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Our studies revolve around allowing our students to learn by actively engaging in hands-on exploration and discovery. Students focus on becoming more active learners by assuming increasingly greater amounts of responsibility for themselves throughout the year.
Students are divided into two homerooms, although they are considered to be one community of learners. Within these homerooms, children are divided into groups for reading, language and math classes. In this way, we can best address the needs of both the class as a whole and of the individual students. Children also work in large group situations, so that they can share ideas and interact with all of their peers.
There are many interesting learning experiences for the students during the year. Highlights include participation in the Journeys Into American Indian Territory program. This program brings Native culture experts to the school so that the children can learn firsthand about these cultures. The children experience a traveling museum of authentic artifacts, they play Native games, create Native crafts, and learn legends. The students also erect a genuine tepee!
Another of the yearly highlights is a two day World Map experience. On the first day, the children use a giant floor map of the world to research natural and man-made features, and then recreate them for placement on the map. One the second day, the children perform a play using the map they have created as the focal point of the presentation. It is a meaningful experience for the students, one that is often fondly remembered by older students as they move ahead in the grades!
Throughout the year, we hope to provide all of our students with a firm knowledge base and to promote their learning through fun and meaningful experiences that they will remember for years to come!
Mrs. Lang and Mrs. Sjurset