7th Grade - Building NYC

In seventh grade, our students are exploring:

Engineering & Architecture: What are the essential engineering principles that allow skyscrapers to be strong, efficient, tall & aesthetically pleasing?

Responsible Urban Development: How can new urban development meet the needs of a community?
We started the unit by challenging them to work collaboratively to build skyscraper models of a skyscraper. We looked for stability, accuracy and teamwork - we were very impressed with the outcome!

7th Grade Trip - Center for Architecture

As a part of our seventh grade "Building NYC" unit, our seventh graders attended a skyscraper building workshop at the Center for Architecture. Students learned about the structural systems that support tall buildings and then created their own models of a skyscraper's structural frame.

8th Grade Trip - Dolan DNA Lab

As a part of our Forensics unit, our eighth graders visited the Dolan DNA lab where they learned about DNA fingerprinting. They will use this technique to help them solve the fictitious murder of Freddy Baker.

6th Grade Trip - Greenmarket

As a part of our sixth grade "Food For Thought" unit, our sixth graders are learning about the impact our eating practices have on our natural environment. Individually, they are creating recipes that include ingredients found on our field trip to the Borough Hall or Union Square Greenmarket. In small groups, they will bring their recipe ideas together to create and brand a local and seasonal restaurant. We had a fantastic time at the Greenmarket learning about the farms and sampling fresh local produce!

7th Grade Trip- One World Observatory

Our seventh graders have an amazing opportunity to visit One World Observatory as part of our Building NYC unit. The experience begins at the entry portal. There is an area called Voices which has interviews of people who have worked on the building the last 14 years. They then continue to Foundations which tells them about the building. They then take a 47 second elevator ride (5 elevators, 15 people in each) to the 102 floor where they watch a short movie about the feel and flow of the city. They then continue down to 101 which has a photo area and dining section. Finally they continue to floor 100 which has some interactive tour guide driven pieces and of course the 360 degree view.  Our students viewed elements of architecture and got inspired for their own building project.  

8th Grade - Murder Mystery

In our first unit, eighth graders will be learning about crime scene investigation. They will work to solve a fictitious crime that took place in our girls locker room - the murder of 7th grader, Freddy Baker. Each week they will learn more information to help them solve the crime. They are also learning forensic techniques that they will eventually apply to our crime scene. This week, they visited the crime scene, took objective notes about the evidence and asked lots of great questions.

6th Grade - Planting in Courtyard

Our sixth graders continued their studies of plants on our second week in Exploration. They heard about the importance of healthy soil from Mirem Villamil, a guest speaker from Edible Schoolyard NYC. After learning about the components of soil, they transplanted our class seedlings into our school courtyard. They will continue to care for their plants in the courtyard until they are ready to harvest. If we have a healthy crop, we will be able to include our harvest in our restaurant group project! Please put our Expo on your calendars- E day groups (Blue/Red/Yellow - 601,2,3):12/15
 F day groups (Orange/Purple/Green - 604,5,6): 12/16.