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Social Studies/History

Lower School students strengthen their awareness of commonality and diversity with carefully selected experiences. Students learn to articulate what they would like to explore and are then introduced to the many ways in which they can uncover information: asking questions, reading books, researching on the Internet, interviewing experts, conducting experiments, making observations, and more. Students have the opportunity to work cooperatively and solve problems democratically—all key elements of the curriculum. Students are increasingly cognizant of their responsibility to their community.

Grade 1 Social Studies

Grade 1 social studies uses Central Park as a laboratory to study both scientific and social interactions. The class explores big questions such as: What is a community? What does “commons” mean? What do we already know about Central Park? Who designed the park and why? What jobs do people have in the park? How can we help take care of the park? What are different ways that people enjoy and use the park? What are the physical characteristics of Central Park’s bridges?
Grade 2 Social Studies

Grade 2 social studies explores individual family histories and different New York City neighborhoods—to study changes over time and immigration, both past and present. The class explores important questions such as: How do you establish community? What is similar and different about our lives today, as opposed to long ago? What is immigration, and how do we experience it in New York City?
Grade 3 Social Studies

Grade 3 students study the American past—focusing on early New York cultures, beginning with the indigenous Lenape peoples. The curriculum emphasizes knowledge and understanding the concept of causality, geography, and daily tribal life. The class studies the Lenape and their relationship with the Hudson River, answering these questions: Where did the Lenape live, and what did they eat? What were their values? What kinds of shelters did the Lenape build? How did the Lenape view nature, and what role did it play in their everyday lives? Students also learn about the resourcefulness of the Lenape people by exploring the tools they created using only natural materials. The year concludes with a Lenape fair conducted by 3rd graders for the school community.
Grade 4 Social Studies/History

Grade 4 students learn to ask big questions and conduct research to find in-depth answers. Through independent work and collaboration with peers, they take notes, organize ideas, and present information on a variety of topics. Units of study include Ancient Civilizations of Africa, Age of Exploration, and New Amsterdam. Students begin the year with geography and timeline studies, which they then carry through each unit. They learn about life in the past through various outlets, such as stories, artifacts, primary and secondary sources, videos, art, music, and literature. Students develop their research skills, employing questioning, a variety of resources, and note-taking to dig deeply; they then share what they have learned in the form of creative projects and/or presentations.
Grade 5 Social Studies/History

Fifth-grade students focus on immigration as a major theme throughout the school year. Some of the topics include immigration to the U.S. through Ellis Island, Angel Island, and the Mexican border. These topics are explored through various books and nonfiction texts, and materials from Pollyanna, our racial literacy curriculum. These texts help to strengthen students’ literacy skills. Students also publish the Trevor Tribune, a student newspaper, as part of their study of current events.

Reed Elkinton

Grade 5 Head Teacher and Lower School Social Studies Curriculum Coordinator

relkinton@trevor.org
Bio
Reed holds a BA in Music from Reed College, an MEd in ESL Education from the University of Massachusetts, and an MEd in Elementary Education from Worcester State University. Reed came to Trevor from Escuela Lomas Altas, a bilingual international school in Mexico City, where he served as the lead teacher in 3rd and 4th grade. He joined Trevor to be part of a dedicated team of educators focused on helping students become independent and joyful learners.
Clodagh McCloskey

Grade 3 Head Teacher and Lower School Environmental Studies Curriculum Coordinator

cmccloskey@trevor.org
Bio
Clodagh began teaching at Trevor in 2008. She studied Creative Writing and Modern Dance at Bennington College, and General Education for Grades 1–6 at Hunter College School of Education. Clodagh is a Trevor alumna (Class of 1996) and says that she loves that “as Trevor teachers, we can bring our individual talents and perspectives to the table, imbuing our instruction with a wide variety of unique gifts.” For example, Clodagh enjoys incorporating her background in modern dance, writing, sewing/knitting, the arts, and organic gardening as an additional means to make academic material accessible and exciting to every student.
Eric Soloff

Grade 2 Head Teacher

esoloff@trevor.org
Bio
Eric holds a BA from The University of Michigan and an MS in Education from Bank Street College of Education. Eric has been working as part of the 2nd-grade teaching team since 1986. He is grateful that his three sons Zef, Jasper, and Cassidy were able to experience the breadth of a Trevor education and that they are proud alumni. They have formed lifelong friendships at Trevor and developed habits of mind that nurture them as young men applying their skills in the world. An aspect of Trevor that Eric has always treasured is the school’s vision of teaching as an act of creativity. He values the opportunity that Trevor has encouraged to consistently explore, create, and refine the 2nd-grade curriculum, adapting to his students, technology, and to new innovations in the field of education.
Michelle Wu-Buchenholz

Grade 1 Head Teacher

mwu@trevor.org
Bio
Michelle joined Trevor in 2010 from The Spence School, where she taught Kindergarten. She earned her BA in Social Work and AS in Liberal Arts from NYU, and her MA in Early Childhood Special Education from NYU Steinhardt School of Education.