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!
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!”
Boogie Woogie with Mondrian
Posted by Alice DesGranges
Our third graders explored abstract art through the work of Piet Mondrian, an artist known for using structured grids, bold lines, and primary colors to create balance and rhythm. Students applied these ideas by creating their own grid paintings and learning how abstract art can show movement and feeling without realistic images. While dancing and painting to boogie woogie music, students connected rhythm and visual structure, making the learning experience both fun and creative.
Global Classroom Connection!
Posted by Alice DesGranges
This year, Unquowa’s fourth graders participated in a meaningful international exchange through the organization Creative Connections, blending creativity and culture while connecting students around the world. Over several months, Unquowa students worked thoughtfully to create original works of art that told the stories of their cultural backgrounds, family traditions, and personal identities. These projects were shared internationally with partner students in Latvia, who also created original artworks of their own. Through a virtual classroom call, both groups of students were able to speak with one another and ask questions about their art and cultures, giving our learners a unique opportunity to see how art can communicate across languages and borders.
Wizards, Muggles, and the Meaning of Power
Posted by Ariel Warshaw
Our 7th grade Humanities students stepped into a powerful simulation designed to help them better understand apartheid in South Africa — not just as segregation, but as a system of unequal power, resources, and rights.
Each class section was divided into two groups. Two students were selected to play the role of Wizards, while the rest of the class became Muggles. The Wizards represented a small but powerful minority, while the Muggles represented the majority of people who were denied access to land, money, and freedom. To ensure a thoughtful and respectful experience, clear boundaries and expectations were set before the activity began.
Using taped-off areas of the classroom, Wizards were given freedom of movement and control over resources (represented by beads), while Muggles were restricted to smaller spaces and had to work for Wizards in order to earn enough “money” to support their families. Every few minutes, the class paused to simulate taxes and trade, reinforcing how systems of power often prevent the majority from accumulating wealth — even when they are doing the most labor.
While challenging at times, the activity was also a ton of fun! Students threw themselves into all sorts of creative “jobs” — from standing guard in the classroom prison, to writing poems praising the Wizards, doing push-ups on command, cleaning the room, drawing portraits of their magical overlords, and more. Between the laughter, friendly chaos, negotiations, and even some rebellion, everyone got a hands-on lesson in power, fairness, and what it really feels like when rules aren’t equal for everyone.
After the activity, students reflected in writing on how the Wizards and Muggles behaved, what the resources represented, and how the simulation mirrored real-life apartheid in South Africa. This experience sparked meaningful discussion and deepened students’ understanding of how unjust systems operate, and why people living under them may eventually resist. It was a memorable and thought-provoking way to connect historical study with empathy and critical thinking.
