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Learning Updates for May 29 to June 2

Belmont Day School
June 2, 2023

Seventh Graders Explore Many Dimensions in Math

As seventh grade students wrap up their last math unit of the year, they’re expanding on some geometric ideas to think beyond the two and three-dimensional figures from their workbooks. What would a four-dimensional figure be like? How can we think about the fourth and fifth dimensions if we can’t see beyond our 3-D world? To get a grasp on these abstract ideas, seventh grade mathematicians took it down to two dimensions and thought about what the inhabitants of a two-dimensional world would be like. They created and shared zany and unique “Flatlanders,” complete with names, backstories, and hobbies. After lively discussions about what can and cannot happen in two dimensions, students then revised their characters to be sure they could see, eat, and move within the limits of Flatland. Taking the perspective of a two-dimensional being, students wondered how they would perceive the third dimension, one dimension beyond their own world. From that thought exercise, and inspired by the astrophysicist Carl Sagan, students will try to bump back into our 3-D world and attempt to think about the fourth dimension and beyond. Care for a game of 4-D tic-tac-toe? Ask a seventh grader to teach you how to play!

– Sarah Pikcilingis, grade 7 math teacher

Kindergartners Release Butterfly Friends Into the Wild

It’s a … butterfly! The kindergarteners welcomed new class pets in the form of Painted Lady caterpillars just about three weeks ago. When we arrived back at school this Tuesday after the long weekend, we were delighted to find that our chrysalises hatched into butterflies! Throughout their time in the kindergarten classroom, these caterpillars, chrysalises, and butterflies have enjoyed listening to books read out loud by the students, being the star of observational sketches, and even snacking on sweet sugar water. We released our butterflies yesterday afternoon into the BDS garden, so be on the lookout for Painted Lady butterflies fluttering around Big Blue–they might be our butterfly buddies!

–The Kindergarten Team

By John O'Neill, Director of Athletics |

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The mountain biking program rostered 13 athletes this spring, the most in the program’s short but successful history. Returning riders Altay Jomazer, Eyan Morales, Clark Rutherford, and Ewan Wheeler highlight a team with mixed experience on bikes. From beginner riders…

BDS

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Second Graders Read To Fight Food Insecurity On Wednesday, you could hear a pin drop in second grade. How is this possible, you might ask? We were holding our 18th annual Read-a-thon! The second graders spent all day reading to…

BDS

March 21, 2025

Eighth Grade Math Gets Abstract Like many students their age, middle school mathematicians at Belmont Day have the opportunity to grapple with increasingly abstract mathematical concepts as they progress through their school math careers. This is a fantastic mental exercise…

By John O'Neill, Director of Athletics |

March 21, 2025

The tennis program began its season with three days at Harvard’s Murr Center this week. The six indoor courts provided the perfect venue for thirty-four middle school athletes to knock off the rust and showcase their skills. The program is…
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School is closed

on THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, due to weather.