connections over time, and they spent some time exploring the innovations, architecture, and art that were developed in China during the times of the dynasties. Additionally, they completed their first class novel, Ties That Bind, Ties That Break by Lensey Namioka! They ended the week in student-led, small group discussions using questions they developed in the final chapters of the book.

The 8th-grade Humanities class has been learning about the notion of “first contact” between Indigenous Americans and Europeans. They learned that there were many “first contacts,” as there were over 1,000 tribal nations, and they took place over the course of about 200 years. They honed in on some of the explorers during the Age of Exploration and briefly learned of some of their journeys. Unsurprisingly, the main motivator for European exploration was gold and riches. Additionally, 8th-grade students are in various places in their personal memoir essays. It is amazing to see how each student has learned about themselves as writers and has a unique process they use when drafting. Upon their draft completion, students will self-edit and revise and, with peers (if they choose), conference with Mrs. Lamb, and complete a final revision.

Math

Pre-Transition: This week in Pre-Transition, students worked on identifying place values in a decimal number. They were given a helpful place value tool, which helped them build their confidence in reading decimal numbers aloud. They also practiced comparing and ordering decimals, fractions, and percents from least to greatest. Students learned how to multiply decimals by multiples of 10, as well as by fractions such as 1/10, 1/100, etc. We wrapped up the week by learning to round decimals to the nearest, next, or preceding place value.

Transition: This week in Transition, students learned how to describe and represent patterns using variables, exploring how relationships between numbers can be expressed algebraically and shown in tables. They practiced translating words into algebraic expressions and evaluating expressions by substituting values for variables. These skills help build a strong foundation for understanding formulas and real-world problem-solving. Students will review these concepts on Monday and take the Chapter 1 Quiz on Tuesday, October 21.
Algebra: This week in Algebra, students focused on using the Distributive Property to expand expressions, remove parentheses, and combine like terms. They practiced applying this property to mental math and real-world problems, strengthening their ability to simplify and solve expressions efficiently. Students also explored how algebra can be used to explain and solve number puzzles, connecting reasoning skills to fun, logical challenges. Students will review these concepts on Monday and take the Chapter 1 Quiz on Tuesday, October 21.
Geometry: This week in Geometry, students learned about the importance of clear and precise definitions and how they connect to logical reasoning. They explored conditional statements, converses, and biconditionals, practicing how to identify, write, and interpret “if-then” statements using symbols and real-world examples. Students also used Venn diagrams to visualize relationships between statements and discussed what makes a good definition – clear, specific, and reversible. Students will take the Chapter 1 Quiz on Monday, October 20.
Algebra II: This week in Algebra II, students continued solving direct variation problems and learned about inverse variations as well. The week wrapped up with the Fundamental Theorem of Variation.
Science
This week, Middle School students started to design their experiments for the Science Fair on November 5. They are very excited to be working on them. Students are working hard on their hypotheses and experimental designs. Some students ran their experiments this week, while others are in the process of obtaining results and will run them next week. Each student is presenting an individual project, and there is a wide variety of them. Some experiments that were done this week included “Coin Battery,” “The Effect of Music on People’s Reaction,” “Growing Bacteria,” “Gummy Bear Osmosis,” and “Freezing Point in Different Solutions.” There are a few more that are still in process, and students are waiting for results. Meanwhile, some students began working on their research paper to document their science experiment.
In addition, this week, the Middle School visited the Catherine Hubbard Animal Sanctuary, and the second group of students had hands-on experience collecting samples from the Benthic Zone of the Pootatuck River, collaborating with a study on the health of Connecticut’s waters. Students were able to transfer all the macroinvertebrates that they gathered into trays for closer observation, identification, and classification. In this opportunity, the group collected a broader range of macroinvertebrates, highlighting the presence of three highly sought-after species, including Body-Builder Mayfly, Brush Legged Mayfly, and Common Stonefly. Students also found the following insects: Common Netspinner, Fingernet Caddis, Three-Tailed Flathead Mayfly, Dobsonfly, Scud, Aquatic worm, Crayfish, Cranefly, and Riffle Beetle. The group had an Identification Chart to keep track of their findings. This amazing opportunity gave students the chance to become scientists for the day and learn more about the health of their local waterways. Finally, they selected a few samples of each species and prepared them to be shipped off to the State of Connecticut for further study.

  • Friday, 10/24: Conference Day for students, parents, and teachers.  They are available in the SignUps Module on MyFWM. Some teachers have availability earlier in the week as well.
  • MS Halloween Movie Night: Friday, 10/24 @ 6:00-8:30 pm: Click Here to RSVP
We are looking forward to another great week ahead!

Mrs. Wilson: New Additions to Our Classroom

Posted on by Cynthia Wilson

This week, we added a few exciting new materials to our shelves!

On the art shelf, we switched out our playdough for red, orange, and yellow modeling clay. This clay is firmer than playdough, which provides a wonderful challenge for the children’s hands. As they roll, press, and shape it, they are strengthening their fingers and refining their fine motor skills — all while having fun exploring the texture and color.

Another favorite new addition is our class sketchbook. This will be a year-long collaborative project that all the children will contribute to over time. Right now, they are using red, yellow, and orange oil pastels to explore color and movement on the page. As the year goes on, we will introduce new art mediums, allowing the children to experiment and express themselves in different ways.

In the practical life area, I introduced the hand washing lesson. This is such a beautiful and peaceful work — one that engages both the mind and body. The series of steps encourages focus, order, and care. It’s always lovely to see how calm and centered the children become as they go through the process of washing, rinsing, and drying their hands with purpose.

We also added a mini piano for the children to explore. The piano provides an introduction to music in a joyful and hands-on manner. As the children press each key, they are not only discovering cause and effect but also building finger strength, coordination, and auditory discrimination. Listening to the different tones helps refine their sense of hearing, and playing freely nurtures creativity and self-expression.

Each of these new materials offers meaningful opportunities for concentration, coordination, and creativity — the hallmarks of Montessori learning.

Speaking of new additions, we would like to congratulate The Vrantchans and welcome their newest family member. Big sister is so proud!

Mrs. Lopes: Dinosaurs & Fall Celebrations

Posted on by Amanda Lopes

This week, we embarked on an exciting journey back in time to explore the world of dinosaurs! The children have been captivated by these ancient creatures, and their curiosity has sparked rich conversations about what “extinct” means and the scientific theories about why dinosaurs disappeared from Earth.

Our culture shelf has transformed into a paleontology station with new dinosaur-focused works. The children are matching dinosaurs to their fossils, excavating “dinosaur bones” from kinetic sand, and creating their own fossil imprints in the sensory bin. On the art shelf, they’re making dinosaur rubbings and drawings, developing fine motor skills while expressing their fascination with these prehistoric animals.

The dinosaur study naturally connects across our curriculum. As children learn dinosaur names, they practice phonetic sounds and build vocabulary. The fossil matching work supports visual discrimination and classification skills. Even our practical life area reflects the season, with pumpkin-themed activities preparing the children for our upcoming harvest celebrations.

The mixed-age dynamics have been wonderful to observe. Older children are helping younger friends identify different dinosaur species, and everyone is learning together about concepts like herbivores, carnivores, and what it means for something to become extinct.

Extending Learning at Home

  • Nature Walk Connections
    Look for fossils or interesting rocks during walks. Talk about how old they might be and what they can tell us about the past.
  • Kitchen Paleontology
    Press small toys or objects into playdough or clay to create “fossils” together.
  • Library Visit
    Check out dinosaur books and field guides to explore different species and their characteristics.

We’re looking forward to our harvest celebrations next week, where we’ll continue building our classroom community through shared experiences and traditions.

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

This Week
Monday, October 20 through Friday, October 24: Parent Teacher Conferences
Friday, October 24: No School – Parent Teacher Conferences

Next Week
Tuesday, October 28: Nicolas’ Birthday Walk
Tuesday, October 28: Pumpkin Patch on the Playground
Wednesday, October 29: Classroom Pumpkin Carving
Thursday, October 30: Primary Pajama Day, Classroom Harvest Celebration & Kindergarten Veggie Skeleton
Primary students are invited to wear their favorite pajamas to school on Thursday, October 30! Please help us keep the day fun and focused by leaving stuffed animals, toys, and other special items at home, as these can be difficult to keep track of and may be distracting during our learning activities.
Friday, October 31: No School – MSC Conference

Ms. Rhodora: Celebrating Fall and Scientific Discoveries

Posted on by Rhodora Santayana

Last week, our classroom was buzzing with autumn excitement! The children immersed themselves in all things pumpkin—from seed to harvest—while also exploring fascinating scientific concepts that connected to their natural curiosity about the world around them.

Our pumpkin study brought together multiple areas of learning. The children discovered the life cycle of pumpkins and explored the many ways we use them in cooking. They created beautiful pumpkin artwork using tissue paper, developing their fine motor skills and artistic expression. On the math shelf, the children practiced counting small pumpkins using golden beads, making concrete connections between quantity and number symbols.

We also explored land and water forms, specifically straits and isthmuses. The children traced these formations and learned how water and land interact to create the geography of our planet. This naturally led to an exciting science experiment about states of matter—solid, liquid, and gas. Watching water transform from ice to liquid to vapor captivated the children and sparked wonderful questions about how matter changes in our everyday lives!

The sensorial area was especially popular this past week, with children using the geometric solids while blindfolded. This work helped refine their tactile sense and built concentration as they identified three-dimensional shapes through touch alone.

The kindergarten field trip was a wonderful adventure, and the children came back full of stories and observations from their experience!

We also celebrated a special birthday walk this week. Thank you to the parents who joined us for this meaningful Montessori tradition. The children loved watching the birthday child walk around our “sun” to represent each year of their life.

Extending Learning at Home

  • Continue the pumpkin exploration by cooking together! Making pumpkin bread, soup, or roasted pumpkin seeds gives your child hands-on experience with measuring, following steps in sequence, and discovering how heat transforms food—all wonderful practical life skills.
  • Take nature walks to observe the changes of fall. Can your child identify different land and water forms in your neighborhood? Look for puddles, streams, ponds, or where land meets water.
  • Explore states of matter in your kitchen. Let your child observe ice melting in a glass, water boiling for pasta, or steam from hot cocoa. Talk about how the same substance can take different forms.

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

This Week
Monday, October 20 through Friday, October 24: Parent Teacher Conferences
Friday, October 24: No School – Parent Teacher Conferences

Next Week
Tuesday, October 28: Pumpkin Patch on the Playground
Wednesday, October 29: Classroom Pumpkin Carving
Thursday, October 30: Primary Pajama Day, Classroom Harvest Celebration & Kindergarten Veggie Skeleton
Primary students are invited to wear their favorite pajamas to school on Thursday, October 30! Please help us keep the day fun and focused by leaving stuffed animals, toys, and other special items at home, as these can be difficult to keep track of and may be distracting during our learning activities.
Friday, October 31: No School – MSC Conference

Middle School: Team Building at the Adventure Park

Posted on by Michelle Lamb

Here are some upcoming announcements:

This week, Middle School students had an exciting day filled with teamwork, courage, and outdoor fun at the Adventure Park at The Discover Museum! Students couldn’t wait to explore the ropes courses, zip lines, and challenging elements waiting among the trees. The park encouraged everyone to step out of their comfort zones while working together to problem-solve and support one another. Whether it was cheering on a classmate who was nervous about a tall obstacle or celebrating after completing a tricky course, the sense of teamwork and encouragement was incredible to see. Students learned valuable lessons about communication, perseverance, and trust, all while having a blast! It was wonderful to see them challenge themselves, take risks, and realize just how much they are capable of when they put their minds to it.

Ms. Mollie’s Class: Hello Fall

Posted on by Mollie Smith

Hello Fall!

This week, our classroom welcomed the cozy season of fall! The children have been observing the changing colors outside and exploring nature through all their senses — crunching leaves, smelling cinnamon, and noticing how the air feels cooler.

We also celebrated a class birthday! In true Montessori tradition, we gathered for a simple celebration. The birthday child walked around the “sun,” holding the globe to represent another trip around the sun. The children loved singing and enjoying a birthday treat.

To continue our fall theme, we baked pumpkin bread together! The children practiced practical life skills — scooping flour, stirring the batter, and carefully pouring ingredients. The classroom and school smelled amazing, and everyone was so proud to taste their work.

Fall is such a wonderful time for hands-on learning and connection. We can’t wait for more cozy, joyful moments ahead!

With Full Hearts,

Ms. Mollie and Ms. Lizette

This Week in Upper El

Posted on by Karen Sankey

“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” -Jane Goodall

We had a fantastic time at The Adventure Park earlier this week! It was the perfect first field trip of the year, providing real opportunities for the children to bond, encourage, and support one another outside the classroom. While helping each other on the high ropes course, I observed the children engaging in teamwork naturally. They challenged themselves to tackle courses with intimidating elements, cheering for one another and offering encouragement during difficult moments.

Overall, field trips are incredibly beneficial for children. They allow them to practice grace and courtesy, both with each other and the people they encounter outside of Fraser Woods. These outings help develop resilience, courage, and independence, while teaching children about our interconnectedness with nature and the world around us. Additionally, field trips offer opportunities for children to apply their knowledge in real-world settings and help them cultivate responsibility, manners, and cooperation.

Student-Parent-Teacher Conferences

At the upper elementary level, students are involved in their own parent-teacher conferences. They prepare ahead of time by reflecting on the weeks leading up to the conference, identifying both their strengths and areas for improvement. At the conference, they will share their work and their reflections with you. If you have not already signed up for a conference, please use this link to select your time. If you don’t see a time that works for your family, please reach out to me directly. I am happy to set up a time that works for you. Conference sign-ups close on Friday, September 17. 

Ms. Vicki’s Weekly Update

Posted on by Vicki Downs

This week, the weather has been quite chilly in the mornings. Please remember to bring sweaters or jackets, depending on the temperature. Rain boots are always a good idea when it’s wet and muddy! We have spent plenty of time outside working on developing our gross motor skills, and we even got to play in the gym this week. For our food tasting activity, we tried tomatoes and peppers, and the children enjoyed holding the seeds and exploring the insides!

Here are a few reminders:

  • There will be no school on Monday, the 13th.
  • Please sign up for parent-teacher conferences, which are scheduled for Friday, the 24th. There will be no school that day.
  • Bring in sweatshirts and pants to keep in our extra clothes bins. We can also store jackets, so you don’t have to keep bringing them back and forth if that’s more convenient.

Enjoy all the pictures!