THE ARTS
The arts serve as a catalyst for deeper engagement in learning, for sharing what students have learned, and as a form of creative expression. We want our students to retain their marvelous creativity and imagination throughout their lives. We value originality and inventiveness. We promote creative individual expression while teaching students how to use a variety of art media and techniques. At Heritage School, we view the arts as an essential element in the integration of subject matter. Many of our thematic studies inspire art projects at Heritage School. We also provide opportunities for students to experience art as its own discipline, independent of thematic studies, which allows them to learn the language of art and the principles and elements of design and to explore innovative territories in visual art. Students participate in art two afternoons a week.
Puppetry, skits, and drama frequently serve as vehicles for sharing what students have learned during individual and class studies. Every year, students create and perform skits of folktales from the countries in which they study. Role plays in which students investigate history or current events allow them to discover fresh perspectives about those distant in time or differing in viewpoints. Students employ drama when giving oral presentations for their biography studies, portraying people like Harriet Tubman, Cesar Chavez, or Gandhi, who left the world better than they found it. Also, our Halloween tradition of skits based on student costumes allows for dynamic playwriting, comedic acting, and even dance.
At Heritage School, we aim to expose our students to a wide variety of music styles. We believe that children should learn about music that broadens their knowledge of our global community and music that conveys a historical perspective. Whether singing together, performing during school programs for parents, folk dancing with guest callers to live music, or simply listening to recorded music during daily morning journal writing, our students gain an appreciation of the rich texture music provides in our lives. Students participate in monthly music activities, further enhancing their understanding and appreciation of different music styles.
