Art

Early Childhood Art:
The emphasis in Early Childhood Art is on experiences and developing skills. Working with classroom teachers, experiences are created for the students to experiment with materials, such as scissors, glue, paint, clay, glitter paper and crayons. We also define color and shape (circle, square, triangle, rectangle), as reinforcement for concepts presented in the classrooms.  These art room experiences are also woven around such skills as sharing materials and ideas as well as group building skills, all essential for early childhood students to develop.  The Early Childhood Core Knowledge sequence is used as a guide for class content.

Literature is also incorporated with each lesson, particularly with the younger children.  Beginning with a short picture book, allows the students to participate and ultimately enjoy the experience more, as well as expose the students to more literature and art works in the real world. As is age appropriate all activities are broken into steps for the students. First we color a picture then we paint over the crayon and the children tend to stay with the task much longer and develop another skill. By putting the emphasis on experience and participation all students have a more enriching experience in the class than if the emphasis were on the final piece of work.

Elementary Art:
The emphasis in the elementary grades for art is on experiences and developing skills while looking at known artists and the qualities that make their works unique.  Working with classroom teachers, experiences are created for the students to experiment with color, texture, line, in two and three-dimensional formats. We define colors and their relationships as well as their effects on the viewer. All experiences are woven around the extremely important skills of sharing ideas and discoveries as well as cooperation and respect for each other’s individual style and thoughts.

We often have an opportunity to view an appropriate video on a particular artist as a jumping off point for their works. Every attempt is made, particularly with the upper grades to leave the assignment open-ended allowing them to interpret the assignment for themselves and express their interests while meeting the emphasis of the assignment be it using complementary colors, or making a sculpture interesting while functional. By leaving the assignment open ended the students tend to be very willing to step outside the box and really try to make it their own discoveries.

Middle School Art:
In middle school art instruction continues in drawing, painting and three-dimensional projects.  Students will produce a number of sophisticated works in a variety of media. Two class periods a week are dedicated to the visual arts. Student art work is frequently on display in the school and the school holds an art show in the spring.

Language

Spanish Language

Early Childhood Spanish:
Spanish instruction in our early childhood program begins with our two-year old program.

Elementary Spanish:
The objective in our Spanish program is to promote a love and interest in learning another language. Our desire is to nurture the desire to learn a second language, as students continue through middle school, high school, and into college. Each class begins by expressing the date and telling the weather. All classes are able to introduce themselves by saying their name, age, and where they grew up.  Songs, games and flash cards are among the many activities used to promote learning and interest. Vocabulary is taught using visuals (posters, flash cards, multimedia presentations) and then re-enforced with worksheet practice and interactive daily conversation.

Middle School Spanish:
In middle school the students continue their study of Spanish that began in elementary school. As the middle school years progress the students develop increasingly sophisticated use of the language as their vocabulary and grammar skills widen. It is expected that upon completion of middle school students will be in a position to enroll in advanced foreign language classes at the secondary level.

Library

The Library collection at ECDS contains over 6,000 volumes to support our curriculum and interests of our students. Our comfortable library is filled with story, folktale, holiday, and poetry books as well as teacher resource material and videos. Our library materials have recently been cataloged in a computerized database allowing for greater access and use of the resources.

Early Childhood Library:
Our younger students are learning about book care, honing listening skills and enjoying books on their own. All Early Childhood students visit the library once a week for 30 minutes to enjoy story time, literacy activities and time to explore books on their own..

Elementary Library:
Each elementary class has library once a week. Our library is filled with story, folktale, holiday, and poetry books as well as teacher resource material and videos. In addition, we have a large collection of chapter books, including all Newbery winners dating back to 1960. Our growing non-fiction section contains ever popular books on topics from the pyramids to electricity to pets to volcanoes. Our electronic catalog is accessible by students throughout our network, encouraging frequent use of this valuable resource.

Science

Elementary Science:
Beginning in third grade a lab science program is introduced with the school’s science coordinator. Science in the third grade uses an interactive, hands-on approach using experiments, visual aids and observation techniques. A systematic approach is used to study the Balance of Nature, the Food Chain, Astronomy and Light and Sound.

Topics covered in the fourth grade science program include plate tectonics, the respiratory and circulatory systems, Meteorology and Electricity. Students learn from readings, hands on activities such as experiments and also through Internet web quests. Research biographies of famous people in science are also studied at the fourth grade level.

The science concepts/units for grade five are:  classifying, cells, plants, human body, chemistry and electricity.  In addition, students are required to do a science fair project.  Units include labs, textbook readings, Internet web quests and information, vocabulary, science concepts, and field trips. Some science biographies are also required. The scientific method is stressed

Middle School Science:
Our hands-on science program is taught by a specialist in a lab format. The major topics studied in sixth grade are plate tectonics, oceans, astronomy, energy, and the human body. In seventh grade the students investigate atomic structure, chemical bonds and reactions, cell division and genetics, history of the earth, and evolution.  The middle school science program is completed with the study of physics, electricity, electromagnetic radiation, sound waves, and chemistry in the students’ eighth grade year.  In the winter all elementary and middle school students participate in a science fair.

Technology

Information coming soon!