At Heritage School, we take a unique approach to education by orbiting our curriculum around yearly themes. These big ideas, such as Intentions, Building, or The Universe, are explored in depth through a series of five six-to-ten-week studies. This approach, which places studies at the heart of our curriculum, allows our students to delve deeply into topics. By weaving together math, science, history, art, literature, and writing within our studies, we not only generate breadth but also depth in learning. Our past studies have included Rachel Carson, the Deep Ocean, the Islands of the Caribbean, The Human Body, Farm to Table, George Washington Carver, Japan, India, Mexico, Pollinators, Electricity, Micro Bit Programming, Creation Myths, Oceania, among many others.

  

At Heritage School, we believe in the power of student-led learning. Our students not only learn from their studies but also become the resident 'experts' on their research topics. They discover what resonates with them about each study and then teach and inspire others about what captured their imagination. Culminating projects, such as published writing, oral presentations, science expos, international festivals, and drama, provide opportunities for our students to share their learning and foster innovation, creativity, and confidence. 

 

An integrated, interdisciplinary approach provides the opportunity for students to exercise choice. Thematic studies enable students of a variety of ages and abilities to access information and to move forward at a pace that fits their needs. Younger children are guided through research topics in a teacher-led group setting. Older students research subtopics that branch off of the main area of study, ensuring that we can tap into students' interests. They are guided through the study through weekly conferences with a teacher. We see students make amazing leaps forward in comprehension and overall reading skills when they immerse themselves in books about topics of genuine interest to them. 

Heritage students delve into real nonfiction books, not dry textbooks. Heritage School's 10,000+ volume library of books provides a good launching pad for our thematic studies, but we always check out many library books from the local public library. Our students can research using abundant, up-to-date resources. With adult guidance, students may also access the Internet to conduct research. 

 

Modeling by teachers develops students' note-taking techniques. Since every thematic study results in writing, these notes serve to anchor information so that students can distill information, plan their writing, and develop engaging published final copies. After a writing conference with a teacher or trained volunteer, these final copies are posted throughout the school, becoming "windows" into a wide range of subjects and granting the passerby an opportunity to share the writer's learning process.

Heritage students create scientific inventions each year as part of the national ExploraVision Program. This gives them an opportunity to imagine the future and create innovative solutions for the world’s challenges. They walk through a research and development process that fosters critical thinking and scientific inquiry and gives them valuable experience in teamwork and problem-solving.