Sunday, April 30, 2017

"Teaching 21st Century Students to Read," Rebecca Burnett



US English Chair, Rebecca Burnett has been re-imagining how to teach literature in an age when "informational texts" have supplanted literature in a well-intentioned, but, she believes, misguided effort to make readings in class relevant to students' lives.  GA's approach works to achieve the same ends, but does so in a different way.  Click here to read an article authored by Burnett for The national Association of Independent Schools.




Sunday, April 23, 2017

Statistics in Action

Students in Rith Carver's Statistics in Action course are partnering with Mural Arts to help the organization collect and understand data about community impact of their art installations.  Earlier this year, students visited the organization and heard from key players including Director of their Porch Light program and GA alum, Laure Biron.






Sunday, April 16, 2017

Students Engineer Sea Glide Submergible Device with Mike Kelly








Upper School Engineers Off to Nationals!







On Saturday, March 18th, ten of GA’s Engineering (H) students participated in two robotics competitions: the SeaPerch Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) Challenge and the SeaGlide Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Challenge. Our team won so many awards! The biggest trophy was for the SeaPerch Overall and Contract Award. Other awards for SeaPerch included: 1st in the Pool Performance (and a chance to go to Nationals), 2nd in the Engineer’s Notebook, and 6th in the Presentation Category. There were over 30 high schools in SeaPerch this year, and our ROV was the only one to complete the new “Pipeline” Challenge!T hese honors have earned GA's engineering class an invitation to attend the national competition later this spring.

Sunday, April 9, 2017

4th Grade Student Engineers design Toys for African Monkey Sanctuary



4th graders were visited by Animal Defenders International (ADI) Education Director, Gigi Glendinning.  Gigi shared stories about several monkeys ADI rescued from harmful situations, and brought to Lakeview Monkey Sanctuary, in the UK. Practicing empathy, the students spent time thinking about the experiences and the needs of these primates; specifically, their need to be mentally stimulated.  They used the DESIGN THINKING PROCESS to create toys that will fascinate and challenge the monkeys.  The students worked collaboratively to brainstorm (or IDEATE) their sketches on paper.  The next step was to build a sculptural sketch, (or PROTOTYPE).  The prototype needed to go through multiple adjustments (or ITERATIONS), before it was ready. The students used tools such as drills, saws, hot glue guns, and clamps.  Some of the materials included rope, wood, cardboard, felt and tubing.  Every prototype was put to the TEST as students pulled, banged, dropped and played with their designs….just as if they were monkeys themselves! The children wrote letters, descriptions and project titles to go along with each toy.  They also recorded video interviews describing their work.  We plan to send all of the prototypes overseas to Lakeview this spring and look forward to seeing pictures or videos of the monkeys enjoying them!