Art and music are woven throughout children’s experience at LREI. We view art as a way for children to express themselves and make sense out of the world around them. Early childhood art is a daily pursuit that is integrated into the framework of classroom activities. Students paint, construct and illustrate their ideas. The Fours participate in twice weekly music classes where they enjoy singing games, American folk songs and contemporary songs from various cultures. Painting, drawing and collage are daily classroom choices. Twice each week, EK students participate in music classes in which they sing and play singing games. Teachers focus on American folk songs and contemporary songs from various cultures. Musical concepts such as melody, rhythm, dynamics and tempo are also explored. Painting, drawing and collage are daily classroom choices, as well as a range of teacher-led art projects, such as puppet-making and clay work.

In the Lower School art studio, Second Graders create large murals to reflect their ethnic neighborhood studies. Three dimensional work includes papier-mâché animals and cardboard reproduction of the Chinese zodiac. Students also make series of relief prints. In woodworking, students make vehicles with moving parts as well as simple stringed instruments. They continue to extend their skills with carpentry tools. Musical activities connect to the core curriculum, deepening children’s appreciation for city life. Children recreate traditional chants and street scenes; they learn clapping games and dances, and extend their skills through a Kodaly-based program. Inspired by their study of Native Americans, Third Graders create replicas of authentic longhouses. Students also make ceramic Guelph tiles in conjunction with their study of New Amsterdam. In woodworking, the children make “useful objects,” relying on their skills in planning, measuring, sawing and hammering. Singing activities include old American folk songs and further experience with the Orff instruments. Third Graders may also join the Little Red Chorus.

In Fourth Grade studio art, students’ interest in accurately depicting the world is reinforced by classes in observational drawing where they work with pastels, Cray-Pas and charcoal. They are also exposed to the formal language of art, color, shape, line and composition. Each student creates a detailed papier-mâché model of a family member as part of the Grade’s immigration study and makes a ceramic self-portrait. As their gift of permanent artwork to the school, students create ceramic tiles or sew a quilt focused on their social studies or service learning. In woodworking, Fourth Graders develop their coping and cross cut saw skills. They experiment with ways to make hinges and types of wood joinery, and learn how to use mallets and chisels. Students carve Peruvian animals and chisel “pathways”. Music experiences include folk dancing and the beginning of recorder instruction. Students sing in two and three-part harmony and have the opportunity to participate in the Little Red Chorus.