In the Groove
I cannot walk down a hallway these days without hearing a student call out “Mrs. Chambers, come and look at what we are doing!” You can sense the learning happening every day. The articles in this pushpage touch on some projects, but let me tell you about a few more.
If you enter Pre-K on a Wednesday morning, you will see girls learning about animals that hibernate. They are becoming experts. On Wednesdays, they wear their PJs to school and actually act out hibernation by making nests in special places in the room. I have not found their hibernating to be any ‘quieter’ activity, however. They seem to have much to share!
Kindergartners have been learning all about 3-D shapes and can tell you a lot about their characteristics. They know about corners, faces and edges of 3-D shapes and can identify them readily. They are finding these shapes in their classroom and all over the School. They are now looking at everything from paper towel rolls, pillars, and cups to cones on the playground and file cabinets in the lobby and naming them. They are very pleased with the photo collage and voice thread they sent off to a school in Australia, telling the students all about life at Ellis.
First graders are hands-on in Science as they learn about magnets; their size and strength. Their questions and observations demonstrate the thinking they are doing. The data they are collecting and analyzing is impressive.
Ask a second or third grader what they are doing and you will hear a lot about the class plays they are busy preparing for. The exciting part is that they are learning so much about history and about scientists and inventors who persisted and made a difference. From descriptive second grade small moment stories to sage advice from Ben Franklin that the third graders are sharing, they are all demonstrating new skills and understanding.
Fourth graders have been stepping up to Middle School, making amazing connections in the literature they are reading, writing beautiful poetry and patiently learning to sculpt. They are also exploring STEM areas through the engineering work they are doing in science. Clearly they are getting ready for Middle School.
A recent highlight for all of us was our afternoon in Mellon Park. It was great fun for the whole Lower School (teachers and students) to PLAY in the snow together. Check out the photos in the Media Gallery. Thanks to all of you for getting your daughters dressed warmly for the day!
Don’t miss the parent coffee this Thursday - Internet Safety: What is a parent to do?
Despite delayed starts and inclement weather, we are ‘in the groove’ in the Lower School. Every day is an exciting day of learning and growing.
Envision Her at Ellis
If you're interested in exploring Ellis for your daughter, let's connect! Request information about enrollment, attend one of our upcoming events, or hear about Ellis from those who know it best: our students.
