In sixth grade, students have been discussing Greek philosophers, scientists, and mathematicians to understand important contributions from these ancient people. We learned about the Socratic Method of teaching and even briefly discussed Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” and what it says about human nature and education. These students are working hard to make connections, ask great questions, and take strong notes.

In seventh and eighth grade, students are beginning to study the battles of the Revolutionary War. We’re specifically noting how the United States was able to overcome as serious a world power as Great Britain. We read Longfellow’s “Paul Revere’s Ride” and discussed the “shot heard ‘round the world,” building on students’ understanding of the importance of this historical moment (and the challenges of accuracy in a poem written nearly a century after the event).