“Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life. Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.” -Rachel Carson

Sometimes the best way to learn is through real-world experiences. So this week, we enjoyed stepping out of the classroom and onto a train for our trip to the New York Botanical Gardens for an immersive educational adventure. Keeping with our current botany unit on the vital functions of plants, our focus for this trip was on the fascinating world of native plants.

Excitement was in the air as we boarded the train bound for New York. For some of us, it was our first experience traveling by train. After switching trains once, we arrived in the Bronx, home to the 250-acre Botanical Gardens. Led by our guide Sebastian, we went on a guided tour that took us through various ecosystems found within the gardens. From lush forests to serene meadows, we discovered the diversity of native plants and the vital roles they play in sustaining our environment.

Upper El students were encouraged to engage with the natural world by examining plant specimens up close. At the same time, they learned to identify different species and understand their unique characteristics. Through these examinations, we gained a deeper appreciation for nature’s intricate design. The native plant garden showcased the beauty and importance of indigenous flora. We learned about the significance of preserving native plants and their role in supporting local wildlife. We explored the concept of conservation and discussed ways to contribute to protecting and restoring natural habitats in our community.

This journey to the New York Botanical Gardens allowed Upper El students to develop a sense of wonder and curiosity about the natural world. In addition, it gave them tangible experiences that will leave a lasting impression and inspire a lifelong commitment to environmental stewardship. Thank you very much to Sarah, Jennifer, and Eric for accompanying us on this trip!

Wishing you a delightful weekend,
Karen and Angie

We have had a busy week of botany experiments, research presentations, collaborative work, and fun!

In their work with the Vital Functions of Plants, Upper El students completed five different science experiments. For the five experiments, each student sketched a diagram of the experiment, described the process in their collection of data, and formed a hypothesis about the outcome of each experiment and their opinion of why the outcome was what it was.

In their work, they learned that plants have a sense for water, growing toward it and reaching out, knowing which way to go. They discovered that roots will push through, around, and over rocks, sidewalks, and driveways, and when pushing through isn’t possible, roots find other ways to get water, forming root hairs. These root hairs are so small they can grow between tiny particles of soil, absorbing the thin film of water that surrounds each grain. They then compared roots that form in water and roots that form root hairs. Students tested the acidity of the root hairs and learned that the root hairs change the chemistry of the soil, making it acidic and helping to break up rocks and absorb more nutrients. In our next set of lessons, students are learning about circulation and the upward flow of water in plants. The first of these lessons focused on root pressure and the theory that liquids are pushed up the plant’s stem and pumped up from below. We will finish this set of lessons and experiments next week.

We are happy to share that ALL Upper El students will attend our big trip to Nature’s Classroom from May 24 through 26. The final cost of this trip, including the bus, is $398. 

I leave you with this thought for Mother’s Day weekend. “A mother’s love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity, it dates all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path.” -Agatha Christie

Wishing you a weekend filled with love,
Karen and Angie

This week in Upper Elementary, we focused on our study of plants and their vital functions and worked on finishing up informative writing pieces.

Our botany work helps students develop a deeper appreciation and understanding of the natural world. Our study of the vital functions of plants will include an examination of the various parts of a plant and their functions. Students will learn about the roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits of plants and how each of these parts contributes to the plant’s overall health and well-being. They will also learn about photosynthesis, respiration, and transpiration processes and how these processes are vital to a plant’s survival.

As students learn about these vital functions, they will conduct experiments to observe how plants respond to different environmental factors. Topics we will investigate include how much light a plant needs to grow, how much water it requires, or how different soil types affect its growth. Students will record their observations and data in a scientific notebook, which will help them develop their skills in observation, recording data, and drawing conclusions based on evidence. This week’s lessons focused on the work of the roots. Our experiments examined roots growing toward water, root hairs and their acidity, and roots forming in water.

We have also been finishing up our unit on informative writing this week. Students are writing their final drafts, and those who chose to present to the class are preparing their slide presentations. Throughout this process, they have developed their research and writing skills while building their knowledge base on various topics.

A big highlight of the week for Upper Elementary was an impromptu music class! When we learned that Ms. Rebecca, our music teacher, would be out this week, one of our fifth graders volunteered to lead the music class. She spent half an hour rehearsing the piano accompaniment and then led us in song so we could practice the three pieces Upper El is working on.

We wish you a beautiful weekend,
Karen and Angie

Grandparents and Special Persons Day at Fraser Woods is a memorable day to celebrate the love and importance of notable people in the lives of our students. This day is an opportunity to bring together students and their grandparents and special friends in a meaningful and enriching way. Intergenerational connections play an essential role in enriching the lives of children. Grandparents and Special Friends Day is an excellent opportunity to celebrate and strengthen these connections.

The day began with a light breakfast, and then our guests were welcomed into the classroom, allowing them to work alongside Upper Elementary students engaged in their daily work. This included learning about our botany experiments, ancient civilization research, and daily math and language work. Throughout the morning, students and their grandparents and special friends worked together, building connections and creating memories that would last a lifetime.

Grandparents and Special Friends Day is a reminder of the critical role that loved ones play in the lives of children. This day is an opportunity to celebrate and strengthen these connections in a fun, engaging, and meaningful way for all involved.

We look forward to seeing you at tomorrow’s Here We Grow Gala!

Wishing you a wonderful weekend,
Karen and Angie

Earth Day is a time to reflect on our impact on our planet and to take action toward making it a healthier and more sustainable place to live. As a Montessori school, this means engaging children in activities that foster a deep appreciation for nature and inspire them to take care of the environment. We started our day by viewing the short film, The Possibilities of Regeneration with our Middle School friends. Then, after a full day of work, we ended our day by cleaning up our school grounds. Our Lower Elementary friends joined us, and together, they joyfully filled garbage bags with litter they found surrounding our building and leading up to our outdoor classroom trails.

As they worked, the children noticed things, such as how much litter accumulates in certain areas and how much recyclable material is discarded with the trash. After a half hour of cleaning, the children expressed pride in their work and that they were doing something positive for the environment. By helping to clean up our school grounds, they gained a deeper understanding of the impact of litter and pollution on the environment and the importance of taking action to prevent it. They also learned about the small things they can do daily to make a difference. It is no surprise that the Upper El children demonstrated their commitment to creating a better future for themselves and the planet.

This week we also participated in moving up day. This is an exciting event for students who are transitioning to a new level next year and for students who are not moving but are now becoming mentors to new students who will be entering their level. This was an excellent chance for the fifth years to get a glimpse of their future educational journey and begin to feel comfortable with the transition. It was also an opportunity for our fourth years to welcome third-grade friends into our classroom and take on some of the responsibilities that the fifth years typically have, like running our class meeting. The moving-up day concluded with lunch and recess with the middle school students and our third-year friends.

Wishing you a great weekend,
Karen and Angie

What an exhilarating two weeks! Upper El students wrapped up their research papers, made slide presentations, and created three-dimensional models of their ancient civilizations. They worked hard and displayed intense focus and outstanding collaboration skills during their big project leading up to their presentations on research night, the first in-person in three years. While preparing, they independently learned about their ancient civilization, gathering and retaining a great deal of information and passing it along to their peers.

This week, after completing their models, they participated in an activity in art called TAG: Tell something you like, Ask a question, and Give a suggestion. After this activity, they made minor improvements to their models, demonstrating a willingness to listen to the critiques of their classmates. Then, with the fifth-years leading the way, they planned their speaking parts for their presentations and practiced, practiced, practiced. Finally, students pushed through their discomfort to speak in front of the group, each time getting easier. The result was four fabulous presentations in front of families and friends on Thursday night.

Bravo, Upper El!

Wishing you a marvelous weekend,
Karen and Angie

We have had a wonderful and busy week back from break, preparing for our upcoming Research Night on April 13th from 5:00 to 6:00. We will meet in the Upper Elementary Classroom, and the children will present their Ancient Civilizations research to you and their classmates.

This week, in addition to our regular lessons and tending our raised garden beds (photo creds to Mia!), we began an intense focus on our small-group research project. Upper El students have been engaged in reading and note-taking about their ancient civilization. They are divided into four groups, each learning about a different civilization. They are learning about ancient Greece, Egypt, Vikings, and Aztec cultures. Within each of those civilizations, they focus on the region’s geography, the people’s cultural activities, everyday life, and the political and economic systems. They have a research guide to help them in this process and are looking for answers to specific questions in each of those four categories.

This is collaborative work at its best. Each group of three to four students meets daily and plans their course of action for our research time. Some groups have chosen to research each category together, one at a time. Other groups have assigned a category to each student, everyone exploring their area. As they go through this reading and note-taking process, students learn how to record their sources.

After note-taking, the groups will each collaboratively write one paper, each person contributing to it. They will also each prepare a slide presentation and create a three-dimensional model for their presentation.

We look forward to seeing you on Research Night when this meaningful work will come together.

Wishing you a lovely weekend,
Karen and Angie

We have packed as much as possible into this week before our two-week March Break.

Everyone had updated individual lessons in math, with many students moving on to new concepts. We will hit the ground running when we return from break! In geometry, fourths continued their lessons on proving equivalence between two figures. Fifths are working with area formulas, most recently finding the area of acute and right triangles.

In history, students started learning about their ancient civilizations for our extensive research project. They will spend the next few weeks researching their assigned civilizations and working with their group members to write papers, prepare presentations, and make three-dimensional models of their civilizations. Then, on Research Night, April 13th, at 5:00, students will present their research to you and their peers. They are very excited to work together on this project. I will send more information about Research Night and the work leading up to it when we return from March Break.

Thank you to Raquel for coming in this week and working on our class plate, and gift for the Here We Grow Spring Gala and Auction! The children enjoyed expressing their creativity while painting the plate and cornhole game.

Wishing you a marvelous March Break,
Karen and Angie