April 25, 2024
Kindergartners recently engaged in some friendly game-based learning to reinforce and support mathematical concepts. The boys, in teams of two, played "Make it Five”, a game that reviews knowledge of 3D shapes, combinations of five, and writing addition equations. They also played "Build Two Shapes" which reinforces understanding around the attributes of a cube and a triangular prism.
Lessons as games, teamwork, and competition are all research-supported transitive factors (elements that engage boys' attention, sustain their concentration and result in superior performance). Game-based learning in math is effective because it sparks students’ curiosity, facilitates the acquisition of foundational skills, and strengthens knowledge retention through repeated play. Games also can be modified to offer additional support or challenges to personalize students’ learning experiences.
In addition, the importance of teamwork and good sportsmanship are highlighted through game-based learning.
April 23, 2024
Tyler Holder '14's recent Chapel talk to our seventh and eighth graders was an inspiring personal story about the capacity we all possess to change for the good. See related Headmaster's Blog entry.
April 22, 2024
A new unit of art in Omega focuses on the American artist Alexander Calder. The boys are learning about the life, methods, and artworks of the famous sculptor, while also embarking on their own artistic journey to create personal artwork informed by their close looking and inquiry.
On Thursday, April 18 the class visited The Whitney Museum of American Art where they explored various works by Alexander Calder (including the museum's permanent display of Calder's famous Circus installation), Louise Nevelson, and Lee Krasner. At each stop, the boys had the opportunity to do different art activities - sketching, art sticks, and pipe cleaner circus sculptures - inspired by the works.
Through a collaboration with Level Up Village, our boys will participate in a global artist exchange, where they will collaborate with students from a school in Argentina. Through asynchronous video exchanges, the boys will share their knowledge about Calder and receive similar videos from the students in Argentina about an artist native to their country. "We look forward to helping the boys embark on this global exchange and thrive in an interconnected world," said Art Teacher Melanie Fidler, who developed the unit through a curriculum professional development grant.
April 18, 2024
Our third graders' production of Three Fractured Fairy Tales (The True Tale of the Big Bad Wolf, The Pied Piper’s Odd Business, and Snow White and Aladdin) delighted audiences at last week's student matinee and parent performances. Not only did the boys act their hearts out, they also collaborated to cast, block, and create the scenic design. In addition, they assumed all responsibilities for setting and striking the stage.