Thursday, September 30th, 2021—Syracuse Academy of Science and Citizenship 6^th grade students conducted a science experiment that leaves us all wondering, how does that make any cents? Late September, these future scientists were learning about the scientific method and tested out the hypothesis, ‘How Many Water Drops Fit on a Penny?’ For their experiment, students used a pipette, water and of course a penny and counted each of the water droplets that formed on each side of the penny. The results are shocking!

On average, the total number of water droplets that can fit on the head side of a penny is 27. On the flip side, tails, a total number of water droplets that can fit is 18.

Thursday, September 23rd, 2021—Mental breaks have shown incredible benefits not only for adults but for children, as well. Experts have said, it is important to take a break from your screen or computer every hour, for a few minutes to not only adjust your posture, but also enabling you to improve your focus, concentration and attention span. 

At Syracuse Academy of Science and Citizenship elementary school, the Kindergarten students shared with us their mini ‘Brain Break’ stretching and dancing session. This technique is used often throughout the grades at SASCCS, as it helps the student regain focus, and improves concentration skills. Brain Breaks can consist of dancing, stretching or even reading quietly. Come on and click here to join the Atoms for a mini Brain Break session!

Tuesday, September 28th, 2021—Syracuse Academy of Science and Citizenship elementary school first grade students participated in a Project Based Learning (PBL) model where students learned by actively engaging in real-world and personally meaningful projects. This PBL project was one none other than hatching monarch butterflies in their classrooms!

Each first grade class set up a butterfly sanctuary complete with live caterpillars and food. Over the course of a few weeks, students in each class took notes in their science journals and drew pictures of the caterpillars as they prepared their chrysalis. Students made daily observations until the butterflies emerged and later were set free on the school grounds.

Friday, September 24th, 2021—Each week, Syracuse Academy of Science and Citizenship elementary school students learn about various character strengths, as part of the Positivity Project program. For the week of September 20th, students learned about the character strength, team work.

Fourth grade students in Mr. Giangiobbe and Ms. Moulton’s class were challenged to put this positivity in action by working together to build something creative and unique using Legos. This hands-on, minds-on activity certainly sparked the creativity, joy, enthusiasm, and excitement of the Atoms and proved the phrase, teamwork makes the dream work!

Monday, September 27th, 2021—At Syracuse Academy of Science and Citizenship elementary school's Deans, and Academic Coaches do a daily classroom walkthrough to check-in with the teachers and the students. By spending a few minutes each day in the classroom is a great way for Deans and Academic Coaches to learn more about the Atoms and ways in which they are learning, and ensuring that everyone is working hard and staying on track.

Monday, September 27th, 2021—Syracuse Academy of Science and Citizenship 5^th grade students in Ms. Edgar and Ms. Byington class practice analyzing text using a graphic organizer. For this assignments, students were tasked with using the organizer and answering the following two questions: What the author has to say (words and pictures), and what is going on in my head (thoughts, comments, questions)? This practice is a great way for students to understand and comprehend what they are reading and helps them become more confident readers.

Thursday, September 23rd, 2021—Syracuse Academy of Science and Citizenship elementary school students dropped a beat this past week as they explored a variety of percussion instruments in music class. One instrument was the Boomwhacker. For those not familiar with a Boomwhacker, they are lightweight, hollow, color-coded, plastic tube, turned to a musical pitch by length. In addition to a Boomwhacker, students also tried the triangle, drums and other instruments in the percussion family.

Wednesday, September 29th, 2021—At Syracuse Academy of Science and Citizenship elementary school learning targets and daily objectives are important and can be found in the classrooms. This teaching practice allows for the alignment of learning and helps ensure that a higher level of learning is attained, guides teachers in the process of assessment, and helps keep teachers and students on track!

And in true Syracuse Academy of Science and Citizenship elementary school fashion, teachers flex their creativity by making these learning targets and daily objectives look fun and colorful!

Tuesday, September 21st, 2021—To kick-off the Fall season, Syracuse Academy of Science and Citizenship elementary school students in Ms. Badman and Mr. Abbey’s class went on a nature walk adventure to collect leaves for their science experiment.

For their science experiment, students studied the leaves they collected, created leaf rubbings in their science journals, and wrote about what they learned about the leaves in this science experiment. Great job, Atoms!

Friday, September 17th, 2021—Did you know that reading aloud is a vital part of instruction at Syracuse Academy of Science and Citizenship elementary school, and each day you will find staff reading to the students during class instruction or just for fun. In fact, the 1st grade students in Mr. Cognetti's class listened to a storybook read aloud by Ms. Rudwall. Below are some 'fun facts' about reading aloud.

Below are fun facts about reading aloud and the many benefits it has for your student(s).

• Reading aloud helps students learn how to use language to make sense of the world; it improves their information processing skills, vocabulary, and comprehension.
• Reading aloud targets the skills of audio learners. Research has shown that teachers who read aloud motivate students to read.
• Reading aloud creates a classroom community by establishing a known text that can be used as the basis for building on critical thinking skills that are related and unrelated to reading.

Reading aloud can be done at home. In fact, this is a great way to spend quality time with your Atom! Reading aloud can help create strong parent-child bonds and promotes healthy brain development. Children that are read to more often have improved language and listening skills, experience stronger emotional connections to their loved ones, and gain a lifelong love of reading.