Sixth Grade World Religions
The Sixth Grade windows, painted in the tradition of Illuminated Manuscript, Stained Glass, Tapestry, Mosaic, Fresco, and Thangka, develop out of the Sixth Graders’ study of power and empire in social studies. As mid-year approaches, Sixth Graders dive deeper into thinking about the origins and spread of Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam, as they study each religion’s beliefs and practices. Wrapping up their study of Ancient Rome, students begin to take a broader look at the role of religion and culture in how society and empires function and grow. The study of ancient and classical art provides students with deeper insight into the power of images and symbols and how they can communicate big ideas to large populations of people.
Seventh Grade Symbols of Democracy
The Seventh Grade windows, done in the art style of Shepard Fairey, develop out of their study of American Democracy and its roots in Ancient Greek History. Inspired by the writings of Plato and Socrates, we spend a considerable amount of time learning about not just what makes a place a democracy, but what it looks and feels like to fight for Democracy responsibly. In an exploration of Democracy around the world, Seventh Graders selected a democratic symbol, researched its roots, and created an image to symbolize the country of origin and their struggle for Democracy in furtherance of our essential question “How do we live responsibly?”
Eighth Grade
We the People Portraits
The Eight Grade windows, done in the art style of Shepard Fairey’s “We the People” collection created for the 2019 Women’s March, develop out of their study of American History. The students spend a considerable amount of time learning about core government functions and features, as well as their relation to contemporary issues, which stem from our study of the Constitution. In their continuing study of “What is justice?” and identity, Eighth Graders created a self-portrait and a value they think could have been added to the Constitution to prevent future injustices.
The following descriptions are generally in the order you will be viewing them. Enjoy!
Nursery 3s Sleep Tight, Farm
Over the course of the year The Nursery 3s investigate the question: “How do my senses help me experience the world?” As our Fall harvest unit comes to an end, we explore how farmers prepare for the winter season. Farmers must “put the farm to sleep,” taking special steps to protect the crops and tools, and provide space for animals to rest before spring’s hard labor and promise of growth arrive. Please enjoy our winter farm scene where the berry fields are “sleeping tight” under a warm blanket of hay and straw.
Second Grade
When the Sun Goes Down…
Second Graders let their minds expand into the abstract world, tackling the essential question, “What makes a home?” Our study begins with the sun and how it supports all life on Earth. Second Grade’s windows capture the magnificence and beauty of this star, as well as its scientific and cultural impact on human civilization. Our students’ art and science projects explore the light and shadow, helping our students to understand how the sun played a crucial role in the development of the concept of time and civilizations. Our windows this year depict sunsets as seen around the world, weaving in our Second Grade’s Racial Literacy Curriculum to explore different cultures and see how geography impacts people’s points of view. Our students were captivated by the sun and the beauty of sunset, using sunsets in their paintings to illuminate some of humanity’s most important constructions and natural wonders.
First Grade
“Leafing” their Marks
First Grade has been learning about our environment and community by focusing on our tree study and nature and considering the essential question, “What makes an impact?” Through our research of North American trees, the First Graders have become experts and are now able to identify over ten types of deciduous trees, including several throughout the campus. Students created field guides to document the research. Our new leaf experts used all their knowledge to create a leaf for every window in our classroom that focused on the many details they learned this year. The students were also overjoyed visiting the CoraHartshorn Arboretum to discover that the same trees they studied at Far Brook are an essential part of our ecosystem. Students continually consider how humans impact our natural world positively and negatively and how we can be changemakers.
Kindergarten
Misunderstood Animals: The Big “Good” Wolf?
Kindergarteners examine the world around them to contemplate an important question: “What makes a community?” This year-long study includes an exploration and analysis of how animals are portrayed in traditional folktales and stories from across the globe. To begin our journey, students brainstormed what animals they thought were often misunderstood. Based on these observations, students read and discussed a selection of familiar fairy tales, in which we considered why animals like wolves, foxes, and spiders are often the bad guys. Through scientific research, Kindergartners learn that some of these misunderstood animals are actually loving, caring species with sophisticated communities like ours.
Nursery 4s Coloring Our World
The Nursery 4s explore all shades of the rainbow as they consider their essential question: “How does imagination and color shape my world?” Our window painting project extended the students’ knowledge of primary and secondary colors and connected the feelings and emotions that we associate with colors. The students worked collaboratively to produce artwork that showcases their knowledge of color mixing and painting techniques. They worked hard to master these skills to create their paintings - if you look closely at the center of each painting, you will find the feelings evoked by each work of art.
Fifth Grade
Ancient Chinese Paper-Making and Cutting
The Fifth Grade windows are a culmination of our study of ancient Chinese calligraphy, the role of writing, and one of ancient China’s most influential inventions: paper. Students explore ideas around accessibility and the role of language, writing and paper in making the act of disseminating information something that revolutionizes culture. The process of making paper has been refined over thousands of years; students work in the classroom on making their own paper out of recycled materials, which they use to record nature poems following a unit on Chinese nature poetry and Chinese characters. For the Windows project, students then create their own paper for the windows and using the art of Chinese paper-cutting, develop scenes for their windows. Paper cut-outs in China celebrate daily life, hopes and wishes, good fortune and the observance of holidays. Drawing inspiration from our studies so far this year, students develop paper cut-out scenes that encapsulate their own connections with the curriculum, with authentic materials made by students.
Fourth Grade Egyptian Mythology
As part of the Fourth Grade’s social studies curriculum, students design the classroom windows with ancient Egyptian gods and goddesses. Each student researches a mythological figure to recreate an original image. The Fourth Grade social studies curriculum engages students in larger questions such as, “What makes a journey?” and “How do our identities evolve throughout our journey?” As part of this study, students explore Egyptian creation myths and think deeply about how the ancient civilization defined the beginning and the end of life. In order to prepare for window painting, the class explores the importance of the afterlife and the Book of the Dead in the life of ancient Egyptians.
Third Grade
Symbols of the Indigenous People of the Americas
The Third Grade explores the essential question, “Whose stories are told?” In the design of their windows, the Third Graders study the history and cultures of America’s Indigenous Peoples, who have passed down their history, thoughts, ideas, and dreams from generation to generation through symbols and signs. The symbols are geometric portrayals of celestial bodies, natural phenomena, and animal designs. When you visit the Third Grade windows, you will see: -the drum, signifying the heartbeat of mother earth -the butterfly, representing transformation -rain clouds, symbolizing change and renewal -the turtle, conveying good health and long life