Arts Curriculum

Music Preschool & K

Students learn a variety of songs in their classrooms - fun and seasonal songs, movement, and dance songs as well as songs relating to classroom themes. Each class also has a set of rhythm sticks and instruments. Both half and full-day students perform on stage at the Montessori Program at the end of the year.

First and second level students begin their music studies by developing a large repertoire of simple songs and song-games that reinforce classroom themes. In music class students sing, move, dance, and play rhythm instruments and xylophones as they learn traditional children’s songs from the United States and other parts of the world. Classes focus on joyful celebration of music, vocal expression, tuneful singing, and steady beat.

In addition, Kindergarteners learn to identify and demonstrate the following musical concepts: fast/slow, loud/soft, high/low, short/long, same/different, and smooth/jerky. They also learn to improvise texts and motions to known songs. The Kindergarteners join the Lower School to perform at the Annual Christmas Concert.

Art K

Art education for Kindergarten includes learning about, talking about, and producing works of art. The elements of design—line, shape, and color--and the awareness of the power of artistic expression to communicate thoughts, feelings, and experiences through art are introduced. Using two-dimensional processes allows students to use many kinds of tools and media—paint, pens, pencils, markers, cray pas--and a variety of paper to explore ideas, texture, and space. They can also experiment with color and color mixing. Using three-dimensional processes allows students to experiment with construction and to use clay to experiment with additive and subtractive concepts. Students also learn about famous artists, their style, and their work. Practice with fine motor control, body awareness, gross motor coordination, and art vocabulary are integrated into the program.

Art 1-4

The Visual Arts program in Lower School helps students gain a better understanding of themselves and those around them. The students discover how to think critically about what they see. The projects are designed to connect the principle of Visual Arts with other subject areas and extend what they learn in the classroom. Focus is given to the basic elements and principles of art, such as line, shape, color, form, and texture. Students explore art created by artists representing cultures and periods different from their own making them more aware of the beliefs, ideas, and feelings of people of various ethnic origins, religions, and cultures.

Music 1-4

The Lower School music curriculum draws from our vast repertoire of traditional American folk songs, song-games, and dances. Students learn to sing tunefully and play instruments including drums, xylophones, and recorders.

Dramatic Arts 7&8

Students in Grades 7 and 8 explore the fundamentals of dramatic arts from acting, singing, and improve to vocal projection, monologues, and dialogues. Students also learn the various elements of production such as casting, blocking, rehearsing and performing. Throughout this course the students have opportunities to perform their work. The foundation students build in this course is a great asset to the Spring Musical.