What’s Happening
From September’s opening day to June’s closing ceremonies, we document and share events from all over our campus in an attempt to continuously communicate all the diverse goings-on at The Unquowa School. From school-wide events, assemblies, visiting presenters and other highlights from around campus, here’s a sample of what’s happening…
The Danger of a Single Story
Posted by Eric Snow
After watching Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s famous speech, “The Danger of a Single Story,” 7th Graders gathered in small groups to discuss how Adichie addressed the idea that single narratives for people, or groups of people, are limiting and incomplete. In this Humanities lesson – which dovetails with the social-emotional lessons (SEL) they are engaged in during Advisory – students are learning that a “balance of stories” is necessary in order to form well-rounded opinions about other people, groups, and places.
Living vs. Nonliving!
Posted by joshuabartosiewicz
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- Students are analyzing various objects to understand their properties at different magnifications.
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- Cell walls were observed in lettuce under x10 magnification!
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- Group sharing of their findings!
In this lab, students were split into groups and were given microscopes along with various materials. Some of these materials included; lettuce, zucchini slices, apple slices, Q-tips, tissue, hair, minerals in addition to a few other objects. Students were asked to analyze the given materials in a couple of different ways. First, observations were made with their unaided eye. Some descriptions included the color of the object, any imperfections (holes, dents, bends), and anything else that stuck out to the students. Next, all of these materials were examined underneath the microscopes using each magnification setting (x4, x10 and x40). Students were again asked to make observations for each object under each different magnification setting. Some of this data included the color of the objects, the presence or absence of cells along with anything else the students found interesting. It was evident that the lettuce leaf was the easiest specimen to see the cells in. By the end of this lab, students were able to categorize the objects as living or nonliving based on whether cells were observed or not.
Someday we’ll find it…the rainbow connection
Posted by Krissy Ponden
Sixth graders have been learning about color and its relationship to emotion. They explored the ways that colors are seen in different cultures and learned why white is not the universal color for brides or black the color for mourning around the world. We also considered how feel when we see different colors and how it is different for each person. This is all in preparation for our emotional color portrait project, which we will be drawing and watercoloring soon!
Park City Composting Program #1 (Intro to Composting)
Posted by joshuabartosiewicz
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- Students observing items that are appropriate for composting.
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- Students are observing and feeling soil samples from material that broke down through the composting process.
Every Monday Unquowa 8th graders are participating in a hands-on environmental educational program with the organization known as Park City Composting. Students will gain an understanding on how to properly compost as well as learn about its beneficial effects; not only is it important for people but the environment too! In the first visit students were able to see the different materials that are compostable, as well as items that aren’t suitable for the compost pile and then we all got a first hand look at soil samples that were the product of composting! Park City Composting even brought an updated tumbler to help properly produce compost which will be incorporated into future seminars, and eventually into the school composting program.
Radial Balance in Art, Culture, Nature, and History
Posted by Krissy Ponden
8th graders are in the middle of their first major project of the year, which focuses on the concept of radial balance. While “mandala coloring books” have become ubiquitous in recent years for their calming properties, the students learned about the myriad of ways that similar designs have shown up throughout history in different cultures around the world. We created radial designs on the computer and are now beginning to work on our printed designs. This is always a project that brings color and an opportunity for mindful reflection to our campus, and we are looking forward to sharing the results soon!
Energy and Energy Transformation
Posted by joshuabartosiewicz
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- Working it out!
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- Utilizing the side of the school building for their starting point!
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- Working as a team to create their favorite design, which incorporates the Blue Spruce!
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- Track test time!
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- Trying to figure how to make their last turn work!
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- About to test their final design!
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- Discussing ways to improve their success rate. “It doesn’t want to work when you watch Mr. B!” – That whole group
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- Success with this final design!
The first lab of the year for 8th graders was an incredible success! Students spent a week learning about potential and kinetic energy along with other various forms of energy (sound energy, thermal energy, electromagnetic energy, chemical energy, elastic potential energy, and more!) and then applied their knowledge by designing and building a functioning roller coaster. Students were placed into groups and moved outside to the back of the school where their creations began! Once students were happy with their tracks, they were given marbles to test if it would actually work. Along with designing and building these roller coasters, students were asked to answer a few lab questions regarding their designs. For example, the students drew models of their tracks once completed and then labeled their “blueprints”. These labels included information such as the types of energy present, where they are present, as well as why they are currently in effect. Overall, all of the students were able to construct working designs which were a blast to build!
