Schedule a Tour
(401) 783 3222
[email protected]
1150 Boston Neck Road, Narragansett, RI 02882
Quest Montessori School Quest Montessori School
  • Montessori
    • Maria Montessori
    • The Education
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • About
    • The Quest Mission
    • Our History
    • Our Families
      • Parent Education
      • Quest Community Organization (QCO)
    • After Quest
      • Our Alumni
    • Faculty
      • Employment
    • Board of Directors
    • The Blog
  • Programs
    • Toddlers
    • Primary
    • Lower Elementary
    • Upper Elementary
    • Middle School
      • Narrow River Naturals
    • Projects and Experiences
    • Enrichment
      • Visual Arts
      • Music
      • Spanish
      • Physical Education
    • Extended Care
    • Vacation & Summer Camp
  • Admissions
    • Discover Quest
    • Admissions Events
    • Admissions Process
      • Schedule A Tour
      • Application Forms
    • Testimonials
    • After Quest
  • Giving
    • Donate to Quest
  • Blog
  • COVID-19 INFO
  • Contact
  • Montessori
    • Maria Montessori
    • The Education
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • About
    • The Quest Mission
    • Our History
    • Our Families
      • Parent Education
      • Quest Community Organization (QCO)
    • After Quest
      • Our Alumni
    • Faculty
      • Employment
    • Board of Directors
    • The Blog
  • Programs
    • Toddlers
    • Primary
    • Lower Elementary
    • Upper Elementary
    • Middle School
      • Narrow River Naturals
    • Projects and Experiences
    • Enrichment
      • Visual Arts
      • Music
      • Spanish
      • Physical Education
    • Extended Care
    • Vacation & Summer Camp
  • Admissions
    • Discover Quest
    • Admissions Events
    • Admissions Process
      • Schedule A Tour
      • Application Forms
    • Testimonials
    • After Quest
  • Giving
    • Donate to Quest
  • Blog
  • COVID-19 INFO
  • Contact

Head of School Blog

  • Home
  • Head of School Blog
  • Spring Means Culminating Events at Quest Montessori

Spring Means Culminating Events at Quest Montessori

  • Posted by Katherine Bowen
  • Categories Head of School Blog, Middle School, Narragansett Bay Study, Quest News, School News, Upper Elementary
  • Date April 25, 2019

There is nothing quite like Spring in New England.  One day it is cloudy and grey and then, almost overnight, all the plants and trees are bursting into bloom. Spring at Quest is similar, all the classes are progressing day to day and then all of a sudden the work that has been going on all year coalesces into a variety of end-of-year events.

At the end of each three-year cycle in Elementary and Middle School, students immerse themselves in a year-long study that examines a local, national or international ecosystem. The 8th years have just returned from a four-day trip to the Dominican Republic, the 6th years leave this Sunday, April 28th, for their 5-day trip to New York City and the 3rd years are looking forward to their trip to visit an oyster farm in Narragansett Bay.

These 3-year cycle culminating events are unique to Quest. They are designed to enable each cohort to work together as a group to apply the many skills they have learned throughout the three years to a year-long project.

Spring Means Culminating Events at Quest Montessori 1
Collecting Specimens

Local: Third Year (Lower Elementary), The Narragansett Bay Study

Starting in the fall, the children’s study progresses from learning about life in the Bay to how the Bay met the

Fundamental needs  of the Pequot tribe. The  3rd year students by start their study collecting fish and invertebrates for the classroom saltwater tank, learning the characteristics of the Bay and familiarizing  themselves with a nautical map of the bay. Several local trips are trips are taken to explore local working farms, a bird sanctuary, and a wildlife preserve.

The children also went on a seal watch in Wickford Harbor and took a day trip to the Mashantucket Pequot Museum in Connecticut. The final event of the study is lunch at Matunuck Oyster Bar before which the students will go out on the water to see the farm from which the oysters are harvested. In addition to its incredible educational value, this year long project prepares the third years for the bigger work of Upper Elementary.

Spring Means Culminating Events at Quest Montessori 2
Pequot Museum
Spring Means Culminating Events at Quest Montessori 3
Seal watch
Spring Means Culminating Events at Quest Montessori 4
Dissecting Owl Pellets
Spring Means Culminating Events at Quest Montessori 5
Dissecting Owl Pellets

National: Sixth Year (Upper Elementary), New York City Study

In the final year of the Upper Elementary cycle, 6th year students study the island of Manhattan as ancient civilization. They learn how the the different inhabitants of the island from the  Lenape through modern day New Yorkers met their fundamental needs (food, shelter, defense, transportation, spirituality) and how humans use their hearts, hands and minds to solve problems and improve their lives.

Each student chooses a fundamental need and corresponding site in New York City to research over a period of several months. For example, a student who chooses transportation might research the history of the Brooklyn Bridge or the subway system.

In the second half of the year the students work together to plan the entire the  5-day spring trip to NYC. They learn how to learn how to read street, subway and bus maps in order to navigate the city and get from one place to the next. Working with a set budget they choose the restaurants and make reservations. Once in Manhattan, the students lead their groups through the city as each child presents their final report on grounds of the site they chose. The students return as cohesive unit ready to take on all the Middle School has to offer.

Brooklyn Bridge
Brooklyn Bridge
Spring Means Culminating Events at Quest Montessori 6
Arriving in NYC
Spring Means Culminating Events at Quest Montessori 7
Student Presentations
Spring Means Culminating Events at Quest Montessori 8
United Nations
Spring Means Culminating Events at Quest Montessori 9
Student Presentations
Spring Means Culminating Events at Quest Montessori 10
Enjoying the Subway Museum
Spring Means Culminating Events at Quest Montessori 11
Lion King Cast

International: Eighth Year, the Dominican Republic

One of the goals of the Adolescent Program at Quest is develop a more global perspective for the students as the embark on their journey to become young adults. The intent of this year-long 8th year project is to increase their global awareness and sense of global citizenship. Traveling to a place with such a different way of life brings perspective on one’s self and one’s role in the community and helps to answer questions that are central to the work of the adolescent: Who am I?  Where do I fit into society? How can I be of use?

In previous years, the students have traveled to Costa Rica but this year we chose to travel to Las Terrenas in the Dominican Republic. One of our primary reasons for choosing Las Terrenas was the opportunity to foster a relationship between our Quest students and the students of the International School associated with the Fundacion Mahatma Ghandi, a community service organization that seeks to better the quality of life of the people of Las Terrenas through education and service.

While in Las Terrenas, our students spent several days with the International School students exploring the beautiful country surrounding the town and completing a service project for the community. All the students worked together to paint a mural depicting the need to protect the sea. Quest student then facilitated an environmental education lesson at the International School. Because one cannot visit such a beautiful location and just work, the students also had the opportunity to do some snorkeling and try their hand at surfing.

Spring Means Culminating Events at Quest Montessori 12
El Limon Waterfall
Spring Means Culminating Events at Quest Montessori 13
Exploring the Water System
Spring Means Culminating Events at Quest Montessori 14
Students Environmental Presentation
Spring Means Culminating Events at Quest Montessori 15
Murals Complete
Spring Means Culminating Events at Quest Montessori 16
Mural Painting in Town
Spring Means Culminating Events at Quest Montessori 17
Hiking El Limon
Spring Means Culminating Events at Quest Montessori 18
Playa Punta Popy
  • Tweet
  • Pinterest
Katherine Bowen

Previous post

Middle School Student Newsletter, 4/19/19
April 25, 2019

Next post

Lower Elementary Art Night
2 May, 2019

You may also like

  • Quest Montessori Middle School Estuary Field Studies
    Middle School Estuary Field Studies
    23 April, 2021
  • 1 Primary Mixed Age Thread Needle
    Montessori Mixed-Age Classrooms
    28 January, 2021
  • Learning In Person in the Upper Elementary Classroom
    Learning In-Person in the Upper Elementary Montessori Classroom
    14 January, 2021

Subscribe to
the Quest Blog

Sign up to receive the latest updates from the Quest Blog:

Subscribe

Blog Categories

  • Art (9)
  • Books (8)
  • Connected Home Learning (6)
  • Events (10)
  • Head of School Blog (16)
  • Lower Elementary (17)
  • Middle School (57)
  • Middle School Student Newsletter (33)
  • Montessori (15)
  • Music (4)
  • Narragansett Bay Study (5)
  • News & Notes (1)
  • Parenting (22)
  • Primary (17)
  • Quest at a Glance (9)
  • Quest News (71)
  • Quest Videos (14)
  • School News (74)
  • Toddler (14)
  • Upper Elementary (20)

Archives

  • April 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • January 2017
  • October 2016
  • October 2015
  • January 2012
  • November 2011
  • October 2011

Quest Montessori School

1150 Boston Neck Road
Narragansett, RI 02882

P (401) 783 3222
F (401) 783 3229

AISNE Accredited Montessori School Rhode Island
AMS Pathway
American Montessori Accredited School

Non Discriminatory Statement

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discrimination based on race, color, national origin...
Read more »

Title IX Policy »

Quest Montessori School · All Rights Reserved

  • Montessori
  • About Us
  • Programs
  • Admissions
  • Giving
  • Contact Us
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy