Fifth Graders Dig Into Studying Worms
In science class, fifth graders have been studying ecosystems and food webs. Students spent time observing an important decomposer–an earthworm! We watched to see where a worm would go when given a choice between light and dark as well as dry and wet. Most worms preferred dark, damp spaces. This makes sense because the soil, where they live, is also dark and damp. Students were asking the question, “Do worms help gardens?” Students discussed designing a controlled experiment that could answer this question. Then students came up with ideas for their own controlled experiments that they could do with worms. Some students might carry out their experiments this spring!
– Emma Nairn, fifth grade teacher
Fourth Grade Welcomes Author Back for Writing Workshop
Author Luisana Duarte Armendariz returned to Belmont Day to visit fourth grade for the third year in a row. Students and teachers were equally excited for her visit and well prepared after reading her mystery novel, Julieta and the Diamond Enigma, in December. While reading, the students became detectives, gathering clues, looking for connections, and debating over suspects. Part of the novel takes place at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, where the class visited last semester and could see some of the artifacts Luisana worked into her novel. During Luisana’s visit, she shared about herself as a writer. She led the students through writing activities about developing characters, thinking through the plot structure, and how to include red herrings. Students were also encouraged to incorporate artifacts they found at the MFA into their mysteries. The morning session ended with the opportunity to ask questions, and the students were happy to learn that Luisana will publish a second Julieta book. We can’t wait!
– Lana Holman, fourth grade teacher
Arts Update: Teaching and Learning with Teachers
Last week, the associate teachers wrapped up their slate of ARTS Workshops in the Coolidge Art Studio by working on the pottery wheels. Throughout the fall and extending into January, the associates have spent Friday mornings working with different art teachers in their studio spaces. Beginning in 2019, ARTS Workshop sessions have focused on providing hands-on experiences in each arts discipline so that our teachers-in-training get a taste of what and how students are learning outside of their academic classroom settings. We unpack the “how” and “why” for the associates. Specifically, our Friday sessions in woodworking, music, theater, innovation arts, and visual art introduce how arts specialists’ classes and units of study are presented to a wide variety of students in grades pre-k to 8, how collaborative work is intertwined with individualized experiences, and why each discipline’s curriculum is structured on key threads.
– Anne Armstrong, visual arts teacher and arts coordinator
