On the Campaign Trail with Keys Fourth Graders
In the weeks leading up to the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election, Keys fourth graders were busy preparing for their own presidential stump speeches as part of an interdisciplinary unit focused on the campaign trail. Students kicked off the unit by exploring social issues currently dominating the political landscape, such as education, climate change, and immigration. They…
Fifth Graders Visit NASA’s Ames Research Center
This week, our fifth grade class journeyed on a unique and interactive field trip to the NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, one of ten NASA research and development field centers. During their afternoon off-campus, students participated in The NASA Ames Exploration Encounter (AEE), an educational program designed to inspire young learners in the fields…
Students Design and Construct Pumpkin Catapults at Middle School
“Running a test! Countdown set to begin! Be prepared to clear the area!” If you happened to enter the Middle School library during recess last Thursday, you most likely entered an active testing area, with hard-working students tinkering on their latest Maker Time creations. Recess in the library has become a center of ingenuity, perseverance,…
Keys Students Dive Into an Immersive Virtual Reality Field Trip
New Delhi, India. 9:35 a.m. on a Tuesday morning. The fifteen students in Ms. Nelson’s second grade class scanned their surroundings as they described what they saw to their classmates – bustling city streets crowded with ornate monasteries, honking taxis, and energetic bazaars filled with food carts, sweet shops, and spice stalls. When it came…
Keys Fall Outdoor Education Trips Inspire Wonder, Awe, and Growth
Two weeks ago, Keys students in Grades 4-8, teachers, staff, and parent chaperones prepared their sleeping bags, hiking boots, and curious minds and departed campus to diverse outdoor learning environments around California: Point Reyes, the Santa Cruz Mountains, Yosemite Valley, and Mono Lake. While each Outdoor Education trip has its own distinct learning goals linked…
Keys School Kicks-off the 2016-2017 School Year
Keys welcomed students and families back to school this week, and the Keys School community kicked-off another year of vibrant learning and growth! It didn’t take long for students to transition from the slower, more relaxed pace of summer to the bustle and excitement of back-to-school mode. At Lower School, students and teachers have been…
Keys Student Artwork on Display in San Jose Art Gallery
Aspiring Keys School visual artists in grades K-4 currently have their work featured in a summer art exhibit in the Art Gallery at the Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose. The gallery features new exhibits every two to three months in a variety of media created by artists of all ages. The artwork featured in the exhibit titled Bird’s Eye…
Sixth Grade Students Design, Construct, and Test Suspension Bridges
Sixth grade science students were recently challenged with designing, prototyping, and building a balsa wood and glue bridge. Their objective was to make the bridge be as light as possible, while supporting as much weight as possible. Their final products were tested and analyzed in front of a captivated audience of middle school students and parents…
Google Expeditions Pioneer Program Visited Keys Second – Eighth Grades Today
Google Expeditions is a new opportunity for schools, a product that allows teachers to take their classes on virtual field trips, immersing students in experiences that bring abstract concepts to life and giving students a deeper understanding of the world beyond the classroom. These trips are collections of virtual reality panoramas — 360° 3D photo…
Sixth Graders Build Cell Cities
Providing students with strategies to help them make sense of abstract or high-level concepts is critical to their learning process. As a means to develop a more concrete understanding of cells, sixth graders created vibrant three-dimensional cities as analogies for how cells operate. Students started by brainstorming what it takes for a city to run smoothly…