6th Grade Trip to the Center for Architecture

The sixth graders visited the Center for Architecture and participated in a city planning / architecture hands on workshop. They learned about land use and created models of a neighborhood with a particular user group in mind. At the end of the workshop they presented their models and explained the reasoning behind their plans. This is in preparation for their second expo: Sustainable City Planning, where they are designing plans for the brownfield in Gowanus called Public Place. The Center for Architecture has lots of great educational programming if any students are interested.

8th Grade Trip to the Museum of Tolerance

The eighth graders visited the Museum of Tolerance to deepen their understanding of perception. They learned about stereotypes, prejudices and the power of words. They also learned about how they can make a difference in our world. They will use the power of words in their perception cause marketing campaigns - they are identifying problematic portrayals of certain groups (gender, SES, race, ethnicity, sexuality...) in media and turning these portrayals around.

7th Grade Trip to the Frick

The seventh graders visited the Frick Museum to view Renaissance art. They noticed the use of perspective to create depth in 2D art. In addition, they learned about how the use of materials changed during the Renaissance.

After all six groups visited the museum, we received glowing feedback: 

"What splendid experiences at the Frick these past few weeks! Your students enlivened the museum by offering insightful commentary on the Renaissance works in our collection. We very much enjoyed their visits, and hope to welcome them back for further adventures in art history."

7th Grade Trip to the Intrepid

The seventh graders visited the Space Shuttle Pavilion at the Intrepid to learn more about the lasting impacts of the Renaissance. They viewed the Enterprise and images from the Hubble Telescope. Additionally, they generated questions and answers relating to how the technology they saw originated during the Renaissance. 

Students were asked to look at the images captured by the Hubble Telescope and creatively respond to the following question: What do you think of when you get a glimpse into the infinite universe? 

Will S (purple group):

As I look into the universe, 

And stare into the void of stars,

It reminds me of who we were

And how we become what we are,

Exploration of space and the galaxy,

Makes me wonder what it means to me,

I am but an iota to this masterpiece of space and time and life 

It gives me a kind of release

knowing that there is much more

Out in the beautiful universe to explore

So if I'm sad or upset 

Let me not forget

That I am but a speck in sight

In this beautiful world of colorful light

Benjamin (green group):

It makes me feel insignificant and that the universe is not even describable and that the beauty of space will always be unmatched.

Kenna (green group):

The universe is BIG

The earth compared is small

Even with technology

We can’t discover it all.

Anna Maria (green group):

This is scary. It reminds me of Nothing in the “Never ending Story”. It’s like a force that destroys everything and yet manages to remain beautiful.

Andrew (green group):

I feel insignificant as a human being

When objects so far away can be seen so big and pretty.

When I’m small and petty So far away

when I can only stay.

So much to learn

As they all burn

In the big black sky

Where it’s really high.

Ella (green group):

I look into the picture and see how small I am.

My world seemed BIG

Yet now

So small.

I’m not overwhelmed

Simply taking in …

Taking in the wonders …

The wonders that I see

Knowing creativity and imagination

Has only the limits of discovery.

Emma (green group):

A star can exist.

It can fuse elements and emit them to the outer reaches of space.

It can blast light and heat and still appear to twinkle.

It can even create the conditions for life on planets.

They can orbit each other or spit at different speeds.

But a star can also cease to exist and erase its legacy forever.

Evan (green group):

Stars

Billion years of creation

Discovered by many nations.

Sitting at great heights

the mother of all lights.

It is quite a sight

Shining down with glorious might.

So magnificent

Yet I feel insignificant.

I’m so small

I want to curl up in a ball

No more am I tall.

Like an eye

It makes me shy

Because it sees all

and will never fall.