A Week in Middle School

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. 

Posted in Middle School, partners, science

Multiple Sources


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. 

Posted in science, Upper Elementary

Peffer Park Field Trip

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. 

Posted in field trip, Lower Elementary

Glen Helen Trip

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!

Posted in field trip, science, Upper Elementary

Glen Helen Send-Off

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.

Posted in Uncategorized

Art Show

During the Harvest Supper, McGuffey students Grades1-8 presented their work in an art show. The artists developed a plan for their project and worked on their pieces over the course of 6 weeks. Materials included clay, paper mache, glue, cardboard, paint, wood, pastels, and pencil. All of the projects were paired with an artists statement describing their work and process. 

Posted in art

Water Works


Primary students have been exploring works involving water. The outdoor Water Table is not only a delight, it’s a tool for sensory exploration and practicing communication with a group working together. The Land and Water Forms teach students the forms of land and water including vocabulary like peninsula. Paint rollers dipped in water are a joy and help with gross motor movement and strength. Pouring water from a pitcher increases fine motor control by using their hands to grasp pitcher and tilt it at different angles to control the flow of liquid. During dry weeks, watering the garden is a great way to take care of their environment. Or course, playing in the rain is also just plain fun!

Posted in Primary, Uncategorized

Ecology

Middle School science has been concentrating on the study of Ecology. Students created one meter squares with string then counted the number of several types of organisms inside that square. Next came setting up a mini ecosystem in the form of a terrarium with insects.

Students also have been estimating simulated animal populations using mark, release, and recapture as well as by removal sampling. By studying Ecology, our students gain understanding of the interactions between living organisms and their environment. It’s incredible to think these middle schoolers will one day be able to help mitigate the impacts of human activities on our planet.

Posted in Middle School, science

Leadership


Third graders had a fantastic time meeting with Dr. Megan Gerhardt to learn about their strengths and how they can be applied to leadership. During their workshop at the Oxford Community Arts Center, they discussed important questions: What does it mean to be a leader? What does a leader look like? Are you a leader? They talked about their unique talents and created leadership “apps” to depict the ways they lead. What an amazing opportunity to learn about what you do well and how it can be applied to everyday life and as with any good business meeting, muffins were served.  

Posted in guest speakers, Lower Elementary

International Day of Peace

On International Day of Peace, the Primary classroom read Todd Parr’s fantastic book, The Peace Book. To bring Peace to their classroom, they worked as a whole to restore the outdoor classroom shed. Works had not been put away properly and many were missing or hard to find. The students made amends by putting materials in their correct baskets and back into the shed. Now there is order and everyone can find what they need with ease.

Posted in peace, Primary