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!
Seeing the Sound of Jazz: Duke Ellington Inspires First Grade Learners
Posted by Maureen Diallo
Within our Language Arts curriculum, first grade has recently been focusing on people from our past. We fell in love with the story, Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra, by Andrea Davis Pinkney. Through this beautifully written, award-winning book, students explored the life and legacy of Duke Ellington, a revolutionary jazz pianist and composer whose contributions are considered some of the most influential of the 20th century.
As we immersed ourselves in the incredible sounds of Duke Ellington’s music, students were encouraged to imagine what his music might look like—thinking about color, art, and design. Inspired by the dynamic illustrations of Brian Pinkney and the sounds of Duke Ellington himself, our first graders created their own Duke Ellington–inspired artwork to accompany their fact-filled writing pieces. The result was a joyful blend of history, music, art, and literacy.
Adventures in Solid Shapes
Posted by Jennifer Do
Kindergarten students explored solid shapes through hands-on, playful learning. Students learned to identify and name common solid shapes (such as cubes, spheres, cylinders and cones) and to describe their attributes, including flat faces and curved surfaces. By sorting the shapes, they practiced comparing and classifying objects based on shared characteristics.
While hunting for solid shapes in the classroom, school environment and even in the kitchen with Chef Adam (!!), students made connections, recognizing that shapes exist all around them and serve different purposes. Using styrofoam solid shapes to build structures, they experimented with balance, stability and designs. Throughout these activities, students also developed mathematical language, collaboration skills and the ability to explain their thinking.
Honoring MLK – 5th Grade Acts of Service!
Posted by Sarah Raggio
The fifth graders honored Martin Luther King Jr. by doing an act of service here at Unquowa. Dr King believed in helping others and making the world a kind and fair place. He taught us that everyone can make a difference, no matter their age by showing respect and caring about their community.
Our acts of service put Dr. King’s message of love, equality, and service into action to create a positive change. The students each picked an act of service and completed it.
Grace – I drew a picture for Mrs. Raggio
Harper – I read to the Pre K class
Maddie C.– I helped Miles straighten out his trapper at flex class
Miles – I held the outside door open for all of the upper school students to come in for lunch
Maddie T. – I read a Dr Seuss book to the kindergarten class
Ali – I washed Mrs. Sylvestro’s whiteboard
Nico – I pushed in all of the chairs after literature class
Owen – I held the door open for all of the upper schoolers to come in after snack
Arthur – I carried Micah’s trapper all day so that he could rest his arms for our basketball game later that day
Micah – I made an origami gift for Mrs. Blackwell
Kindergarten Masters Make Paint Like Da Vinci
Posted by Alice DesGranges
Inspired by their study of Leonardo da Vinci, our kindergarten class stepped back in time to explore traditional egg tempera painting. The children carefully ground pigments by hand, mixed them with egg yolks, and discovered how paint was made long before tubes and brushes filled art stores. Through joyful experimentation, they tested and refined their own pinks and vibrant colors, learning that art is both science and creativity. This hands-on exploration brought history to life and turned our classroom into a studio of young Renaissance artists.
Tasty Tectonic Plates!
Posted by Colleen Noyes
Students in 6th grade science class brought plate tectonics to life with a delicious hands-on model. They mixed frosting with food coloring and spread it on a work surface to represent Earth’s mantle, then placed graham crackers on top as tectonic plates and demonstrated the three types of plate movement: divergent (pulling apart), convergent (colliding), and transform (sliding past). As they pushed, pulled, and slid their “plates”, students saw how Earth’s internal heat drives mantle convection and powers the forces that shape our planet. Afterwards, students completed a lab report and diagrammed each boundary movement. Their curiosity and excitement was evident throughout this fun and informative lesson.
Gators Got Game!
Posted by Sarah Pollex
Our Grade 3/4 basketball team is lighting up the gym! With basketballs bouncing, sneakers squeaking, and laughter echoing, these Gators are having a blast! From speedy dribble relays to the ever-popular Dribble Knockout, every practice is full of energy, cheers, and high-fives. One thing’s for sure—these Gators aren’t just playing basketball… they are magic in the making on the court! “Gators on three! One, two, three, Gators!”
