Growing Into Change
Change is one of the great themes of childhood—and in the Middles, students are changing in wonderfully visible ways. For educators, attending to these changes means asking not only, “What should children learn?” but also, “Who are these children becoming?”
Identity in the Power Primes
We believe that children should be active participants in the process of their own knowledge construction - and this process encourages and deepens their thinking. We ask the children the same questions we ask ourselves, we listen to the questions they have. Together, we will contemplate and consider: What is identity? Who are you? Why are you who you are?
Firsts with Wonder
As we move into our first full week of school, we are noticing how the predictable routines and caring environment helps students warm up to each other and to become curious in their environment and social setting. We are also still learning about each other, our unique interests and curiosities and how we can all fit in together and we still have so much to learn this early in the school year.
Sound, Vibration, and the Origins of Instruments in Mups and Middles Music
This spring in Mups and Middles Music, students have been exploring a big question: where do instruments come from? Using the book Before Music: Where Instruments Come From as a guide, students have been investigating how humans across time and cultures discovered ways to create sound using the materials around them. Rather than beginning with polished modern instruments, we started with the basic building blocks of sound itself: vibration, resonance, and experimentation.
Deconstruct / Reconstruct:A Take Apart Project Inspired by Things Come Apart
Uppers were joined by Seth Seeger, a parent of an alum, for a hands-on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) experience where participants dismantle old electronics and appliances (like toys, VCRs, keyboards) to discover their inner workings.
Writers Workshop in the Mups: Writing for Real Readers
This year in the Mups, our Writers Workshop has been grounded in a simple but powerful idea: writing is meant to be read. Drawing inspiration from the philosophy of Collaborative Classroom’s Being a Writer approach, we’ve been exploring how young writers grow when they see themselves as authors with something to say and an audience who is listening.
Word of the Week: Creating a routine and providing structure to mornings in Middles Quartz
Implementing a Word of the Week this year has been a low-stakes way of exposing students to important concepts and providing them with a routine to settle into the day. The open-ended nature of these morning work assignments allows students to dive deep if they want to or just skim the surface of a concept.
Woodsies Woodshop
It is a Center School tradition to ask students in September about their hopes and dreams for their upcoming year together. In the forest this year, there was a lot of interest in using “real tools”.
Ambitious Projects with the 8th Graders
Two weeks ago, our community gathered to support this year’s 8th graders as they presented their Ambitious Projects. They are the capstone of our projects curriculum here at the Center School, which encourages kids to think about themselves as artists, as writers, as builders, as thinkers, as scientists and as learners in an authentic and student driven way.
Drawing and the Creative Process with the Power Primes
In the Power Primes classroom, we deeply value the creative process. Throughout the day, there are many opportunities to draw and be creative.
Into the Woods with the Middles
Getting outside in the Middles isn’t your typical recess time—it’s something far more meaningful.
Spring Growth with the Wonder Primes
The Spring in the Wonder Primes classroom is filled with growth of all kinds. This is such a special time of year where our play skills really blossom.
8th Graders Take New York!!
Last Thursday, the 8th grade went on a fantastic all-day trip to New York City to see the Tony-award winning musical adaptation of The Outsiders. It was an epic adventure!
Hands On, Brains On!
The next time you pass a child digging in the sandbox, building with magna-tiles, or drawing with crayons, remember:
Play is never just play.
Supporting Kids in Their Digital Lives
As children grow, they begin spending more time in digital spaces. Playing games, engaging in group chats, and using platforms such as YouTube and social media are all ways that many middle and high school-aged kids interact with the internet. In a small community like ours, where students know each other well, the conversations we have in class often connect to real-life experiences. Our goal is not to create fear, but to help students build awareness, confidence, and the skills they need to navigate online spaces thoughtfully and safely.
Uppers at the Y
The Gymnastics Center at The Y is a space where people of all ages and skill levels can let loose, jump, run, flip, climb, balance, and play.
Tiny, furry, and boisterous. Saying goodbye with the Mups.
Three years ago, the Mups welcomed three baby rats into our classroom. Olivia, their primary caretaker, named them Lichen, Clover, and Moss. They were tiny, furry, and boisterous. Many of the Mups were enamored.
Middles Performance: Turning Personal Stories Into Theater
This winter, the Middles have been working toward their performance project, bringing together writing, creativity, and collaboration. Building on the personal narrative unit they completed in Writing earlier this year, students are transforming their own stories into short theatrical pieces.
5th Grade Tiny House Project: Designing with Purpose
This winter, our 5th grade students stepped into the role of architects during an exciting interdisciplinary project: creating a 400-square-foot tiny house for a client.
100 Days With the Woods Primes
How did the Woods Primes celebrate our 100th day of school?