Part of the Massachusetts Technology and Engineering standards for Grade 1 is students being able to ask questions, make observations, and gather information about a situation people want to change in order to define a simple design problem that can be solved by developing or improving an object or tool. The students in Alissa’s class were challenged to make a step stool to access their whiteboard by creating paper honeycombs and taping them together. Could the students make a strong enough step stool for a child but even more important, an adult? The video shows the process and the outcome. Inspiration for this unit came from the Curiosity Machine website.

Grade 1 Engineers from Karin Gravina on Vimeo.

As part of their study of the American Revolution, 6th Graders in Ms. Erickson’s class worked in groups to research one of the causes of the American Revolution. Each group then put together a dramatic “Town Crier Announcement” in which they explained what happened and why. Their videos are below:

Boston Massacre from Karin Gravina on Vimeo.

The Boston Tea Party from Karin Gravina on Vimeo.

Intolerable Acts from Karin Gravina on Vimeo.

Stamp Act from Karin Gravina on Vimeo.

Lisa Echevarria’s fourth grade class has been building bridges in the classroom. Below is a link to a documentary iMovie of the process fourth graders went through.

G4 Bridges Unit from Lisa Echevarria on Vimeo.

The incredible art work and musical talents of our students in Kindergarten through Grade 6 were on full display last week. Under the direction of Heidi Renauld, music teacher, and Karie Neal, art teacher, the parents and school community were treated to an art show and a musical performance, Exploring Color Through the Arts. Below are the videos of the event:

Art Music Kindergarten to Grade 3 from Karin Gravina on Vimeo.

Grade 4 to Grade 6 from Karin Gravina on Vimeo.

Lisa Kuerzel’s second grade class performed at our March assembly. The performance was inspired by their work learning about landforms (hills and mountains=Mt. Sugarloaf), natural bodies of water (Connecticut River), and their work with our Resident Storyteller, Jon Porcino. It was based on a Pocumtuck Indian Deeptime Story about Mt. Sugarloaf. They listened to a tale, Wôbanakiak: Amiskwôlowôkoiak – the People of the Beaver-tail Hill, on the 1704 Deerfield History website. In their performance, they incorporated some of what they had heard in the tale and even used some Algonquian words. Their performance is below:

Grade 2 Assembly from Karin Gravina on Vimeo.