Inspiring Students and Inspired Teachers
Dear Families,
What a week! Tuesday began with our wonderful Sixth Grade Poetry Potluck where those present were treated to an incredible selection of poetic delights all expertly read by their authors. Tuesday evening saw the auditorium transformed into our Science Exploratorium. Eighth grade students presented the results of their individual science research projects that addressed an impressive range of questions that appear below for your consideration:
- Can mice be trained to run a maze? And do mice learn better when they have been trained in a maze?
- Do changing maze conditions affect how fast a mouse can learn a maze?
- What living conditions do crickets prefer?
- How can goldfish adapt to changes in their environment?
- Do colors affect people physiological state?
- How does lying effect people physically?
- How do forensic scientists study fingerprints?
- Can you tell a person’s gender from their bones? How do forensic scientists discover how bones have been broken or cut?
- Which citrus fruit battery produces the most electricity?
- What solutions can be separated using chromatography?
- What factors determine a physical or chemical change in a substance?
- What is the science behind pinhole cameras?
- Which fin size and shape produces the greatest output from a waterwheel?
- In a wind turbine, what blade configuration generates the most electricity?
- What blade shape produces the most effective wind turbine?
- How can buildings be reinforced to withstand earthquakes?
- What weather conditions cause tornadoes?
- How does arm length affect the distance a trebuchet throws a projectile?
Click here for photos from the event.
Wednesday saw the fifth grade regale students and families with their rousing adaptations of a series of Greek myths accompanied by an original musical prologue and epilogue. The performance began with the showing of an animation project created in their art classes with an accompanying original soundtrack created in their music class. Prior to the performance, families had a chance to view students’ technology animation projects, science robotics projects, core memoirs and essays and to play a variety of math games.
Click here to view photos from the event and follow these to links to view video from the event:
Today, the seventh grade presented its Constitution Works First Amendment role play at the courthouse in Brooklyn and, tomorrow night, the eighth grade will celebrate their upcoming Moving Up, which will take place on Tuesday.
Congratulations to eighth grader Ivo who was selected as this year’s recipient of the Andrew McLaren Scholarship. This award was established in honor of former LREI Director Andrew McLaren to recognize an eighth grader moving on to the high school who exemplifies the school’s values and who has also showed dedication and promise in the arts.
No question that this has been an amazing week that is capping off a truly wonderful year in the middle school and at LREI. In addition to the potlucks at which teachers are formally thanked, I hope that you will each find a moment over the next few days to thank the members of the middle school faculty for their inspired teaching and unwavering care of your children.
I also hope that the summer provides you with ample opportunities to spend quality time with family and friends and to think about trying something new together as a family.
Enjoy!