Middle School science has been focused on physical science. Part of that study called for building a balloon rocket that must travel from one place to another along a fishing line. And on costume day, no less! Building the rockets helped demonstrate Newton’s Third Law of Motion (explaining how the air escaping from the balloon pushes against the surrounding air, propelling the straw forward), thrust and air pressure.
Jumping and raking is always a blast and our students have plenty of time for this play. In fact, in a Montessori school, we think of it as work. Notice that children are raking and piling leaves together. Notice that each student is getting a turn while others happily wait. This teamwork not only builds community and deep bonds, it prepares students to work with teams in high school, college and beyond. The play is work and the work is fun.
Primary and Lower Elementary got into the action of Election Day. The vote was on whether to use special scissors or markers at a future event. Lower Elementary students lobbied for their favorite with reasons why they preferred one over the other. After the presentations, everyone voted. In a surprise twist, scissors won the day. Although it may seem trivial, Election Day at McGuffey brings understanding that votes matter, hearing opinions can sway our thinking, and whether you’re disappointed or elated, another vote will happen again next year.
As Primary continues their exploration of South America, they turned to Argentina. A large country, Argentina stretches across the southern half of South America, which means its landscape has a range of climates and geographic features. With a mix of indigenous people and European immigrants, the Argentine culture is rich in music, dance, food, and traditions. Our students have the opportunity to explore many of these characteristics through the manipulatives on the shelves. They are exploring gourd cups that hold the Argentine tea, mate. They also talked about the delicious milk caramel, dulche de leche.
Cueva de las Manos (Cave of Hands), a series of caves located in Santa Cruz, Argentina, was a fascinating topic. It is known for its paintings of hands which are estimated to be between 13,000 and 9,000 years old. The cave also has paintings of humans, animals, and geometric patterns. For this Social Study unit Art History installment we decided to make our own version of the Cave of Hands. Creating this experience makes the connections so much more meaningful!
Middle School students had a busy week! They created origami versions of the water cycle and started a pond. They built fairy gardens around the pond as decoration as well as benefits like winter housing for insects. They guided their Lower Elementary partners on a year-long activity of observing an assigned tree on the school grounds. In preparation for Upper Elementary’s return from Glen Helen, Middle Schoolers wrote welcome home messages on the Upper white board and filled their calssrroom with tiny hedge hogs to find. At the end of the week, they stayed at McGuffey for a late night hang-out and had a ball. What a wonderful place to be a Middle School student.
During a botany unit in Upper Elementary, students use multiple sources for their study: the natural world, text books, the internet, and Montessori 3-part cards. McGuffey Montessori ensures that our students can pull information from a wide range of materials as they continue to be curious about the world around them. Our students know the importance of multiple sources which helps them gain expert knowledge, form opinions and support their arguments, reveal different perspectives, and reduce bias.
Lower Elementary went on a day-long field trip to Peffer Park. From the park, they walked to the Miami Art Museum. Students investigated processes used by Native Americans to create artworks, combined ideas with materials and techniques to make a work of art, learned to respond to art, and learned how art interprets time and culture. This is perfect timing, as they kick off a unit on Native American history this week which will include gentle but honest conversation about the history of indigenous people in North America and the impact of colonization.
Returning to Peffer Park, they had lunch in the outdoors followed up by a hike into the woods to visit the bluffs. The erosion at the bluffs provides the perfect example of what exists below the surface of the Earth. At the base of the bluffs, they found a large deposit of clay, similar to what we had been working with that morning. They discussed how Native Americans harvested clay from places like this to create pottery. Students spent much of the afternoon in the creek having a muddy, wet, utterly delightful time.
Grades 4,5,6 in the Upper Elementary Unit are home from yet another fantastic trip To Glen Helen. Students were led by the naturalists on hikes and the put on skits, afternoon activities, and camp fires. Thank you to our staff and chaperones who made the trip possible!
The annual Glen Helen send-off was the usual joy-filled event. We’re so proud of how our students support each other, even across classrooms.
