The Power of Play: How a Simple Addition Game Bridges the Grade Gap!

It’s a beautiful thing to see students of different ages learning together, and even better when they’re having a blast! Recently, we witnessed a fantastic example of this in action when our Grade 1 and Grade 4 classes teamed up for a lively addition fact game. The energy in the room was palpable, and the benefits for both age groups were outstanding.

The game, Bubble Gum Bump, was simple: small groups of students (a mix of grade 1 and grade 4) were given 3 dice and a game board. The object of the game was to roll the three dice, add up the given numbers, and then place a marker on the spot corresponding to their sum. The game gets interesting when an opposing player gets the same sum and bump their opponent!

For our Grade 1 learners, this game was fantastic for developing addition fact fluency. While the Grade 1s were busy learning new facts, the Grade 4s were gaining equally valuable experiences. Even though they’ve mastered basic addition, quickly recalling these facts under slight pressure (and to help a friend) further solidified their fluency. It’s a fantastic form of active recall.

First Graders Tackle Real-World Problems with the Design Process

This week in science, our first graders became engineers as they explored the design process. They learned that solving problems means trying, testing, and improving their ideas.

Each student began by noticing a problem in the classroom. Two big ones were tangled headphones and pencils rolling off desks. After brainstorming, they used simple materials to design and build models that could help.

For tangled headphones, students created storage systems to keep cords neat. For rolling pencils, they made pencil parking spaces with playdough and pipe cleaners. Every student tested and redesigned their model to make it even better.

The best part was watching students discover that mistakes are not failures but chances to learn. Their creativity and perseverance showed that even small solutions can make a big difference.

We are so proud of our first graders for thinking like scientists and engineers!

Nature Happens!

While we are going about our busy lives, nature is doing its thing right in front of us.

Here at Unquowa, some eye spy detectives spotted some super cool things happening right under our noses.  

Super sleuths detected an interesting insect on the playground bars.  After consulting an app called Seek (that helps to identify many different types of species) we positively identified the Red-legged grasshopper!  Its scientific name is Melanoplus femurrubrum.  A femur is the bone of the upper thigh or hind limb and rubrum mean RED!!  This insect is aptly named.

Next a keen eyed student saw the exoskeleton of a Cicada on the Blue Spruce tree outside of the corral.  It was incredibly camouflaged and not easy to distinguish from the similarly colored bark.  Well done detective.

Lastly our incredible kitchen gurus took notice of an insect outside the Dining Room entrance that looks a lot like a green leaf.  Turns out it is a Katydid just hanging out (maybe they were looking for a nice easy meal inside the kitchen) on the wall.  

Thanks to all who used their observation skills.  Please keep it up and let me know of anything that you find interesting.  Go Nature, go Gators (hope we don’t stumble onto a gator- for real)

Now Available for Viewing – Unquowazine Volume 7

Working with the Lower School Art and Literary Club members on Unquowazine Volume 7 has been such a pleasure. They have worked tirelessly on various stages of magazine development. This year, they have included more original content in the form of interviews, comics, and book reviews. Together with their staff, Cassidy and Micah worked very hard on all of the various components. They did a fantastic job of being mindful of each student’s work while honoring its authenticity. As their advisor, I guided them and gave them structure and support. Kudos to all of their hard work and dedication!

Little Learners, Big Teachers

This week, second graders took on a very special role- they became teachers! They paired up with the first graders for a shared reading activity. Each second grader chose a book and read aloud to their younger buddy, modeling fluent reading and expressive storytelling.

But the first graders weren’t just listening- they had an important job, too! As their second grade partners read, the first graders were on the lookout for silent e words. Every time they spotted one, they pointed it out and wrote it down on their whiteboard with excitement and pride.

Second graders showed leadership and responsibility, while the first graders practiced their phonics skills in a fun and meaningful way. We can’t wait to do it again!

Learning Mandarin is So Much Fun!

This past month was filled with exciting activities for our students! We learned animal names in Mandarin and played a fun Chinese character “Spot It” game—which the kids absolutely loved. They also practiced writing Chinese characters through interactive games.

To help remember the animal names, students created adorable animal crafts. This not only reinforced their vocabulary but also supported the development of their fine motor skills.

Our 3rd graders even tried their hand at Chinese calligraphy, and they did an amazing job! It was so impressive to see their concentration and creativity shine.

To wrap it all up, the 3rd graders used a special communication sheet to walk around the classroom and chat with their classmates in Mandarin. It was wonderful to see them confidently using the language in real conversations!