1st Year Program 2025-2026
What’s up for next year?
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Bittersweet
by Ellie Turnbull
The gate swings open, revealing a huge garden.
I hear the creek trickling by:
gurgling,
babbling, making me smile.
Hot sun like an open oven beats down on me,
turning my fair skin pink.
I reach for a raspberry.
The sweet warm fruit tastes like half-baked pie.
A thorn like a fang punctures my palm:
blood and berry stains,
happy creek, hot sun.
The end
of summer.
Me
by Hazel Brown
Dirty blond hair glows with striking highlights
like gold wheat in summer heat,
from long days surfing on the boat.
Hair waves in soft wind: white caps on milky green water.
Playful and creative books with the smell
of fresh paper whisk me away
from the real world. I curl up:
sleepy cat purring on our sage green bed.
I smoothly move like a graceful crane through
punches and kicks of my
favorite sport.
Ancient Art
by Addy Archibald
Art has been celebrated and enjoyed in many ways across different cultures from 3000 BC to the present. Egyptians used art to decorate tombs for their pharaohs. Many Greek vases and other pottery depicted their gods and myths. Romans used masks, lamps, and “portland vases" to symbolize wealth and power. Today, there are many connections between ancient and modern art in paintings, clay figures, and statues.
Egyptian artists had incredible skill. They specialized in elaborate paintings, weaving, and clay sculpting. Although most Egyptians were farmers, an important minority worked as craftsmen. In ancient Egypt, weaving was very important because it showed ways of life and brought the community together. The first Egyptian looms were laid out horizontally on the ground and held up by pegs. In ancient Egypt, pots were shaped on a wheel then baked in a kiln. Which later were used to decorate or drink out of. When Egyptian nobles died, their families brought in popular painters to paint elaborate colors in the tomb. Usually pictures on the tomb wall of events that happened in the dead pharaoh's life to allow him to thrive in the afterlife. Egyptian art still has a huge impact on modern art.
Ancient Greeks had many skilled artists who specialized in metalworking, clay sculpting, and making statues. In ancient Greece, people drank out of miniature clay wine cups called chous. A little aryballos was a sculpted perfume pot made out of clay that Greeks traded and used to scent their rooms. Athens was a famous centre for carving gravestones because of the highly gifted statue sculptors. The Athena statue made of gold in ivory that once stood in the Parthenon is one of Athens's most amazing pieces of art. The Greeks were very skilled metalworkers and bronze sculptures, they made many decorations and household objects. Ancient Greeks had many skilled artists.
Romans were also incredibly skilled artists. The Romans specialized in glass blowing, weaving, and sculpting. The Portland vase was one of the most precious objects to survive from Roman times. It is white glass over a blue core, with elegant designs that took many months to make. Another kind of glass art was mold blowing, which was a technique used to make glass beakers. Molds also created tear drop decorations. Many rich Roman families had tiny pieces of colored tile that created elaborate mosaics inside their houses. Romans put pictures on clay lamps depicting the final moments of a soldier's life. Masks were also a big part of Roman theatre: they had three holes so the actor could see and talk. The masks were probably made of linen. Romans also had incredible skill at art.
As an elementary school art teacher from McCall, Idaho, Mrs Stacy sees art as a connection. If people view modern art a lot, she thinks they will likely produce modern art. Mrs Stacy says, “I was a Chinese major in college and have a great appreciation for ancient Chinese art.” Traditional Chinese art is being created today with more modern and western art techniques. Asian artist Freda-lee McCann is one of Mrs Stacey's favorite artists. She reflects: “Funny enough, one of my favorite pieces is a Japanese wood block print from 1831 titled Great Wave.” While Mrs Stacy does not see many connections between the ancient art of other cultures and art today, she does note that just as they are today, brushes were used a lot in Chinese art. One technique that is desirable today is using bamboo brushes and ink. “You can use almost anything to make art,” Mrs Stacey says.
There are many connections between ancient and modern art. Romans used masks, lamps and “portland vases” to symbolize wealth and power. Many Greek vases depicted gods and myths. Egyptian art decorated the tombs of celebrated pharaohs. Through all time periods, art has helped shape human cultures from ancient times until today.
To print a list of all your VOCABULARY to date, go to the 1st Year Vocabulary page OR play to study your words on Quizlet!
1st History Zoom code: 825 7790 9700 passcode: 653438
1st English Zoom code: 823 9870 9913 passcode: 120601
Please have your students read books from the 4th-6th Grade Reading List during the year.
Remember that these lists are not an indication of reading level, but are created to give students a background for their upcoming years of study at the NFS. Please do NOT have children read books from lists that are in their reading level, but above their NFS class level.
See pieces written by WW students (2nd-6th graders) from 2000-2023 HERE.
See pieces written by 1st Year classes (6th & 7th graders) from 2001-2020 HERE.
Fibonacci Links to explore:
Numbers in Nature reveals the secrets of the Fibonacci sequence in an exhibit from the Annenberg/CPB video.
Dr. Ron Knott's website on Fibonacci Numbers and the Golden Section in Nature is a great place to explore the Fibonacci sequence. His site allows you to see many of the ideas we discuss in WW and continue to explore in the 1st Year Program.
“Teaching is mostly listening, and learning is mostly telling.”
-- Deborah Meier, 1995
Cinquain
by Mary Parker (2006)
North Fork:
World History —
Continuously writing poems.
We learn without realizing:
Achievements.
Pieces now in play:
(updated 5/27/26)
Hazel: FINISHED!!!
2026-2027 in-class Project: FASHION — Timeline; 4 art pieces (typed captions); map
Pink poetry: The Right Words
Addy: FINISHED!!!
2026-2027 in-class Project: ART — Timeline; 4 art pieces (typed captions); map
Pink poetry: Poem of Feeling; The Right Words
Ellie: FINISHED!!!
2026-2027 in-class Project
Pink poetry: General-Specific; The Right Words
Ancient Fashion
by Hazel Brown
Fashion developed across many cultures from 2000 BC to 1400 AD, as people used clothing to express their personality and class. Greek fashion was simple but expressive. Romans changed styles a lot over a very long time. People of the Middle Ages had many styles to indicate class hierarchy. Like fashion in ancient times, modern day fashion reveals status from the clothes people wear.
Clothing in Greece was simple. Togas and tunics were simply draped over the body, rather than sewn or cut. Ancient Grecian hairstyles were very important indicators of status: long hair was often worn, because it symbolized wealth, power, and bravery. Greeks thought that many unique hairstyles made them look beautiful. One fashion in war was to wear helmets with dyed horsehair to make soldiers seem stronger and taller. Other Greek war fashions were metal breast plates that were specially fitted to the soldier, greaves, which were shin guards made of bronze, and bronze helmets to protect the soldier’s face and head. When Alexander the Great won the war against the Persians, his troops took a large amount of gold and made a giant crown for him as Emperor. Women In Crete mostly wore bright dresses, tight at the core, with their breasts bare. Clothing in Greece was expressive and simple.
Romans had many similar fashions to those in Greece, but with their own unique styles. Ordinary men wore tunics in many colors, but outdoors, men wore short cloaks and trousers. Wealthy women would often wear gold jewelry and headbands. Boys and girls wore tunics like their parents, although boys sometimes wore the “Toga Praeteta” a garment with purple stripes. From the Archaic Period to the Hellenistic period, women wore their hair long and down, up, or super curly. In Rome it was good to look as pale as possible, so people took chalk powder and dabbed it on to look pale. Roman styes did change a lot, but over a very long time.
Clothing in the Middle Ages offered many styles, which indicated their owners were of varying status. In the fourteenth century, the court became the center of luxury and exaggerated fashion. Bell-shaped sleeves and high necks were worn by both men and women for court fashion. Peasants and laborers wore a medium length tunic, tied at the waist with a leather girdle. When a woman was walking, her skirt was tucked up into a belt. Mounted European knights fought in complete suits of chain mail and heavy iron helmets. Chain mail was made of tiny metal links so it was flexible, and nothing could penetrate through it. The fashion in the Middle Ages was more modern than that of Greece and Rome because it evolved many years later.
Courtney Gillan, a designer for Kate Spade in New York City, says that ancient fashion has influenced modern styles in big ways. She reflects, “Flow clothing from ancient Greece and Rome inspired modern dresses.” Long, loose, draped not tight dresses, belts, and sandals all reflect ancient styles. Many designers still use fabrics that people in ancient days would use, such as cotton, linen, and wool. “ Linen, especially, was very popular in ancient Greece because it was cool and breathable,” Gillan says. One-shoulder dresses that were inspired by Greek tunics, and gladiator sandals that were inspired by Roman times are popular today, as are flowing gowns that are inspired by togas. Many current designers such as Versace and Valentino use “goddess-like” styles in their clothing. Ancient techniques these designers still use today are draping, and pinning instead of sewing or cutting, and turning the pieces into soft flowing shapes. Gillan says,“ We sometimes design flowy dresses with soft pleats, sandals with simple straps, [and] gold jewelry that feels classic and timeless.” Many of the styles we wear today are inspired from our ancient ancestors.
Modern fashion is always changing, with many unique styles and bright colors. Exaggerated fashions from the Middle Ages influence soft, modern styles. A hot climate influenced loose, light Roman clothing. Greek colors expressed individual personalities. Ancient fashion influences modern fashion because adornments in cultures enabled people to have their own styles for the first time.
