Lower School News

Video Highlights: Fourth Graders Host Poetry Slam
Mitzi Mock, digital storyteller & videographer
 


From Ancient Greece to the Harlem Renaissance, fourth graders have been studying the history of oral traditions and spoken-word poetry. In the course of their research, they learned about the Pentathlon of the Muses, a former Olympic tradition where artists competed for medals. In this spirit, students hosted a poetry slam in February (just in time for the Winter Olympics). Their challenge: write and perform a poem that makes the ordinary extraordinary. 

 

 


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A Fairytale for Us: First Graders Reimagine Cinderella

How do our cultures shape the stories we tell? This was the starting question first graders in Emily Mitchell’s class explored when they read and dissected eighteen interpretations of the fairytale Cinderella from across the globe. 

Third Grade Religious Studies Unit Provides New Perspective into Culture

The study of culture is deeply embedded in the third grade curriculum. As part of this exploration, third graders learn about two distinct civilizations: the Mali Empire and ancient Egypt. It was through these two studies that Erin and Priscilla initially recognized the need to include a study of religion to help students better understand their cultures. The religious studies unit has blossomed into an exploration of the foundations of the five major world religions: Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism.

Catching Up with . . . David Robinson

PreK teacher David Robinson joined the Nueva community in 2019. In this Q&A, David shares the benefits of emergent curriculum, how he consulted on an Emmy-award winning show, and his approach to anti-bias education in the pre-kindergarten setting.

Third Graders Present Service Learning Fair

Last Friday, third graders hosted a service learning fair, where they presented their research and solution statements on topics of interest, including public health, environmental issues, and the criminal justice system. 

What Does Black History Mean to You?

For the lower school community meeting on Feb. 17, members of the Black Student Union and BSU advisors Rashida Blade and Shelby Divan shared what Black history means to them with lower school students. We invite you to hear what they said! 

Grounded in Nature

As lower school PE teacher Zubin Mobedshahi ’03 reflects on the nature that surrounds us at Nueva and his approach to teaching, he shares anecdotes that highlight why Nueva continues to play an important role in his life. Zubin was a student at Nueva for nine years, and he is now in his ninth year teaching at Nueva…talk about being a lifer!

For Students by Students: First Graders Redesign Classroom Library

It started with a simple question: “If we—the first grade class of Clever Cheetah Cubs—were to redesign our classroom library, what would it look like?” To answer this question, students in Emily Mitchell and Alexandra Holterman’s class embarked on a design thinking project, which culminated in a fully redesigned classroom library.