Additional Activities

Field Trips

Educational field trips are scheduled to places such as museums, performing arts centers, and nature centers.

Art

Art class exposes children to many materials and methods along with an introduction to the work of a variety of artists. We make sculptures with clay, wire and wood. We collage using papers and natural objects, draw with graphite and charcoal, and experiment with printmaking techniques and painting. Each class presents an idea that the children can use as a starting point. Everyone freely interprets how to respond using the materials provided. The fun of the art-making process is the emphasis.

Music

Our music and movement program is designed to nurture each child’s natural ability to make music. We create a musical environment through various activities including singing, poetry, dancing, playing simple percussion instruments and echoing melodic and rhythmic patterns. Poetry allows us to the feel the rhythm of spoken language. Echoing melodic and rhythmic patterns helps us develop musical language and acquire fundamental musical building blocks. Dancing and purposeful movement leads us to feel and express the sounds our ears absorb and internalize rhythm. Finally, singing and playing simple percussion instruments provide a creative outlet. As a result, we build a solid musical foundation for later success in playing an instrument and simply nurturing each child’s innate attraction to music.

The program is based on the internationally recognized Musikgarten curriculum co-created by Audrey Sillick, founder and Director Emeritus of the Toronto Montessori Teacher Training Institute and early childhood music specialist, Lorna Heyge. Together, the two authors wrote curricula that reflect their combined education, experience, and the latest research in childhood development. Their beliefs and studies are at the core of the Musikgarten curricula.

Special Events

To build Community, children and their families take part in special events such as class breakfast, class dinners, parent/child visit, extended family visit, annual picnic, and much more.