 ELEMENTARY
There's holiday festivity in the air! Lower and Middle Elementary have been getting in the spirit of the Winter Holidays by reading; learning songs; playing games such as I Spy (with my little eye) and dreidels; and writing about different holidays celebrated around the world. They compared and contrasted Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. Upper Elementary, on the other hand, has been learning about the age of exploration focussing on European explorers finding the Americas. They read and listened to books, made maps and acted out historical routes! – Harriet Mukisa, Middle Elementary Lead MIDDLE SCHOOL After we wrapped up the Q1 study of indigenous people in North America, we moved on to learning about the European explorers and colonizers who unwittingly came to the Americas in search of the riches of Asia, only to find and settle in a whole New World. We discussed the impacts of the Spanish and French explorations; how they shaped Central and South America, as well as Canada; and how they have affected the world of today. We are now firmly entrenched in the 13 British colonies, having already learned about the New England, Middle and Southern colonial regions and their similarities, differences, and unique characteristics. Students are learning about what life was like in the colonies for the various groups of people who inhabited them, as well as the multitude of reasons why people moved there in the first place. Our next step on this journey will be the Revolutionary War and the formation of our Union – plus all of the documents, planning, and coordination that came with this period in our country's history. It has been a good first few months of classes; we are now much more settled into the routines and systems of our day to day. Looking forward to finishing 2024 on a strong note next week and starting January with some valuable learning and fun historical deep dives! – Drew Vinson, Middle School Social Studies HIGH SCHOOL 1st Period US Historians have been busy learning about the various causes that members of the Progressive Movement fought for, including ending child labor, safer and fairer wages for workers, an end to government corruption, and the women's suffrage movement, to name a few. Students learned that Progressive presidents, such as Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson, enacted reforms to improve their respective states, while governors, and also when they were president. 4th Period US History – Students are delving into the tactics that advocates of the Women's Suffrage Movement utilized in order to grant women the right to vote. Students learned about how Carrie Chapman Catt encouraged the lobbying of Congress to pass a suffrage amendment, as well as having advocates travel to individual states to pass statewide measures granting women the right to vote. Students also learned about the tactics of Alice Paul who utilized more aggressive tactics, such as marches in front of the White House, and hunger strikes to demand women be given the right to vote. Students learned that a combination of these two approaches ultimately led to the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920, which finally gave women across the entire United States the right to vote. 5th Period Government – We have been learning about the two houses of Congress, the House of Representatives and the Senate, and the different requirements of those who seek to be elected to these chambers. Students have learned that the requirements to be in the Senate are more rigorous, and that members of the Senate need to focus more on the national needs of the country, rather than focusing on the needs of specific districts in states, which is what members of the House of Representatives tend to do. Students engaged in a discussion about term limits for members of Congress, and in the process gained an understanding of the pros and cons of enacting such term limits on members of Congress. 6th Period Government – Our Junior-Senior group has been learning about the different types of powers delegated to members of Congress in Article I of the U.S. Constitution, which include expressed powers, inherent powers, and implied powers. One such power students learned about in-depth was the Commerce Power, and students had a thoughtful discussion about whether certain aspects of society fall under Congress's jurisdiction under the Commerce Clause. For example, students learned that the internet qualified as an appropriate area to be regulated by Congress, because commerce happens via the internet. – Kenny Katz, High School History  As you may know, Gladys has taken over for Rubén while he recovers from back surgery. This week, Spanish classes have been learning about Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), a holiday celebrated in Mexico and other Central American countries. Part of the observation is building altars or “ofrendas” (offerings) to honor loved ones who have died. Together, and with our Facilities Manager's help, they built an ofrenda in the classroom. The students also helped create papel picado, arrange flowers, build the arch, and decorate the walls with paper skulls. We invite students and faculty to add a framed photo of a family member, friend, or pet who has passed away to our classroom ofrenda. If you choose to participate, please ensure that the photo is in a frame. All pictures will be treated with care and respect throughout the celebration. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to reach out.  HIGH SCHOOL
The High School U.S. History classes are off to a running start! We have engaged in numerous discussions, and jumped into readings about the early years of the American republic: life under the Articles of Confederation, reasons behind discarding the Articles and establishing the U.S. Constitution, and the significance of the U.S. prevailing against the British in the War of 1812. This week, we covered the various factors that led to the American Civil War, including whether popular sovereignty should have been used to decide the slavery question in the West, and how the Dred Scott decision was a huge factor in escalating tensions between North and South. The High School Government/Econ classes started the school year studying the different types of governments that exist, as well as the reasons why a written constitution is an incredibly important aspect of governing a state. This week, we started a unit on political parties, their role vis-à-vis facilitating elections and governance, and how the role of political parties has shifted significantly since the late 19th century. Students also completed their first current events assignment – pick a news story that they felt holds significance, summarize it, and explain why it is a story that deserves attention. – Kenny Katz, High School History & Government MIDDLE SCHOOL – DIVING INTO HISTORY As we've started off the year in Middle School Social Studies, we have begun our U.S. History content with a focus on the indigenous people of North America and those who were the earliest inhabiters of this country. Learning about these first Americans has brought conversation topics ranging from migration (of both humans and animals), to the uses and abuses of power, and even to the impacts of climate change on these original Americans. We've explored interactive maps of U.S. and the tribal lands that used to cover all 50 states, discussed what kind of evidence is used to understand the past, and how historians operate like detectives of the past, sifting through various pieces of information to try to find a connection. A good amount of time has been spent getting settled in the classroom and learning and practicing the various routines and protocols we have, as well. Making sure all students feel comfortable in the space and with the expectations they have. It's been a great start to the year. I'm really looking forward to continuing on this journey as we dive deeper into U.S. History and all that comes with it! – Drew Vinson, Middle School Humanities ELEMENTARY Lower and Middle Elementary are starting to learn about community workers and the jobs they do in the community. We have discussed what we think each job entails and if we interact with these workers with our families. Middle Elementary has been working on "Where I Am on the Map" worksheets. Upper Elementary is also starting to discuss what they know about social studies, as well as beginning to learn about maps and locations. We are excited to learn more about our communities and the world around us! – Adria Olson, Lower El Lead Teacher |
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