Welcome to Spaces and Moments: The Unquowa Blog Page
Something is always going on at Unquowa and this is the place to keep up with all the exciting happenings. Whether in the classroom, the makerspace, on stage, or at play, every space and every moment is a chance to discover, connect, learn, and have fun. Check here frequently for news, campus-wide events, and other highlights from around campus, all posted by our inspiring teachers!
Common Ground Field Experience
Posted by Joshua Bartosiewicz
To kick off this year in science, our 7th grade Gators embarked on a field trip to Common Ground in New Haven, CT. This was a perfect opportunity for our students to not only learn what is currently being discussed in science, but they also got a head start on content we will be covering later in the year.
Upon arrival our Gators were fully immersed with nature! We started our adventures with a walk to their marvelous gardens where our students were able to roam and explore the different plants, herbs and vegetables being grown. While the 7th grade ventured through the garden, they had free rein to pick any vegetable or herb to try fresh. We also had bowls to collect extra herbs and vegetables which would be used later to make their own, farm to table mini pizzas. This was a beautiful experience in itself as it reinforced our school’s farm to fork mantra. The students were able to see first hand where the food we eat comes from, the work put in to grow and clean the food, as well as learning numerous sustainable gardening/agricultural practices. After the harvest pizza activity, we were able to have meet and greets with various types of farm animals. We learned about the care of farm animals, the benefits they provide (to people and the environment!) and we even got to feed and pet some of them such as chickens, goats, sheep and ducks! To finish off the trip the outdoor educators took us on a knowledge filled hike through West Rock Park in New Haven, CT. On the hike, conversations of seed dispersal, pollination, biomimicry, species relationships, formation of geologic landscapes, animal tracking techniques and much more were buzzing through the air. Not only were these topics discussed, but they were brought up because we were seeing real life examples along the entire hike. Although the hike was full of information, everyone had a blast and we were able to see breathtaking scenery along the way. After we finished the hike, our Gators gathered their belongings and we departed for Unquowa. The connections to the world and memories theyâve made with their friends are sure to carry on with them for the rest of their lives.
Mixed Applications Problems!
Posted by colleenjacques
To culminate the study of Whole Numbers in our first unit of Pre-Algebra, 6th grade students worked in small groups to tackle Mixed Applications problems. Students solved problems on a variety of topics including area, perimeter, mean, ratio and proportion to name a few. While working together, there was an emphasis on sharing different ways to solve the same problem and using math vocabulary correctly.Â
International Dot Day!
Posted by Maureen Diallo
We celebrated International Dot Day, a worldwide celebration of creativity, courage, and making your mark. Inspired by Peter H. Reynoldsâ The Dot, we read about Vashti, a child who discovers that one small mark can be the beginning of something much bigger. More than 34 million people in over 190 countries have participated in Dot Day, making our first-grade celebration part of a truly global community!
Just like Vashti, we turned simple dots into creative ideas and explored where our imaginations could take us. We even connected Dot Day to math by using dot markers to create our own dot collections, then counting and graphing our collections. It was a wonderful way to remind our first graders that their ideas matter, creativity can take many forms, and sometimes all it takes is one small mark to get started!
Making Flowers and Friends
Posted by Faith Barbuto
We started the very first day of PreK painting what would become flowers inspired by Georgia O’Keefe. As I was decorating our room with samples of her work I was struck by this quote âNobody sees a flower- really it is so small- we havenât time, and to see takes time, like to have a friend takes time.â So after looking at some examples of how she painted flowers big âso everyone would see themâ, we went out to the garden. We brought magnifying glasses to more closely observe the flowers. We stopped at the lavender and cut a sprig each to create lavender sachets to use for mindfulness. We remembered how in one story, the Big, Bad, Pig was soothed with flowers rather than defeated with power. Each day we really take the time. Time to explore, to play, to make art, to make friends. What an incredible gift this time is!
First Grade Scientists: Exploring Our Campus
Posted by Maureen Diallo
Our first grade scientists grabbed their binoculars and headed outside for a little science adventure! Scientists are curious. They explore, they wonder, they ask questions, and they make observations â and that is exactly what we did! We ventured into the woods with our scavenger hunt checklists, keeping our eyes peeled for all kinds of things in nature: squirrels, ants, worms, feathers, birds, clouds, trees, and more. Our binoculars were a BIG hit! Things that seemed so far away suddenly felt close enough to explore. We spotted squirrels high up in the trees, birdsâ nests tucked into the branches, and even the tiniest ants marching along the ground. Every few steps brought a new discovery and a new reason to stop, look closely, and wonder. It was such a wonderful reminder that science is everywhere! Our campus became our classroom as we explored the natural world right outside our door. Experiences like these give our first graders the chance to learn by doing, noticing, questioning, and discovering for themselves. What a fantastic afternoon of being curious, getting outside, and thinking like scientists! Keep exploring, first grade scientists!
Officially Alumni
Posted by Jacqui Mudre
Congratulations to this wonderful Class of 2026.
We are proud of each and everyone of you and wishing you all the best!
