Spotlight on History/Geography & World Cultures and Leadership & Changemaking
*Leadership & Changemaking:
Grade 5 - Fifth graders are exploring the world of 3D design. They’re identifying useful items to create and print, focusing on accurate measurements and learning to “think like a 3D printer” to produce effective designs. Examples so far include desktop organizers, eyeglass holders, and bookmarks.
Grade 6 - The sixth graders are designing 3D kit cards. Each student is creating a deconstructed object that fits within a 4” x 6” x 0.125” frame. Once printed, these pieces can be easily popped out and assembled into a 3D object, blending creativity with practical design skills. Examples so far include a campfire scene, Christmas tree ornaments, puzzle cubes, and model airplanes.
Grade 7 - Seventh graders are engaged in the “Ripple Effect” project. They’re developing solutions to community challenges or opportunities, using the design thinking framework to guide their work and foster innovative problem-solving. Examples so far include an Upper School student art board, a Free Little Library for writing stories, and an interactive kinetic wall for Lower School students.
Grade 8 - Eighth graders are collaborating with the Forest School design team to create the entrance sign for the Forest School property. They’ve been working in Sloyd to design and cut letters and will use various tools to decorate them before installation, contributing to a meaningful community project.
*History, Geography & World Cultures:
Grade 5 - Fifth graders have launched into their study of explorers! For their upcoming projects, they have each chosen a historical adventurer that they would like to study from the book Into the Unknown: How Great Explorers Found Their Way by Land, Sea, and Air by Stewart Ross. They have practiced highlighting, annotating, and notetaking, using a two-column approach. Additionally, they have learned to collate their key information and details into a summary paragraph. Fifth graders are now working on writing journal entries from the perspective of their chosen explorer as well as creating a 3D model or art piece that they will share with their classmates as our study comes to a close. Their teachers are looking forward to watching them present their research at our 'National Geographic Summit' early next week.
Grade 6 - In 6th grade Geo and World Cultures, the class is working on comparing and contrasting the 3 main monotheistic religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. After reading 3 articles and answering questions about the religions, the class is synthesizing that information as they prepare for a written assessment that will test their knowledge and writing ability.
Grade 7 - The start of the year in United States History is all about colonization and the Revolutionary War Era. They took a two week break to delve deeply into the Electoral College, but now that the election is over, They’ve returned to their early American studies. They spent much more time discussing the causes of the American Revolution, but now they are immersed in the war itself and how the Continental Army overcame incredible odds to defeat the most daunting military force in the world at the end of the 18th century. Throughout their studies, they continue to work on the craft of writing and defending a thesis which students practice weekly. Each Monday, a writing prompt is posted on Classroom, and the students need to develop a thesis and use factual evidence from class to defend that thesis in one, well developed paragraph. They have been working on this skill since the first week of school, and everyone gets a little more comfortable with this difficult task with each successive effort. With Thanksgiving on the horizon, they'll be wrapping up their work before the break and then they will tackle the Constitution following the holiday.
Grade 8 - In 8th grade History, the class has just completed and turned in their final research papers on a variety of topics related to the industrialization of the United States. That assignment required the students to research their topics, and then write a 5-6 paragraph essay explaining the importance of their topic to the growth of the US. Now, they are preparing for a test on World War 1, focusing on the war's causes and how the war so affected the course of world history.
*Parent Corner:
Join us for the Upper School Showcase, an exciting event designed for parents of students in grades 3 through 7! This is a unique opportunity to preview the classes and curriculum your child will experience in their next academic year. You’ll have the chance to see teachers in action, explore classroom environments, and get a glimpse of the engaging learning opportunities that await.
Sincerely,
Jay Tebbens
Head of Upper School
