Our Program

The focus of Humanities at Brooklyn Independent involves the study of history and literature, and the intersection of the two. All students will expand their ability to analyze the written word and support an argument by citing the text. They will engage in guided discourse which develops critical thinking skills and the ability to reconcile with ideas that may challenge preconceived ways of thinking.

• In 6th grade, students will explore the power and importance of story-telling and identity. Students examine myths of the past, visions of the future, and how they impact the present. Students interrogate how these stories impact ones perception of identity, and how these stories can affect how we see ourselves.

• In 7th grade, students engage in study and analysis of the story of America. What myths about America's founding still persist, and what is the truth behind those myths? How do these myths still impact the country (and world) today?

• In 8th grade, students will focus on the interplay between society and individuals. Students examine how society influences individual behavior, as well as how individuals can impact society. Students will also draw connections between the societies of the past, present, and imagined future.

Some selected readings include:

6th – I Am Malala, The Giver, and Heroes, Gods, and Monsters of Greek Mythology

7th – The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, A Raisin in the Sun, and House on Mango Street

8th – To Kill a Mockingbird, Fahrenheit 451, Night, Poetry and Science-Fiction short stories

The focus of Math at Brooklyn Independent is reflecting on the ways that numbers can be used to understand, communicate, and process our experiences.

• In 6th Grade, students focus on understanding how and when proportional reasoning is used throughout our lived experience (recipes, percents, buildings, statistical data collection and inferences, and more).

• 7th grade students further that understanding by applying their proportional reasoning in abstract situations that require algebraic modeling.

• By their final 8th grade year, students extend this modeling to reflect a greater diversity of real world relationships including exponential, quadratic, cubics, and more, in preparation to take the Algebra Regents at the end of the year.

Math Projects have included:

• Building model bridges and measuring load capacity

• Creating art projects based off famous sculpture and graphic artists such as MC Escher, Richard Sierra and Sol LeWitt

• Researching products and investigating inflation over time with real-world application of percents

• Surveying local parks and landmarks to create dioramas built to scale

• Creating adaptable recipe books with equations, ratios, and graphs

• Creating board games to use statistical reasoning to predict wins and loses

The focus of Science at Brooklyn Independent is nurturing curiosity, building inquiry skills, and helping students make meaningful connections between scientific concepts and the real world. Students explore how science shapes and is shaped by the world around us—developing a deep understanding of systems, processes, and impact through lab work, exploration, and case studies.

• In 6th grade, students will explore the dynamic processes of our Earth through Earth Science courses, including geology, meteorology, astronomy, and more.

• In 7th grade, student dive into the chemical and physical properties of Earth by exploring elements, compounds, motion, force and energy.

• By 8th grade, students take the Living Environments Regents course, focusing on the exploration and application of Biology from the cellular level through body systems and evolution.

Science Labs have included:

• Explore exercise impact on heart rate, recovery and experimental design

• Cell transport using dialysis tubing and indicators (e.g., glucose and starch)

• Understanding osmosis, diffusion, and cell membrane function

• Beaks of Finches Natural selection and adaptation through simulation

• Relationships and Biodiversity

• Molecular biology and classification using plant species

• Rocks and minerals

• Newtons laws

The focus of Restorative Practices at Brooklyn Independent is to provide students with the skills and mindsets to be empathic, compassionate and reflective young people.

Brooklyn Independent partners with Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility and Initiative Equity to train staff and students on Restorative Justice practices and equity-informed practices.

These practices include but are not limited to:

(1) Advisory: During AM and PM advisory, students are given the time, support and skills to be prepared both organizationally and emotionally. Students spend the morning participating in routines that help them structure their day and activities that build community.

During this time students:

• Organize materials, turn in homework, clean out their folders and hear announcements for the day.

• Participate in weekly team builders and ice breakers.

• Review their progress report and create goals for personal growth in each subject.

• Engage in learning centered around our Cultural Celebration Months which includes current events, cultural icons, and activism.

• Participate in journal reflection, share shouts and other mindfulness activities.

(2) Whole School and Grade Level Community Meetings: These larger school and grade community meetings allow us to come together in meaningful ways to celebrate, learn and grow. Community Meeting time is often led by students and centers around our Cultural Celebration Months. These whole school moments have featured student presentations on personal identity markers, panels of community members, performances and workshops.

Presentations have included:

• Redhawk Indigenous Arts Council

• Brooklyn Black-Owned Small Business Panel

• Playwriting workshop with Nyorican playwright Matt Barbot

• Neurodivergent Student Panel

• Guest speakers on immigration, LGBTQIA+ advocacy, religious persecution, the refugee experience and much, much more!

(3) Circle: Circle is BKI’s weekly block where students learn to connect to each other and themselves in order to engage in conversations around identity and social justice.

Students explore topics including:

• Aspects of their identity and how identity influences our perspective and reality

• Social Emotional Learning

• Issues impacting the diverse school and community in which they exist

• How our personal history interacts with our current reality

• Holistic health (Physical, Mental, Emotional and Spiritual)

• Digital Wellness

(4) Restorative Conversations: At BKI we believe that conflict is part of community, and we prepare our students to take accountability, repair and find solutions when harm is done. Our restorative conversations focus on students exploring the impact of choices on themselves and others, finding ways forward to repair and working towards lasting change.

The focus of electives at BKI is to allow students to explore and create new passions. We offer a robust list of elective offerings that provide an introduction for students and allow them to experience many different forms of expression beyond the traditional core subjects.

Students take four electives every semester. Some of the electives we have offered include:

Academic Electives:

• Specialized High School Exam Prep Course

• Mathletes

• Creative Writing

• Debate

• Study Hall

• Chess
  

Language Electives:

• Spanish

• French

• Sign Language
  

Performance Electives:

• Chorus

• Theater

• Musical Theater

• Rock Band (Partnership with Brooklyn Music School)
  

Physical Electives/Sports:

• Gym

• Dance

• Capoeira

• Basketball

• Flag Football

• Soccer

• Table Tennis

• Cheer

• Track & Field

• Volleyball

STEM Electives:

• Video Game Coding (Partnership with Voxel)

• Maker Lab (Partnership with Voxel)

Visual Art Electives:

• Sewing

• Drawing + Painting (Partnership with PLAYDAY)

• Sculpture (Partnership with PLAYDAY)

• Set Design

• Creative Filmmaking and Animation (Partnership with CinemaKidz)

• Special Effects and Photography (Partnership with CinemaKidz)

Our elective offerings change often depending on student interest!

At Brooklyn Independent, we use Friday Field Learning to bring curriculum and content to life, build community, and provide joy! Past Friday Field Learning experiences include visits to:

Art Museums & Centers:

• Brooklyn Museum

• The New Museum

• MoMa

• Jazz Museum

• Nuyorican Poet Cafe

Science, History, and Math Museums:

• DNA Learning Center

• MET

• Natural History Museum

• Museum of the American Indian

• Museum of Math

• New York Historical Society

• Ellis Island

New York City Experiences:

• Governor’s Island

• Intrepid

• Manhattan Federal Courthouse

• Brooklyn Bridge Park

• Roller skating – add name!

• Urban Garden in Battery City

Community Service:

• Little Essential

• Hanson Place Church Corp

Sports

Fall Sports:

• Soccer

• Flag Football

• Cheer

Winter Sports:

• Basketball

• Table Tennis

Spring Sports:

• Soccer

• Track and Field

• Volleyball

Afterschool

Runs daily from 3:30 PM - 6:00 PM. Options include:

• Voxel Academy

• Animation

• Sewing

• Ceramics

Clubs

• BKI Admissions Ambassadors

• Student Newspaper Club

• BKI Peer Mediators