We’ve reached mid-July, and Summer Rising 2024 has been well underway for two weeks. Across the Bronx and Manhattan, hundreds of our participants have taken to the NYC streets – exploring the unique cultural and educational experiences the city has to offer. Others didn’t even need to leave the classroom – all they needed were a few pencils and crayons to start their very own learning journey!
PS/MS 37: Adventure Across NYC
Our participants at PS/MS 37 are a naturally curious bunch; in past publications, we’ve covered their amazing projects at the STEM Fair back in May. However, the start of summer doesn’t put a damper on the spirit of discovery. Within these first weeks of Summer Rising, participants visited the American Museum of Natural History; where they, of course, made the acquaintance of dinosaurs, learned about the origins of countless species, and even got to glimpse into the lives of prehistoric humans! However, science hasn’t been the only thing on their minds – as several groups also got to cut loose and engage in good-natured competition through bowling!
PS 18: The Cycle of Life (and learning!)
Likewise, Summer Rising participants at PS 18 are equally committed to investigation as their counterparts at PS/MS 37. Yet, their discoveries within the past few weeks have focused on the classroom – the theme of this summer’s project based learning curriculum is “The Cycle of Life,” which discusses the nature and properties of all living things. Within these first two weeks, participants engaged in numerous, hands-on activities that explore these very processes; such as illustrating the life cycle of a butterfly or even tracing the outline of a classmate in order to learn more about the human body.
Our goal in encouraging this type of exploration – both in and out of the classroom – is not only to help students understand these larger concepts, but also to assist in the building of teamwork and social skills!
