Theme Shares & Travels

6/4/2024

Boys in the Lower School embarked on investigations in the classroom and beyond.

The Fourth-Grade Whaling Trip
After becoming experts on everything related to whales, the boys experienced a truly unmatched culminating activity. From Mystic Seaport to the bustling beach town of Nantucket, the fourth-grade Whaling Trip did not disappoint. The whale watch was a great success, with the boys seeing more whales than ever before in the history of this trip.

The Third Grade Australia Theme

Third graders celebrated “Australia Day” as a culminating event for their Australia exploration. The boys attended a presentation from former Lower School music director Amanda Matthews, played Australian sports in Field, and had an Australian-themed BBQ for lunch. They enjoyed Australian favorites such as “Snags,” vegemite & saltines, pavlova, and fairy bread.

The boys also enjoyed an exciting trip to the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, where they explored the wonders of the animal kingdom up close! From the playful kangaroos of Australia to the majestic lions of Africa, the students were captivated by all the animals.

The Second Grade Creations Theme
The second-grade boys capped off their "Creations through the Lens of Africa" Theme with a performance that integrated our wonderful Lower School Science, Library, Art, Music, and Spanish (SLAMS) teachers. The boys showcased their singing with a welcoming song, "Funga Alafia," their acting skills with readers' theater, and their Spanish abilities with an interpretation of "Encanto." The audience enjoyed short stories inspired by a photograph and left with a greater understanding of the color wheel, shades and tints, Adinkra, and Kente cloth through informative presentations. The grand finale was a drumming procession using their handmade drums.

The First Grade Takes on Cleveland

Mr. Rydquist joined the first graders and took them on a walking tour of Public Square. They stopped at ten buildings to discuss the natural resources used in their construction. The boys have been studying various types of rocks, and it was amazing for them to see those same materials turned into Cleveland landmarks. The group visited the Cleveland Public Library, and then visited the top of our iconic landmark, the Terminal Tower where they enjoyed a spectacular view from the observation deck on the forty-second floor, saw where the Van Sweringen brothers stayed, peeked at the peregrine falcon nesting, and checked out where the RTA lines converge under the tower.

Cleveland is not just for land-lovers! The boys also had a superb time cruising our Great Lake aboard the Goodtime III. They sailed down the Cuyahoga River, taking in views of the Cleveland skyline. The boys enjoyed locating the buildings they had researched and built replicas of for their theme-sharing evening.

Kindergarten Knights-in-Training

The kindergarten boys visited the Cleveland Museum of Art to see art and artifacts from Medieval Times up close. Ever a highlight, the Armor Court, was a thrill for the boys to see. They saw armor for a young boy, a horse’s armor, and a variety of weapons used by knights. During a special “Art to Go” program, the boys could touch and try on real pieces of armor such as a breastplate and gauntlet. Many of the boys said they hope to return to the museum with their families to spend more time looking at the armor.

Following their Theme Share on medieval times, the boys participated in a knighting ceremony. Each boy was dubbed a knight by King/Mr. Gallagher. They learned extensively about life during this period, including the jobs men had and how castles were built. The boys discovered that becoming a knight required practicing manners, learning how to dress as a knight, and mastering many other important tasks. During the final weeks of school, the boys demonstrated respect and honor, and they were so proud of their hard work on this Theme!

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