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Meet the Upper School

Teacher Specialists

September 14, 2023

UPPER SCHOOL

TEACHER SPECIALISTS

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UPPER SCHOOL

TEACHER SPECIALISTS

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Physical Education & Health

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Mr. Ryan Meehan - rmeehan2@schools.nyc.gov

Mrs. Gursoy - Agursoy @schools.nyc.gov

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Unit 1

PE Unit: Fitness Stations

Health Unit (4/5th Grade): Anatomy-Bones/Muscles

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Unit 2

PE: Soccer Skills & Foot eye coordination activities

Health(4/5th Grade): Nutrition

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Unit 3

PE: Fitnessgram Assessments

Health(4/5th Grade): Hygiene

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Unit 4

PE: Basketball Skills & Group Games

Health(4/5th Grade: Emotional Health

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Unit 5

PE: Volleyball & Team Activities

Health(4/5th Grade): Safety

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1st and 2nd Grade Music

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Mr. Daniel Schorr, Music Director

E-mail: dschorr@schools.nyc.gov

I am always composing music for the enjoyment of the children. Here is “Everybody Fly” from at home during the pandemic. (Some of this year’s 4th and 5th graders watched this back when they were in 1st and 2nd grade, then made their own flying videos during remote learning).

Enjoying music is always the ultimate goal in 1st and 2nd grade music. Reaching the creativity of your children is what it’s all about every time they come into “The Chamber of Rock.” Funny songs, game songs, you name it...there are no limits to our dramatic and musical imaginations. But we do have goals. In 1st grade we will be exploring qualities of music: pitch, rhythm, loudness and softness, tempo (speed). In 2nd grade we will learn how to read, write, and perform music. We will also get to play a metal xylophone called the glockenspiel

1st and 2nd Grade Music Curriculum Overview

1st Grade 2nd Grade will add

• Rhythm: ta, teedle, tiki-tiki
• Dynamics: loud, soft, getting louder/softer
• Tempo: slow, medium, fast
• Key: ‘happy’ and ‘sad’
• Pitch/Melody: high, low, changing or unchanging
• Instruments of the Orchestra
• Listening Maps: follow a piece of music using a

picture diagram

For rhythm…quarter note, half note…

For dynamics…piano, mezzo forte, forte…

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For tempo…lento, moderato, presto

For key and pitch/melody…flats and sharps…also 2nd graders will play the glockenspiel…

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All-grade focus in music: Rhythm and Beat. All of our units fulfill the requirements of the NYC Blueprint For

The Arts.

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We make music every day with our voices and with instruments!

This month we will create 4-beat patterns. If the number is large, that means play on that number. If the number is small, that means don’t play. See the examples on the right…

Beat Patterns:

Level 1: 1 2 3 4, 1 2 3 4, 1 2 3 4, 1 2 3 4…

Level 2: 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4…

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Music games, activities and dances are key to the music program.

Here is Class 3/4-205 (from last year) on the auditorium stage doing a time-honored classic “Go In And Out The Window”

4th Grade Music…

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In 4th grade music, we will be learning how to play the recorder. The recorder is a kind of flute. Recorders and flutes are in the woodwind family of instruments.

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The recorders will be given to the 4th grade classes that have music at no charge.

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4th graders will learn to read music as we learn songs on the recorder.

SCIENCE

Grades 1, 2 and 3

Ms. Bakalac

E-mail:MBakalac@schools.nyc.gov

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Google Classroom Codes

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Student notebooks

1st grade classes use folders.

Bulletin board

Classroom door

Welcome to Science!

Classroom

GROUP WORK

Science grades are based on the following:

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• Classwork/hands on activities

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• Notebook: proper heading, notes, drawings, labels,

organization, neatness

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• Participation (answering and asking questions)

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• Willingness to work cooperatively with others and stay

on task.

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• Exit slips, end of unit assessments

Ist Grade Units of Study

2nd Grade Units of Study

3rd Grade Units of Study

Science Notebook Rubric

2nd & 3rd grades

Self-Evaluation Rubric

Welcome!

Ms.Vera

Contact Information:

Grades 4 & 5

The best way to communicate with me is via email: JVera3@schools.nyc.gov OR Call the school 718-437-6135 and INCLUDE:

• Student’s full name
• Grade
• Classroom teacher’s name and/or Classroom number

The Science Classroom: Room 409

Ask your child when they’re scheduled for Science.

Schedule

Notebooks are kept in the Science room.

Notebooks

All students have a role to play.

Responsibility

Group Work: Students work in groups of 4 or 5.

Hands On Approach: Background Information and Lab

Science Library: Baskets are Organized by Various Topics

Science Units for the School Year 2022-2023

*Grade 5 will take the NYS Science Exam this school year. Testing Dates (Window): May 15-17.

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• Classwork/hands on activities

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• Notebook: notes, drawings, labels,

organization, neatness

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• Participation (answering, asking questions, working in groups)

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• Staying on task and following directions

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• Exit slips, end of unit assessments

Science

Science Grades are based on…

Science Rubric for Students

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• Writing
• Speaking
• Showing

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Meet the

Technology Teacher:

Ms. Birshtein

Email: gbirshtein@schools.nyc.gov

WHAT IS TECHNOLOGY?

• the skills, methods (how you do it), and processes used to achieve goals.
• the use of science to invent useful things or to solve problems.
• Things/devices that make people's lives easier.

What Are Some Things We Are Going To Do This Year:

• Creating Slideshows with Google Slides
• Coding
• Internet safety
• Typing Lessons

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CLASSROOM

EXPECTATIONS:

Students will:

• know their usernames and passwords
• be able to log into the different programs
• treat the equipment with respect

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CLASSROOM CONTRACTS:

Both of these have been sent home with your students this week.

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Please make sure that you:

1- read it and sign it.

2- bring it back to school and hand it in to me.

Examples of past

Student Work:

Mr. Hanratty

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Art class

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qhanratty@schools.nyc.gov

Our Classroom

What is my child going to do in art this year?

Drawing

Painting in watercolors and tempera

Mixed-media Collage

Sculpture

Printmaking

Elements of art and principles of design

Learn about art from world cultures

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What is my child responsible for in art class?

-Their own artwork, and being productive during artmaking time.

-Participation in class discussions.

-Following class rules and project guidelines.

-Taking care of art materials and cleaning up on time.

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Creating:

1. Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work.

2. Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.

3. Refine and complete artistic ideas and work.

Performing/Presenting/Producing:

4. Analyze, interpret and select artistic work for presentation.

5. Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation.

6. Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work.

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NYS Art Standards

Fourth grade Quilt

Third grade Pumpkin Patch

Responding:

7. Perceive and analyze artistic work.

8. Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work.

9. Apply criteria to evaluate artistic work.

Connecting:

10. Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art.

11. Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural and historical context to deepen understanding.

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NYS Art Standards

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Fifth grade Falling Leaves

inspired by Georgia O’Keefe

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Third grade Name Ripples

Susan Brill

Back to School Night

Room 105 Upper School

Sbrill4@schools.nyc.gov

• Their own artwork, and being productive the whole class time.
• Participation and effort
• Following class rules
• Following project guidelines
• Returning all materials at the end of the period and cleaning up on time.

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Our class rules are… The Rainbow Rules of Respect!

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IT IS OKAY!!!!!! Many factors go into what makes a work of art a success. Students are not graded only on technical skill. Participation, creativity, and effort are just as important.

What if I can’t Draw??

Curriculum

Each year we do projects based on student interest, abilities, and what is going on in our school, community, and the world. Curriculum is aligned with the NYC Blueprint for Teaching and Learning in Visual Arts, and the NYS Arts Learning Standards.

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Student choice and decision making is incorporated into projects. Creativity is encouraged and can still happen within project guidelines!

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Donations Needed!

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Large empty cans (coffee, tomatoes) for paint water

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Clorox or Lysol wipes

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Baby Wipes

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Paper towels

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Plastic pint containers with lids

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Copy paper for sketching