Teaching geography enhances students’ understanding of historical events and cultural developments. I love to kick off the academic year with a geography unit with all of my history classes. Geography helps us understand the world around us, appreciate diversity, develop critical thinking skills, and it is simply a fascinating subject full of interesting facts. I learn something new right along with my students every year! ‘In learning you will teach, and in teaching you will learn’. -Phil Collins
To celebrate the end of the school year the middle school Latin students hosted all the preschool and lower school students to enjoy a Roman Carnival. Each sixth, seventh, and eighth grader dressed up as a Roman god or goddess and the fifth graders were plebeians (common people) or servants, and ran a game station for the younger students. Venus and Juno painted faces and braided hair, Diana and Minerva taught an archery lesson, Pluto and his three headed dog, Cerberus, created an obstacle course, Vulcan (god of black-smithing) ran a game of horseshoes, Neptune was in charge of the water balloon toss, and Medusa handed out snow-cones! A cake walk, wheel of luck, bocce ball, and popcorn stand rounded out our Roman Carnival. Roman Carnival is a wonderful act of service our middle school students perform to show our younger students love and encouragement.
The traditional St James Day School sixth grade class trip is an eight hour drive south to Texas Hill Country to a little place called Mo Ranch. Mo Ranch offers team building activities in which the class uses cooperation, effective communication, and problem solving skills, and I am proud to say that this group did a fantastic job! The class then took on the high elements, such as the ‘tree house’, rock climbing tower, Big Gulp, and the Mo Pole. We also enjoyed hiking the beautiful hill country, canoeing, touring the greenhouse, labyrinth, swimming, water slides, rapids, archery, and so much more. I am so incredibly proud of how these students faced their fears, supported their classmates, and made memories to last a life time. The only complaint I received was that they did not want to return home!
By Kandice Kimmel, History & Latin, 5th-8th
Studying ancient civilizations offer critical lessons on values, universal virtues, morality, and ethics. They shed light on cultures of honor, valor, wisdom, love, courage, and the humanity that has guided human life over centuries upon centuries. As the sixth grade students wrapped up their study of Ancient Egypt, they each chose one profession of this ancient world and conducted independent research, created a ‘business’, designed a collage, and presented their findings to the class.
By Kandice Kimmel, Latin & History, 5th-8th
The sixth grade students enjoyed taking a break from studying for the National Latin Exam to venture down to preschool and read Wacky Wednesday in honor of Dr. Seuss’ birthday.
Reading aloud to all age students is important as it improves language skills, builds emotional connections, and encourages a lifelong love of reading! Read-alouds are also a wonderful way to expose them to different experiences and help with fluency as the students hear how a reader should sound.
Thank you, Pre-K, for allowing us to be a part of Dr. Seuss week!
