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!
That’s a Wrap on 6th Grade Humanities!
Posted by Thomas Iezin
As we close out an incredible year in 6th Grade Humanities, students ended the year by taking everything they learned about ancient civilizations and putting it into action through one final collaborative project: creating their very own civilization from the ground up!
Throughout the year, students explored civilizations such as Mesopotamia, Egypt, Ancient Greece, Rome, India, and China. For their culminating project, students worked in teams to combine elements from these societies and design an original civilization complete with its own geography, government, military, education system, economy, trade routes, religion, and cultural traditions.
Students carefully selected where their civilization would be located and analyzed both the advantages and disadvantages of their geography. They debated which forms of government would best support their society, how their military would protect their people, and how trade with neighboring civilizations would strengthen their economy. Each decision required students to apply the critical thinking, creativity, and historical understanding they developed throughout the year.
Once their trifold presentations were complete, students participated in a mini civilization summit where they presented and defended their societies in front of their peers. The classroom quickly transformed into a world of competing ancient empires, each with unique strengths, ideas, and innovations. Students asked thoughtful questions, challenged one another’s decisions, and engaged in respectful debate about which civilizations would be the most successful long-term.
To conclude the project, each team received a surprise “challenge card” that introduced a major crisis to their civilization. Some civilizations faced droughts, famines, plagues, invasions, civil unrest, or economic collapse. Students then had to explain how their civilization would respond and survive using the systems and structures they had created. This final challenge encouraged students to think like historians, leaders, and problem-solvers as they adapted to unpredictable events.
It was incredible to watch our students demonstrate not only their understanding of ancient history, but also their collaboration, creativity, communication, and resilience. The growth they have shown throughout the year has been truly impressive, and this final project was a wonderful celebration of all they accomplished in 6th Grade Humanities.
Congratulations to all of our 6th graders on an outstanding year!
Revolutionary Learning: Bringing the Past to Life in Fifth Grade
Posted by Sarah Raggio
Sure, you could open a textbook to learn about the Revolutionary War—but living it is much more fun!
Grade 5 is fully immersed in our Revolutionary War unit in both social studies and literature. In addition to classwork, videos, and group projects, we bring history to life through engaging, hands-on activities that reflect the era. In literature, we are reading a classic historical fiction novel set right here in Connecticut. Students create illustrations, write thoughtful responses, and even develop their own scripts to bring scenes from the book to life. Each activity is designed to reinforce a reading strategy to improve their reading comprehension. In addition to the classwork, we spent time in the kitchen churning butter the old-fashioned way and baking simple apple muffins similar to those of the time. In social studies, students write eulogies for the Acts passed by the British, participate in a mock trial of the Boston Massacre, play simulation games, and sew individual quilt squares, on an antique sewing machine, that come together to create a class Yogibo cover. The Yogibo cover is similar to a scrap quilt, which is a technique used during the Revolutionary War Era.
Studying this time period simultaneously in both classes deepens students’ understanding and strengthens their mastery of the content. At times, they even stop and ask, “Which class is this—literature or social studies?” This format is a preview of the humanities program in the upper grades.
This year, students traveled to Putnam Park to experience a Revolutionary War reenactment on the very grounds of the encampment mentioned in our novel. We visited with potters, cooks and blacksmiths, all demonstrating the techniques used in this era. We also visited a tavern built in the 1700s, also the setting of our historical novel, where students wrote with quill pens and learned more about daily life during the era through interactive games and presentations.
What a fun, hands-on learning experience to cap off a fantastic year in Fifth Grade!
Revolutionary War… or Revolutionary Fun? Fifth Grade Can’t Tell! 🇺🇸
Matilda Jr!
Posted by Patty Carver
Presenting Unquowa’s Spring Musical, 2026, Matilda!
After months of rehearsal and hard work, the 6th, 7th & 8th grade cast and crew delivered an amazing production! Every student involved should be proud. Congratulations to all!
When History Speaks: Meeting a Hiroshima Survivor
Posted by Ariel Warshaw
As a culmination of our 8th grade Humanities unit on World War II, our students had the profound privilege of meeting Mr. Tamiyuki Okahara — a hibakusha (被爆者), or survivor of the 1945 atomic bombing of Hiroshima — via Zoom. Mr. Okahara-san generously shared his family’s deeply personal story of survival, and our students responded with thoughtful, heartfelt questions that sparked a rich conversation touching on nuclear deterrence and disarmament.
There are fewer than 100,000 hibakusha still living today. To hear history speak in a living voice — and to bear witness to it together — is a rare and humbling gift. We are so grateful to Mr. Okahara-san for his time, his courage, and his trust in our community.
Community Time in Third Grade!
Posted by anniehenry
Third grade students have been diving into the study of Native American tribes, exploring their cultures, histories, traditions, and lasting impact. One of the most meaningful themes students noticed as we compared and contrasted the different tribes was the deep value many Native communities place on community itself: gathering together, sharing stories, supporting one another, and making time to connect.
Inspired by this important idea, we will be spending the final blocks of Social Studies creating our own version of “Community Time” with the Unquowa community! Our Community.
During these blocks, students will have opportunities to connect with others across campus through shared activities, conversations, collaborative projects, and community-building experiences. The hope is that students not only continue learning about community, but also experience the joy and responsibility of being active, caring members of one themselves.
This past Monday we hosted our Makerspace teacher Mr. Casey, who read one of his favorite childhood books. We discussed his upbringing in Kentucky, and were able to ask him what brought him to Connecticut. He shared stories, and we made tissue paper butterflies. Yesterday we hosted the first grade class. We buddied up and asked “get to know you” questions. Third graders read a book of the first graders choosing to them, and we finished by hearing what everyone learned from one another. I learned the rainbow sherbert seems to be the fan fav Unquowa dessert.
We are excited to continue this meaningful way to close out our Social Studies work, and to help students strengthen connections throughout the Unquowa community.
It’s that Time of the Year!
Posted by Eric Snow
The Pen & Paper Editorial Staff are hard at work deciding which of the incredible submissions we’ve received throughout the year are going to be published in the next edition of our award-winning literary-arts magazine. We’re now adding afterschool sessions to review every poem, short story, art piece, and photograph in order to make final decisions. It’s getting real, and our editors are having a blast with it! Good luck to all who submitted!
