Colonial Day – Fifth Grade
Colonial Day is a highlight of fifth grade as students, parents, and faculty come together during this day-long recreation of the Colonial era, complete with period dress, games, activities, and food.
Fifth grade students learn quickly that life in a colonial classroom is very different from the classroom environment they enjoy at CHA. Laptops are replaced with horn books and quill pens, desks are replaced with benches, and, if they’re not careful, students may find themselves wearing a Dunce cap!
After a quick classroom lesson, students move through a variety of activity stations where they dip candles, sew, make corn husk dolls, and enjoy a range Colonial games and activities. Though a fifth grade activity, all CHAgrade levels are welcome to travel back in time to watch a portion of the festivities.
Farm Day – First Grade
To learn about the origins of food firsthand, first graders experience life on a farm, right at CHA.
During Farm Day, faculty and parents bring the farm to life and help as students juice oranges, turn cream into butter, plant herbs, and milk a “cow.”
Once the chores are done, students, teachers, and parents enjoy a home-cooked farm breakfast together.
Toy Company – Fourth Grade
Fourth graders become entrepreneurs as they take a full-fledged business approach to starting their own toy company, developing a product, gaining launch approval from the “Board,” and actively selling it at a “trade show.”
As a class, students create and vote on a company name, logo, and slogan. Once the company information is worked out—through teamwork, creativity, and collaboration—the young toy developers work in four-person groups, designing a concept, testing it through market research, using the data to refine their concepts, then building a three-dimensional prototype.
The project doesn’t end there. Students use their public and persuasive speaking skills to present their projects to the Board and gain approval to move forward with a trade show launch.
At Back-to-School night, the fourth grade classroom is turned into a tradeshow as students staff the booths they created and try to get initial orders from parent “buyers.” Parents have 500 points they can use to place their “orders” as they like across the various products. The students are enthusiastic salespeople as they tell the stories of their companies and products. They are infused with a strong sense of pride and achievement, and parents are amazed by all their children have accomplished.
