Candy Kisses

At The Capitol School, we strive to integrate the areas of the curriculum around a theme or topic that we are studying in the classroom.  One of our goals is to use projects in which the children learn and utilize skills from the various curriculum areas.  I found a wonderful set of books written by Donna Burk, Allyn Snider, Paula Symonds called "Math Excursions K:  Project-Based Mathematics for Kindergartners,"  "Math Excursions 1:  Project-Based Mathematics for First Graders," and "Math Excursions 2:  Project-Based Mathematics for Second Graders."  The series is published by Heinemann.

One of the projects in the first grade book is called "Candy Kisses."  This project integrates a number of mathematical and problem solving skills.  The children estimate the number of kisses in a container.  Next, they build two sizes of boxes and two sizes of cylinders to predict which they think will hold more.  Lastly, they count the kisses and figure out how to divide them with the class.  This is a great project that the children enjoy and remember for years to come.

PTA International Picnic

We've had students from over 70 different countries during the school's history and have international accreditation.  Each year, the PTA sponsors an International Dinner in which volunteers set up tables featuring photos, artifacts, maps, books, and food from a specific country.  The children receive passports to have stamped as they visit each country.

Camping Trip Science Project

Dr. Donna Ploessl takes her class of 9-12 year olds on a three day camping trip to a local archeological park each year.  The students spend the three days working on various projects and activities.   Each student is required to pick a topic to study while at the park and they must answer three questions that they planned.  They report their results at a Science Fair at school.  The students do all the work at the park and at school.  This student is sharing his work with two students from the 5-7 year old cluster.

Creating Insects

Insects have three body parts: a head, thorax, and an abdomen. Insects also have six legs and 2 antennae.  The children created any insect they wished using these parts.  We also sang a song to the tune of "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes."


"Head, thorax, abdomen, abdomen.
Head, thorax, abdomen, abdomen.
These are the parts of an insect,
Head, thorax, abdomen, abdomen."

World Clocks

Our director, Dr. Barbara S. Rountree created this wall featuring a world map and clocks telling the time around the globe.  These are displayed outside our Children's International Library featuring books in many different languages.  The Capitol School is an internationally accredited school.  Our families have come from over 70 different countries.  Our children have lessons in Spanish, German, French, and Chinese.

Edible Snowmen

The Capitol School is an accredited international school.  We have students from many countries who practice many different religions.  Before Winter Break, we like to have a party.  We choose a non-religious theme.  My coteacher, Hannah Box taught the children how to create edible snowmen.  They used a rice cake base, extra large marshmallows for the body, a fruit roll up scarf, a large gum drop hat, and pretzel sticks for arms.  They decorated the face and buttons with edible gel pens.  Each person was so proud of his or her creation - but not too proud to eat it!

Light Tray

We love our Light Tray.  It is extremely portable and lightweight. You can see that these two children cooperatively used multicolored glass pieces to create a picture.  This is a great visual-spatial activity.  It also helps the children develop their small motor skills.  However, this was a great way to learn to work with another person.

Me in Symmetry Drawings

Our director bought this idea back from a conference she attended.  We took a photo of each person's face.  I cropped the photos using my word processing program and printed only half of the child's face.  We then had each child draw the other half.  I thought many of the students did a great job.

Block People

We created a "Block Person" for each child in the room to use in the block area.  It is very interesting to watch the children play with these.  We learn a great deal about their social relationships through this play.  One time, the children had a birthday party for another child with the block people.  Sometimes the "block people" will talk to each other in ways that help us discover what specific children are thinking.

Capitol Ideas

The McGuire-Strickland House built in 1820 when Alabama became a state.  It is one of four buildings in our campus located at historic Capitol Park in Tuscaloosa.  Tuscaloosa was the capitol of Alabama from 1826-1846.

I often feel as if I work with a big "Think Tank" of teachers at The Capitol School in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.  We love trying new activities to create the best possible learning environment for our students. We established the school in 1993 following the leadership of our director, Dr. Barbara S. Rountree.  Dr. Rountree was a professor in the College of Education at The University of Alabama.  It was her dream to open a school that utilized the best practices in education.  Dr. Rountree has traveled the world to see the best schools with capitol ideas.  I hope you enjoy seeing some of these ideas on this blog.  It is my desire to add to the wonderful expansion of thought on educational ideas.