During the sensitive period for language, children are most interested in learning the names for everything around them. And as they expand their vocabulary, children are feeding their desire to learn and develop. The three and four year old children have fun pretending to be a silly animal from our French book about animals. They can become the rooster, the sheep, the cat or the dog. We learned all these names in French and made silly faces to see who was upset, smiling or angry. We also read a similar book about the sun, cloud and moon (le soleil, le nuage et la lune). We continue going fishing with “la canne à pêche” (the fishing pole) looking for all sorts of things such as a pair of scissors, some colored pencils, flashlights, apples and lemons.
Lower School Parachute Fun!
This month the Lower School and Extended Day participated in parachute play. Parachute games encourage cooperative, non-competitive play and reinforce turn-taking and sharing. While most gross motor activities for young children develop muscles in the lower body more than the upper torso, parachutes strengthen primarily shoulder, arm and hand muscles. When children work together to make the parachute billow, they also refine perceptual motor skills and develop a sense of rhythm. Language activities are also be incorporated into most parachute games. Parachute games played were: “Merry Go Round,” “Cat & Mouse,” “Popcorn,” and “Running through the Tunnel.”
Elementary Students Performed “James and The Giant Peach”
All elementary students participated in the school play, James and The Giant Peach, the Musical. The message in this musical is that a young boy who lost his parents finds hope and courage for life through the companionship of unusual creatures. Thus comes the transformation of a helpless and scared boy into an empowered and capable young man in charge of his own destiny and equipped to lead others.
In many studies, researchers are linking the involvement in the arts to better child development and higher student achievement. There are 5 benefits of being in Performing Arts.
1. HIGHER ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
School children exposed to drama, music and dance are more proficient in reading, writing and math.
2. CONFIDENCE & SELF-PRESENTATION SKILLS
Children learn how to present themselves in front of an audience. They develop the ability to converse with adults in a mature manner. Participation in the arts allows them to grow their self-esteem and self-confidence, developing poise and learning to overcome anxieties. Performing arts are also centered around social interaction and cooperation.
3. A MEDIUM FOR SELF EXPRESSION
The arts allow for deep self-expression from a child’s heart. It can help them make sense of their emotions and develop new ideas to express themselves.
4. PROBLEM SOLVING & PERSEVERANCE
Performing arts help teach children both self-reliance as well as the collaboration with others in order to reach a goal.
5. EMPATHY & COMPASSION
Performing arts help promote interpersonal skills and characteristics such as empathy and compassion for others. In group settings, there’s less of a focus on winning or losing. It’s more about working together as a team toward a shared performance goal, as well as the child’s individual journey of development.
BRAVO to all our performers!!
Sixth Years’ Exploration of Color Theory Through Op Art
Sixth year students continued their journey into learning how to create the illusion of three dimensions on a flat, two dimensional surface while also exploring color theory in these fun tempera paintings.
In previous classes we looked at the work of twentieth century Op art painters Victor Vasarely and Bridget Riley. Op art is short for ‘optical art’. Optical art is a style of visual art that uses optical illusions. Op art pieces are abstract, with many in black and white. When the viewer looks at them, there is the impression of movement. Sixth years incorporated color by creating tints and shades of primary colors into their Op art paintings.
Design Thinking and BEYOND in UE
Students in Upper Elementary have been working collaboratively so fluidly that their designs, ideas, and communications skills have truly blossomed this April.
In 4th Year, we sat in a circle to chat about creating a Sphero game completely from scratch. We took turns discussing how many sides our “field” should have or what shape it should resemble as drew sketches on a whiteboard. Our current prototype infuses soccer + billiard sports. To be continued….
4th Year students have also used our Green Screen to create Sportscasts, World Series Prediction Shows, and playing with the chromo keys to change colors and create silhouettes.
In 5th Year, students have been working together to create a film. A script was written, and scenes were recorded as students acted the roles of characters written by their peers. The boys also took a turn a creating a “Mini Marble Maze”, see the video here on our MakerSpace Twitter account! (Follow us to see even more photos!)
Extended Day & First Years Volleyball!
The Extended Day and First year students participated and practiced skills associated with volleyball. Students were taught the forearm pass (bump), the set, and the underhand and overhand serve. Volleyball is a team sport that can be played indoors, on grass or at the beach. Playing volleyball many benefits. Playing volleyball will strengthen the upper body, arms and shoulders as well as the muscles of the lower body. Our main focus during the unit was to improve hand-eye coordination and spatial awareness. The students learned and practiced with balloons, beach balls and soft volleyballs. Games that were played were, “Keep it Up,” “Four Square Volleyball,” and hitting the volleyballs over the net.
Middle School Students Explore Avenues in Musical Creativity
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- Improvisation with non-pitched percussion
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- Adding pitched percussion
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- Recorder time with a tune ‘Off Time’
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- Continuing with Soundtrap
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- Sharpening our rhythmic skills
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- Taiko Rehearsal
During our SoundTrap class, Middle School students explored and expanded their improvisation skills using various mediums such as pitched and non-pitched percussion and voice as well. Students were searching for the ways to express their creativity that was fostered and cultivated through the cooperative work during their school play ‘Disappearing Act’. We are in the process of exploring the best route for challenging their expressiveness.
National Association for Music Education believes the importance of the improvisation. It says:
“Improvisational skills and techniques help all students because they require open ears and active brains for listening and responding to each other.”
Even in Taiko classes, improvisation is our students’ most favorite activity. They utilize the skills they acquired throughout the Taiko classes and improvise wonderful pieces. Most recently, our MS students are excitedly preparing the Taiko performance for the Grandparents’ Day. They are working in a different grouping, cooperating with mixed grades and working through new dynamics.
The Second Year Students Reading a Story in French!
The second year students are all reading in French. We read the story of Marie and Anatole, about a small girl and her little cat. They live in the town of Annecy in France near the Alps. With the help of Google Maps, we located where Annecy was in France. We also admired many pictures of the town of Annecy. When we work on this story, I often wish I could take your children there at a blink of an eye. How wonderful would this be!
All the students read this story several times and it was a pleasure to hear them pronounce all the words and expressions used in this text.
Well done, 2nd year students!