Art,  Pre-K
Creativity through the arts is an essential component of the educational process. Students are imaginative by nature and create works of art through drawing and painting, constructing and manipulating, molding and building. The Chapin art program is designed to encourage, teach, support, and enhance the techniques and skills needed to foster life-long creativity and appreciation of the arts.

We emphasize process by building on the skills learned the preceding year. Printmaking, painting, drawing, pottery, collage, weaving, and paper mache are explored at each grade level. Art vocabulary, techniques and skills are presented with each medium and we work closely with grade level and subject matter teachers to extend and enrich their curricula.  Through these processes students learn to think creatively, employ critical thinking skills, express ideas and come to recognize and appreciate the aesthetic qualities inherent in art.

Goals for Art in Pre-K

• Develop technical skills for using art media as a means of personal expression and communication.

• Think and act creatively by solving problems and by responding with originality and imagination

• Cultivate a working knowledge of art and an understanding of the relationship of the visual arts to other fields of knowledge, and develop a vocabulary to express the concepts.

• Nurture an interest and appreciation of the visual arts through the study of cultures and historical periods in which they are created, using slides, prints, videos, books and computer resources.

• Perceive and understand relationships among the elements and principles of design as they appear in the natural and man-made environment, as they influence mental images and as they appear in works of art.

• Be exposed to a variety of media exhibited in the Chapin Gallery, and learn from visiting artists, local galleries, and museums.

• Work in a well-equipped art studio, which includes: pottery wheels, a kiln room, easels, looms, and a printing press.

• Experience an environment that promotes self-esteem, confidence, risk-taking, and positive group interaction.

Schedule
Pre-K class meets once a week in the art room in a group of eight children.

Units Shape, color, nature, holidays
Discipline based topics- (e.g. Artists, styles, periods, cultural and classroom learning such as family, insects, machines)

Responses: Drawing, Painting, Ceramics, Collage, Construction

The art department integrates artistic skill development and self-expression with classroom subject matter and learning.  We explore the art elements of line, shape, color, form, texture and pattern at the level of proficiency of the child and as it relates to the units covered.

Computer Applications in the Lower School
The computer program at Chapin School is designed both to augment the curriculum in all other disciplines and to teach students to use technology thoughtfully.  The program recognizes that students will encounter such technology in all aspects of their lives as they mature and Chapin hopes to train them to utilize that technology effectively, especially with regard to the learning process.

Acquainting children with the computer, mouse and desktop environment is the primary objective of the course.  Familiarization with program manipulation through menu and toolbar choices in a Windows environment is a key emphasis.  Integrating software that correlates with age, students gain proficiency that they can draw upon in a variety of learning contexts so that they feel more empowered by the technology.

Activities include:

• Drawing programs

• Reading programs

• Math and puzzle programs

• Exploratory games

• Collaboratively learning through the Internet

General Music- Pre-K and Kindergarten
Based on the understanding that all children are musical, and that music is a way of knowing and understanding one’s self and the world, the Chapin School music curriculum employs a sequential and developmentally appropriate curriculum, which nurtures in students the qualities of self expression through music, cooperation with others to create and perform music, and a lifelong appreciation and enjoyment of music.

Central to the music curriculum are the fundamental music processes in which humans engage:  performing, creating, and responding to music.  Through these activities, students learn to think creatively, employ critical thinking skills, and come to recognize and appreciate the aesthetic qualities inherent in music.  Emphasis is also placed on music literacy, providing students an important tool with which they can explore music independently and with others.  Finally, because music is reflective of human culture, students are exposed to a diversity of musical styles; are led to understand music’s relationship to history, culture, and units of study in other academic disciplines; and are given the tools to make informed musical judgments throughout their lives.

Goals

• Encourage cooperative experiences through performing and creating.

• Provide students with opportunities for singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.

• Provide students with opportunities for performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.

• Provide students with opportunities for moving to music.

• Encourage improvisation of rhythm, melody, movement, and form.

• Provide opportunities for students to compose and arrange music within specified guidelines.

• Provide instruction in reading and notating music.

• Provide students with opportunities for listening to, analyzing, and describing music.

• Allow students opportunities to evaluate music and music performances.

• Encourage understanding of music in relationship to history and culture.

• Integrate music instruction with other academic disciplines.

Goals for Pre-K Music

• Develop an interest in singing, moving to music, and playing instruments.

• Encourage singing alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.

• Develop kinesthetic responses to music.

• Develop awareness of vocal timbre and instrumental timbre.

• Develop a repertoire of songs, games, movement, and instrument activities from which understanding can be drawn in consecutive grades.

• Identify and explore techniques of playing unpitched classroom instruments.

• Encourage simultaneous imitation using movement, instruments, and vocal sounds.

• Develop awareness of expressive qualities in music.

Physical Education
The physical education program at Chapin revolves around the joys and benefits of movement.  Beginning in Pre-Kindergarten and continuing through Fourth Grade the students participate in an exercise program designed to challenge each student, improve strength, flexibility, agility, speed, and endurance.

Age appropriate activities, games, skills, and sports are introduced to enhance the student's physical, social, and emotional development.  Good sportsmanship, fair play, doing one's best, and respect for self and others are stressed and encouraged throughout the athletic program.

Goals for Physical Education Grades PK

• Develop and improve hand-eye coordination

• Develop and improve foot-eye coordination

• Develop and improve static and dynamic balance

• Develop improved gross muscle skills

• Improve endurance, flexibility, coordination, agility, and strength

• Understand concepts of personal space

• Develop and improve spatial awareness

• Develop joy of moving

• Introduce students to a variety of age appropriate games, activities, and sports

• Improve critical thinking skills in game situations

• Introduce President's Physical Fitness Test in second grade

• Understanding concepts of proper nutrition, rest, and exercise as they pertain to improved fitness and performance levels

PK through 1st grade concentrate on individual skills and developing a positive attitude regarding fitness, nutrition and rest.  Good sportsmanship is stressed throughout the P.E. program.  The younger grades concentrate on gross muscle development.

All students are encouraged to do their personal best, and are evaluated on their effort and improvement shown throughout the year. 

Library
The Margaret Ann Young Library prepares members of the Chapin community to be effective users of information. The library program develops critical thinking and reasoning, and communication skills. Offering carefully selected materials, we support a variety of interests and abilities. The ongoing development of the collection reinforces and deepens the curriculum, and supports students in their exploration of the world.

Goals for Library  in Pre-K

• Develop listening skills and love for books

• Become familiar with elements of stories

• Learn to borrow, return, and care for books

• Understand proper and respectful library behavior

• Advance critical thinking skills as a result of book discussions

Schedule and description of Library class
Pre-K is a year during which children become familiar with our school library, learn how to borrow books, return books, and care for them. They come to know and enjoy particular authors and illustrators, nursery rhymes and songs, and develop a comfort with the library environment. Our primary goal is for our young students to have positive experiences in library class and want to come back.

Pre-K students attend library class weekly, and begin borrowing books in the winter. Classes begin with storytime followed by an opportunity to draw or color while more books are introduced, songs are sung, or nursery rhymes are chanted in conjunction with stuffed animals or puppets.

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