Children need many ways to explore and understand the world. Art, music, and Spanish are woven into our program to give children opportunities to create, communicate, listen, move, and discover perspectives beyond their own.
Art
Art gives children the freedom to experiment, make choices, and express ideas in their own way. In preschool, art is primarily about process rather than product. Children experiment with materials and discover what happens when they paint, draw, sculpt, tear, cut, build, mix, and combine.
Kindergarten builds on this foundation while introducing children to artists, artistic techniques, and works of fine art. They are introduced to artists and works of art while developing their own creative voices.
At Tall Oaks, first and second grade build on kindergarten by giving students greater opportunities to intentionally apply artistic techniques. Art becomes increasingly connected to classroom projects. A science investigation, historical study, book, or nature observation can become an opportunity for artistic expression.
We want children to discover what they can imagine and what they can create.
Music
Music at The Acorn is about participation, discovery, and joy.
In Preschool, music supports much more than musical development. Singing and rhythm help develop language, memory, coordination, listening, social connection, and confidence. Children sing, move, clap, explore rhythm, and experience music as something they can actively participate in and enjoy.
At this age, our emphasis is not on performing correctly. It is on discovering that music is something children can make, share, and experience together. From traditional rhymes and familiar songs to original songs created by the children, music becomes part of the rhythm of school life.
As children move into Kindergarten and Grade School, they build upon this foundation by continuing to explore rhythm, melody, songs, instruments, composers, and musicians.
Kindergarten students are introduced to famous composers and musicians through our music teacher Lucy Warner's Super Heroes of Music program, making musical history approachable, memorable, and fun.
Spanish Language Exposure
Young children encounter Spanish through songs, repetition, movement, stories, greetings, classroom vocabulary, and playful activities with our puppet friend, Pepe Perro.
The goal isn't for preschoolers to memorize lists of words. It is to help them become comfortable hearing another language and begin recognizing familiar sounds and words.
In kindergarten, children build upon their early exposure to Spanish. They encounter an expanding vocabulary through songs, stories, conversation, games, and classroom activities. Familiar words and phrases become increasingly recognizable and meaningful.
For First and Second Graders, Spanish instruction expands to twice each week, providing children with more frequent opportunities to hear and use the language. This increased frequency allows Spanish to become a more consistent part of the school experience, and culminates in a Spanish Music Recital given in April.