First Graders' Big Words and Big Ideas

Martin Luther King, Jr. had some very important, 

life changing words to say.

As we read this biography about him, 

we began to think about 

what our dreams for the world are.

Here are the BIG WORDS

of the Seabury School first graders.

They, too, have dreams to improve our world!

  

Here are our BIG IDEAS:

We learned that Martin Luther King, Jr.  was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his nonviolent resistance to racial prejudice in America. 

We had a great conversation about how this was in contrast to our study of the American Revolution. 

• Are wars ever okay?
• Is it possible to solve problems in a peaceful way?
• What is the most important thing about a person?
• What kind of character do you want to be known for? 
• How can we practice peace right here with our friends?
• What does it mean to be free?
• What are equal rights?
• What is liberty?

Martin Luther King, Jr. is still making a difference

even in this first grade classroom for gifted students.

Colonial Era: Part 1 Our Colonial Village

Welcome to Ye Olde Navigators' Colonial Village!

We invite you to take a peek at our homes, gardens, river, bay, 

trade shoppes and even a Towne Crier. 

Here are our homes made out of milk cartons, graham crackers, Chex cereal, pretzels, and supplies from our MakerSpace. 

Be sure to notice the unique construction of these homes. 

At Seabury School, we leave lots of room 

for innovation and design, 

not cookie-cutter arts and crafts.

A chimney made from river stones

An innovative thatched roof

This one has a covered porch.

Notice the garden and wood pile.

Cobble stones

Smoke rising from the chimney

The Towne Crier makes an important announcement:

"Hear ye, hear ye! 

Today is my birthday at school. 

I have 12 cupcakes so our visitor can have one!"

(And yes, that is a "wireless mic" on her face, 

the ironic first-grade style 

that the Navigators were wearing

on the day we studied Towne Criers.)

Here are some of the trade shoppes we make, again using supplies from our MakerSpace. 

The Cobbler finds lots of different materials for shoes.

She ends up making most of her shoes 

out of Model Magic. 

She also sells/trades "items to decorate shoes".

"The blacksmith needs a fire and makes lots of things, 

including these horse shoes." 

Notice his wordless sign. 

Many people couldn't read!

"The goldsmith shoppe is a repair place 

that uses mined gold."

It's amazing how many gold items 

she finds in our MakerSpace!

Every towne needs a music shoppe. 

She has a variety of instruments 

for sale or trade plus some fancy decorations. 

This is the silversmith shoppe with a fire, an anvil, 

and items made of silver to sell or trade.

This is a shipwright shoppe, a place to build ships. 

His glass shoppe is open and mainly creates glass beads.

(And maybe a cup of coffee! He's ahead of his time!)

Take a close look at this design of a watermill.

It actually spins as the "river" flows past it.

Inside he later adds bags of wheat to sell/trade. 

Oh, btw, shoppe

is a deliberately archaic spelling of shop,

used in the hopes of imbuing a store

with old-fashioned charm or quaintness. 

I hope you agree, 
our shoppes are quite charming and quaint. 

Let the trading begin!