News Archive

History students are researching the people, places, art and architecture of the Renaissance this month but instead of writing a paper about their learning, they are headed to the Digital Media Studio for some creative projects. Each class was tasked with making a video to show their understanding of this pivotal era in history, according to teacher John Caldwell.

Thank you to all our Lower School families for supporting the Spark Change Collection. Participation was high in all of our classrooms, preschool to Grade 4. This year we collected a record amount for our school with $5,731.54; Mr. Kai Johnson's class (Grade 4) earned the title of top collector with $742.84. "The Lower School voted and we chose two causes: animals and children," explains third grader Evan L'Herault. In January, Spark Change agents will begin to interview organizations that serve these two causes to determine how to distribute the funds.

Seventh graders visited the Denver Museum of Nature and Science to continue their science studies of geologic time and the evolving Earth. They explored the Prehistoric Journey exhibit for the chance to go back in time to the formation of the solar system and Earth and to wander through the Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic eras. Along the way they encountered dioramas of ancient oceans, fossils of strange sea creatures, recreations of swamp forests and grasslands, and enormous skeletons of long-extinct dinosaurs. The exhibit ends with the rise of mammals and the dawn of the human family.

Students are finishing a unit on body image in wellness class this week as they host volunteers from the Eating Disorder Foundation of Denver. Their presentations focused on providing current and accurate information while helping students develop a critical awareness of cultural and media-based messages that may promote distorted body image perceptions.

Preschoolers spent the month of November exploring a unit of study about buildings. They practiced constructing buildings using wood blocks and making skyscrapers out of large cardboard boxes. They learned about different types of buildings and structures like homes and schools. Some students even made a post office and are busy writing and delivering letters to each other's mailboxes. 

Ancient Egyptian burial traditions and ceremonies are endlessly fascinating, and in a combined history and science lesson lasting several weeks, fifth graders are learning about embalming, mummification and Egyptian beliefs about the afterlife.

In history class, students have been analyzing the road leading to America’s declaration of independence from Great Britain. For a re-enactment of the Second Continental Congress, they each assumed the identity of a delegate with one of three political perspectives (Patriot, Loyalist or Neutralist) to participate in a debate with their peers. The assignment was designed to give them a more intimate understanding of the issues of the era while learning important facts about the revolution.

Science teacher Sarah Onstad moved her class to the Gates Innovation Lab recently for a lesson using the engineering design process. They have been exploring and discussing the field of agricultural engineering, focusing on the role insects play in pollination and how to develop their own hand pollinators.

Spanish students in Kelly Viseur's class experienced a unique part of Mexican culture this week when they celebrated El Día de los Muertos (“The Day of the Dead”). The holiday, November 1-2, focuses on remembering friends and family members who have died.

Students in Dan Barklund's science class used their new facilities recently to learn about lab safety while conducting an experimental design lab exercise. Using only Alka Seltzer tablets and water, they practiced isolating variables like particle size and manipulating temperature to determine various reaction rates. Then, they charted and analyzed their data for lab reports. It's all foundational learning that will carry them through physics and chemistry lessons all year long.

In science, first graders are studying beavers - their anatomy, habitat, diet, lifestyle and family structure. This week, students got to work designing shoebox dioramas using paint, pretzels, sticks, clay and pebbles -- and lots of glue.

Under the guidance of James Foreman, director of diversity, 10 students in the Connections club are off campus today participating in workshops aimed at empowering youth to positively impact diversity efforts in schools. STAMP (Students Taking Action and Making Progress) is a day-long diversity and inclusiveness conference that Graland co-sponsors each year in Denver.

Second graders were busy at literacy stations this week to learn about letter sounds and to practice their reading fluency.

Boulder’s resident polar explorer Eric Larsen was the featured speaker at last week’s middle school assembly where he talked about his travels to some of the earth’s coldest and most remote areas. Students were inspired by his description of Antarctica (ice on land), the North Pole (ice on water) and Mt. Everest (ice on mountain).

Eighth graders spent the week learning about the people, sites and cities that were significant in the civil rights movement before they leave on their epic class trip tomorrow. History and English teachers ensured students were prepared to get the most of the packed itinerary through two relevant assignments.

During social studies, third graders are learning about Colorado life zones through art, writing and critical thinking. 

At a Lower School assembly this week, students were introduced to a new club for Grades 3/4. Spark Change is a service learning and leadership program that offers students the chance to give back and make a difference in the community. Members of the club will lead the Lower School in collecting coins for a specific cause to be determined by students.

To set the foundation for math success, students started by describing and discussing what it means to be a mathematician. They drew portraits of what they thought a mathematician looks like, and talked about stereotypes. Teachers Courtney Menk and Nikki Spiers then shared the names and accomplishments of mathematicians like Ada Lovelace and Katherine Johnson.

Second graders in Ms. Cheadle’s class visited art teacher Andrea Crane this week for a lesson in accordion fold art. The process takes two drawn pictures depicting related scenes and merges them into one piece of art. Students used pencil and crayon for their drawings.

Welcome back to seven third graders, their coaches and parents who traveled to Iowa State University last week for the Odyssey of the Mind world finals competition. They joined 847 teams from around the world to explore creative problem solving challenges.

Science students in Andy Dodge’s class learned about velocity, force and impact before taking on the annual egg drop assignment. Following specific guidelines, students designed devices to protect eggs from a 30-foot fall onto concrete, then waited anxiously for their turn to test out their inventions. The devices must be smaller than 10-inches cubed and use no professional packing material (like bubble wrap), no professional parachutes, and no unsealed foods or liquid.

This year’s Read to Feed project in first grade took on a new twist when students collected cans of fruit instead of pasta to stock the soup kitchen pantry at Capitol Hill Community Services. Read to Feed is the grade’s service opportunity that also involves literacy and math lessons.

Third graders studying government processes tried their hands at writing bills for this month's Constitutional Convention. Junior lawmakers paired up to design bills addressing something at Graland that could be changed to benefit the student body. After narrowing down the options to two from each class, the entire third grade took to the polls, where two bills were determined the winners in a tie for most votes.

Eighth grade songwriters have been working with a professional musician to create the 2016 graduation song in time for the big ceremony. Justin Bullis of Denver is the guest artist who brought his music-writing talent to Graland. It was a collaborative process from day one, according to choir teacher Josh Gaffga.

It’s Children’s Book Week, and Lower School students celebrated by taking a close look at an award-winning book by author Matt de la Peña and illustrator Christian Robinson. Inspired by Last Stop on Market Street, Graland teachers designed a morning called "Literacy Alive" with writing and art activities to keep little hands busy and busy minds learning.

It's all about the wild west in kindergarten classrooms as students get ready for the Kindergarten Rodeo on April 29. This week, special visitors from Cash Beatty's family stopped by in full Western attire to talk about life on a ranch.

Students are preparing for a week at Mesa Verde by learning about the history of the area and its original inhabitants. Today, teacher Justin Miera will share his family’s involvement in exploring the area in 1776. Justin’s ancestor, Captain Don Bernardo de Miera y Pacheco, was a cartographer on the Dominguez-Escalante expedition through Colorado, Utah and Arizona.

Kindergartners in Helen Weaver's class have been working hard on "All About" books that show their understanding of different topics. On Tuesday, they invited Graland employees into the classroom to listen in as they read and shared their books on subjects like insects, soccer, cats and more.

Last Veterans’ Day, three veterans visited my eighth grade leadership seminar to share details about their military experiences. During the discussion, they quickly disproved the misperception that the rigid hierarchy of the military simplifies leadership. The “drill sergeant” model does not encompass the complicated nature of leading military initiatives in the 21st century. In fact, military leaders need to be able to make sound and timely decisions when the path to success is not formulaic. There is no strict rulebook for effective leadership.

Second graders learned about life as a child in the late 1800s with a visit to Four Mile Historic Park. Classes took turns doing chores like washing clothes in a washtub, beating rugs, sweeping the walkways and feeding chickens. They soon learned that, without electricity or other modern inventions, chores were much different than today!

Eighth graders were at work in art class this week to create new and interesting projects. One group of artists put their talent to work on psaligraphy, the art of cutting paper silhouettes, led by Andrea Crane. First, they studied the works of Karen Bit Vejle, Bovey Lee and Beatrice Coron. Andrea attended a Coron workshop and was inspired to bring the art style to her classroom.

Boulder author Elaine Pease was on campus this week to inspire and celebrate young writers. She spent Wednesday with students in the Lower School discussing her five books and how she gets her ideas.

Wendy Demartini's class had a surprise guest this week on Mystery Reader Day, Thursday. "Mystery Reader is when a person comes to read a book to us," explains Maeve Cooper. "Then we raise our hands and three people can say what they like about the book." While past Mystery Readers have been parents, this week was different.

PreKindergarten kiddos got a window seat to watch construction crews make progress on the Corkins Center. 

Reflecting on the classic American novel, Of Mice and Men, Graland seventh graders stepped into the shoes of the book’s characters and held a mock trial to determine the fate of George, accused of killing his best friend. Re-enacting the court scene was a way to review the novel and prompt thoughtful discussion of the dominant themes, including friendship, achieving the American Dream and human existence.

Fifth and sixth graders from student council and the Green Club teamed up to collect and weigh food waste during 5/6 lunch this week. In science, they are learning important lessons about conserving our natural resources along with service learning on the issue of poverty (Grade 6). During the next four weeks, students will help conduct an education blitz on campus about topics like our carbon footprint. 

Students in Andy Dodge’s science class went up against the infamous crushing machine this week to culminate a lesson on structural engineering. After learning about good design and attending a cutting clinic on miter joints, students got to work making balsa wood towers. The objective is to understand structural engineering and design principles and apply those on a micro scale.

Seventh grade historians in Beth Gaffga's class shared their understanding of Manifest Destiny and the rapid expansion of US territory in the 1800s with custom-made board games.

Third graders helped welcome 49 new US citizens from 25 countries at Wednesday's Naturalization Ceremony held at the History Colorado Center. Students made gift bags ahead of time and sang for the crowd of dignitaries, new citizens and other special guests. It was a service learning project that ties to their social studies lessons on citizenship and Colorado history.

First graders are enjoying a unit on birds in science class, and this week they took a trip to the Denver Zoo's Bird House to see these creatures live. Before the visit, they learned how beaks and feet perform special functions for each bird as they studied bird anatomy and habitat.

After months of waiting, fourth graders in Senora Viseur’s Spanish club finally had reason to celebrate last Friday when a package arrived for them from Costa Rica.* Back in October, they sent letters to peers in the Central American country hoping to strike up a pen pal relationship with these Spanish-speaking students. A quick poll of the class, before the envelope was opened, showed that 93 percent of Graland students thought the letters would be in English. They were wrong.

Jamie Laurie (“Jonny 5”) of the Denver band Flobots visited middle schoolers this week to talk about his background and work in social justice. Before his music career, Jamie majored in African American studies and became very familiar with the role of music in movements that peacefully promoted change. Using the Civil Rights protests of the 1960s and, more recently, the Syrian refugee controversy as examples, he encouraged students to use their voices to stand up for change.

Fourth graders are preparing to take on positions in a mock town for a lesson in the life of a grown-up. AmeriTowne at Young Americans Center for Financial Education is an award-winning educational program that teaches students about business, economics and free enterprise in a fun and hands-on way.

Keeping your child content and productive over the summer break can be challenging as lazy days turn into lazy weeks and months. Instead, why not keep them learning and growing in Graland Country Day School’s summer programs?

This week, a small ensemble with the education outreach program of Colorado Symphony visited Graland to teach a lesson on “The Music of Life.” Using instruments like the viola, violin, cello and clarinet, several musicians helped students discover the wonders of the natural world including the life cycle and the metamorphosis of butterflies. 

Fifth graders visited the Denver Zoo this week to kick off their service learning project. They learned about the role of zoos and how the Denver Zoo’s conservationists help promote wildlife around the world. They also “met” the animals that each student will advocate for and found out more about that species’ unique characteristics.

Little learners in Ali Manion’s class studied famous abstract expressionist artist, Jackson Pollock, before making their own work of art on a big scale. First, they discussed norms and expectations for this activity such as being careful with how the paint is used. They also agreed to make this piece a true collaboration, meaning that some colors or designs may overlap. Then, they gathered around a huge piece of cloth laid on the floor, armed with tempera paint, brushes and even spoons as materials. Their joy and inspiration is evident in the final result -- a truly spectacular, abstract expressionist, vivid and lively piece. GO paint!