Since January, Kindergarten students have been hard at work on their Chapin Study projects.
An integral part of the Kindergarten curriculum each year, this project consists of a several-months-long, multifaceted unit that gives students the opportunity to become researchers, historians, storytellers and investigators as they explore the School community.
“The Chapin Study is about cultivating curiosity, joy, agency and pride in learning,” said Miranda Orbach, Head of Lower School Literacy and Social Studies.
The Kindergarteners focus on the many aspects that make up each division and department and, this year, learned more about Chapin’s history in honor of the School’s 125th anniversary.
To launch the program, the girls participated in a day-long introductory event, with each Homeroom meeting to discuss what they already knew about Chapin and teachers recording their observations on large sheets of paper.
During Block 2 of their day, other Lower School classrooms hosted museum walks, giving our youngest students the opportunity to tour the entire Lower School. With clipboards, pencils and observation sheets in hand, the girls explored classrooms and offices, recording both familiar and new discoveries.
After each Homeroom reflected on their findings, the students gathered to generate and categorize thoughtful questions about the School. After reviewing the themes that naturally emerged from the girls’ questions, teachers developed categories for further exploration.
Over the past several months, the students examined different areas of Chapin and deepened their understanding of the community. The Kindergarteners also completed interviews and participated in tours led by a variety of community members, giving them the opportunity to meet older students and members of the Professional Community.
“The Chapin Study fosters so many important foundational skills. Students develop their inquiry skills by asking questions, conducting age-appropriate research and gathering information from many sources,” said Ms. Orbach. “They learn to collaborate with their peers as they work in a small group, listen thoughtfully during the interview, and communicate their ideas clearly.”
While on their special tours with Middle School (MS) and Upper School (US) students, the girls learned what makes each division unique. They were eager to visit familiar spaces through a new lens and discover areas they had never been to before.
Throughout each interview and tour, the Kindergarteners carried clipboards, carefully observing their surroundings, sketching what they saw, recording notes and asking questions they prepared in advance.
For their Chapin Study topics, each section focused on different aspects of the School depending on their initial interests and questions. K22, for example, focused on drama classes and the Black Box Theater, the Hayot Center for Innovation (HCI), the portraits of our Heads of School and the Middle School. Through these areas of study, students were split into groups to complete in-depth explorations.
During their drama study, the students explored the Black Box Theater, attended an Upper School play rehearsal and created their own original puppet show, The Case of the Candyland Puerta, featuring hand-made puppets. As part of their final presentation, the class performed their puppet show and created drawings that represent what takes place in the theater.
The Kindergarten students then met with Dr. Jon Olivera, Director of the HCI, to learn about the advanced technology available in the space, the classes that take place there, and the different student projects. They even watched older students actively creating and building. Back in their classrooms, the girls constructed their own 3D model of the innovation center, complete with replicas of 3D printers, wood cutters, workspaces and more.
As they endeavored to learn more about Chapin’s history, the girls had the special opportunity to interview Head of School Suzanne Fogarty and two former Chapin Heads of School, Dr. Patricia T. Hayot and Sandra J. Theunick. “This year's project nurtured critical thinking as many groups made connections between past and present,” said Ms. Orbach.
After being asked a question that focused on one of Chapin’s Core Values, Excellence, Ms. Fogarty described what that value means to her and how she sees it lived at Chapin every day. Later in the week, a group of Kindergarteners met with Dr. Hayot at School and Ms. Theunick on Zoom to learn more about their portraits in the Berendsen Room and hear stories about how they were created. The girls also asked them what their years leading Chapin meant to them.
Students were then challenged to create their own portraits of current administrators like Associate Head of School Xiomara Hall and Head of Lower School Thérèse Cruite, to name a few. Having learned about the process of creating a portrait from Dr. Hayot and Ms. Theunick, they took the time to get a better understanding of the qualities and emotion each person wanted to be captured by speaking at length to their subjects. Then, the girls got to work creating one-of-a-kind pieces of their own!
Following their study of the MS, the group designed and built a working board game inspired by Candy Land, complete with structured rules and game pieces.
K21 focused on Chapin’s bus system; the Health Office and nursing staff; Dining Services and the Gordon Room; Chapin’s Core Values of Curiosity, Excellence, Humanity and Integrity; and Clubhouse, Chapin’s afterschool program.
As part of their study of transportation, students met with School Safety Administrator and Transportation Coordinator Rick Ugenti and Director of Physical Plant Tom Palermo. Following their interviews, the girls created 3D depictions of Chapin’s bus routes using maps of New York City as backdrops.
While meeting with Director of Health Services Cathy Parker RN, BSN and School Nurse Allie Friend RN, BSN, the students learned the most common reasons students visit the Health Office and about some of the tools nurses use to help them feel better. Inspired by their learning, the Kindergarteners created a nursing-themed game featuring pieces with pictures of first-aid tools for players to use to help a stuffed gator toy feel better.
K25 studied the School building itself, Chapin’s uniforms through the decades, key moments in Chapin’s history and the evolution of some of the rules at the School.
To learn more about Chapin’s uniforms, students met with Director of Development and Alumnae Affairs Irina MacGuire and Chief Communications and Strategy Officer Anneli Ballard ’86. Through archive photographs and physical garments from years’ past, the girls traced the trajectory of Chapin’s uniforms and observed how they had changed over time. Next, the students got to work designing their own headbands and totebags inspired by what they learned.
To supplement their study of key moments in Chapin’s history, the girls interviewed Director of Academic Program Ilana Pergam ’86. After observing pictures and archival materials with her, they drew pictures and wrote captions for each of the years they explored. For example, one student wrote, “When Chapin started in 1901, students had reading, math, music, handwriting and P.E.” Another student said, “The Chapin School (100 EEA) moved to its current location in 1928. Maria Bowen Chapin wanted the building to have lots of sunlight and air.”
After months of hard work from every Kindergarten student, the Chapin Study project culminated in two special events.
On May 29, Kindergarten parents, guardians and friends visited the School to experience the students’ work firsthand and understand Chapin through the girls' eyes. Each homeroom presented a documentary-style video that offered families a glimpse into the girls’ research process and accomplishments over the past several months. Guests then visited exhibition stations where students shared their learning. Each Kindergartener wore a pin with a special topic that helped guide conversations with visitors.
On June 1, the Lower School gathered in the Assembly Room for our first-ever Chapin Study Fair, which gave our Kindergarten students an opportunity to share their fabulous work with the rest of the Lower School.
“It was inspiring to watch our youngest students see themselves as experts and proudly share their discoveries with so many community members,” Ms. Obrach said.
Each group displayed their work at a dedicated table, giving peers and guests the opportunity to learn, view their projects and play their games.
The Chapin Study not only gave students an opportunity to learn more about Chapin’s past and present, but also allowed them to strengthen essential skills in writing, reading, interviewing, investigating and more. Through research, creativity and curiosity, the Kindergartners demonstrated their remarkable commitment to learning and deep appreciation for their community.
Browse more photos HERE. (Click on the brackets in the upper right corner to view the photos in full resolution.)
