[Sponsored] BASIS Independent Schools know a true love of learning begins when younger students are presented with highly creative challenges and experiences.
Weekly “Connections” classes are a hallmark in Grades 1 through 3. In the class, a Learning Expert Teacher (LET), who follows students from class to class, brings their children together to knock down silos across courses. The focus is to draw connections between courses in exciting ways, relevant to what they are learning each week. It helps challenge and inspire creativity and collaboration leading to wonderful results.
Recently, Grade 2 students at BASIS Independent Brooklyn learned the three little pigs in Mandarin, then explored wind resistance in engineering. In “Connections,” their LET reminded them of both lessons and asked students to break into teams experimenting with different building materials such as paper, Popsicle sticks and clay. Students watched with glee as a hair dryer was used to test their houses’ strength. The LET facilitates the conversation but allows students to direct and guide the discussion, and planned lessons often evolve into something spectacular.
Students in Grade 3 often start on a longer-term project, working in teams to create their own cultures complete with language, art, money and holidays while simultaneously learning about Greek and Roman civilizations in Humanities as well as Greek/Roman culture in Art, Music and Performing Arts. Many parents report these lessons spill over into playdates, with new imaginary worlds created that bond friends.
“Connections” is beloved across grades. This scenario-based, problem-solving and critical thinking class teaches students to approach problems using their newly developed skills and knowledge. Students also learn how to work collaboratively and how to voice their opinions in respectful and appropriate ways. They build and foster interpersonal relationships in a fun and self-guided (yet supervised) environment. The class serves as a core foundation for the type of strategic skills required not only to become exceptional students in middle and high school, but those necessary for young students to become truly global thinkers.
For more information on “Connections” at BASIS Independent Brooklyn and Manhattan, attend the Open House on November 5th. Register today.
This series is brought to you by BASIS Independent as a sponsored series for A Child Grows in Brooklyn. Read their previous posts on ‘Learning to Love Science’, ‘Where the Arts Flourish‘ and their ‘Subject and Learning Expert Teacher Model.’