Elementary Arts

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    All too often the arts can take a backseat, or even disappear from school curriculum.

    At Valley Christian, we're dedicated to the arts. Primarily because God gave them to us as a benefit and also as a form of worship. Secondarily, instruction in the arts helps children with a long list of benefits including development of motor skills, language skills, social skills, decision-making, risk-taking, and inventiveness. Visual arts teach learners about color, layout, perspective, and balance: all techniques that are necessary in presentations (visual, digital) of academic work. Music education allow children to develop their musical skills, also grows math skills, helps develop language and reasoning, memorization,craftsmanship, coordination, achievement, risk-taking and development in many other areas.

    ART

    From the first weeks of kindergarten, students spend time in the Art room with our dedicated Art teachers. For about forty minutes each week students are trained based in the SRA McGraw-Hill curriculum. 

    Each day, with different classes and grade levels, we employ exceptional curricular materials, inviting students to explore the visual arts. Lessons in this unique program integrate Art History and Culture, Aesthetic Perception, Art Production, and Art Criticism. Hands-on activities build artistic mastery in every lesson. Because of our distinctly Reformed approach to teaching the arts, students are encouraged to appreciate the Creator and the gift of art He established in each student. The breadth of artistic styles and approaches explored in this program affords every student a place to excel. Some with color, some with paper and pencil or paint, and still others with clay. 
     
    MUSIC
    Our music class leverages each child's natural interest in music and movement by offering hands on music making from the first day. From Kindergarten to 4th grade, students sing, listen, move to the music and play individual percussion instruments intended to enhance what they know about music. Through this program in a guided sequence, students learn to read and eventually notate music. Each year, grade level groups put on musical programs for friends and family. By fourth grade students play the recorder and are prepared to begin instrumental music in fifth grade. 
    Macmillan/McGraw-Hill curriculum Spotlight on Music
     
     
    5th GRADE BAND & ORCHESTRA 
    In 5th grade wonderful things happen in music. 5th graders are given the unique opportunity to explore all band and orchestra instruments to discover, with the aid of their music teachers, where they might have interest and an affinity. This might sound daunting but our music teachers are up for the task! Students are issued instruments at a very low cost for parents and begin instruction. By Christmas parents are invited to a concert where these beginners are able to share their newfound musical abilities as they play music glorifying God and celebrating the birth of Christ.
     
    6th GRADE BAND, ORCHESTRA & CHOIR 
    In 6th grade, students continue in instrumental instruction or may join the 6th grade choir.