Nailed It! GSB First Graders Build Bluebird Houses with Upper School Woodshop Class 

By Associate Director of Marketing and Communications Kathleen Bartlett

Students in Lower School Teacher Anne Wilson’s First Grade class joined Upper School Woodworking Instructor Bob Ort’s ’89 Woodworking Class for a hands-on learning experience as part of their Native Birds of NJ science unit: building their own bluebird houses! 

Students donned their protective eyewear and went to work with hammers, drills, and wood glue to bring their individual bluebird houses to life. And the best part: students get to take the finished product home. 

Bluebird lessons have long been part of the First-Grade curriculum. Lower School Teacher Peggy Lowe developed a bluebird trail in the mid-nineties, soon after the GSB Lower School moved onto the Gladstone campus. The strategically placed series of bluebird houses wound their way across campus, allowing students to study the nesting habits, incubation periods, and egg hatching of our local bluebirds. Today, students keep up the good work, cleaning out the bluebird houses before the mating season begins and monitoring them throughout.  

This collaborative project not only celebrated the rich history of GSB’s bluebird curriculum, but also brought together students across divisions to learn, create, and connect with nature. With their new birdhouses in hand, our First Graders are now part of a cherished GSB tradition—one that encourages stewardship, curiosity, and hands-on learning that lasts a lifetime.

Thank you to our Upper School woodshop students who helped mentor our young craftsmen. Everyone was thrilled with the results!