1st Grade Arts

Drama: The Kindergarten and 1st grade years are dedicated to the fundamentals of theater—what it is to be on stage, to be in the audience, and to work together to tell a story. Students gain a rudimentary understanding of the dramatic structure and discover the “inner workings” of stories. Beloved and familiar stories, as well as original (invented by the kids) plays are “performed.” Students engage in creative movement to help with physical expression and control and the study of drama and practicing theater arts also fosters an emotional facility and fluidity that enriches students’ experiences on and off stage. Drama is an integral part of our approach to social and emotional literacy at Mark Day.

Art: In 1st grade, students begin to deepen their technical understanding of and ability to work with various materials and concepts. Through studying and manipulating the color wheel, students learn about color mixing, tints and shades, and transitioning colors from lighter to darker and vice versa. They are also reintroduced to the process of cleaning, particularly as it relates to keeping their colors separate. Color mixing is a main theme in 1st grade. In conjunction with a project-based learning activity in their homeroom called “Wiggly Redworms at Work,” students illustrate a book that combines their new knowledge of redworms with the intention of teaching others. They also talk about and explore warm versus cool colors, make paper mache chickens, and work with clay.

Music: Music at Mark Day School is an outlet that promotes creativity, inspiration, positivity, empathy, community, self-expression, self-esteem, and fun! The K-3 music program is based on the practice of Orff Schulwerk, a holistic approach to music education developed by the composer Carl Orff and his colleague, Gunild Keetman. We are grounded in the premise that every child is innately musical and naturally loves to play, sing, and dance. This methodology enables every child to find their place within a dynamic, engaging, and creative learning environment. Special Orff instruments include xylophones that offer immediate quality sound. Played together in a small orchestra, their use helps children become sensitive listeners and considerate participants leading up to five-part Orff orchestrations and original compositions. We also support children’s discovery and invite them to include piano, guitar, ukulele, and any other instrument that ignites their curiosity. Our music curriculum is sequential and standards-based, aligned with project-based learning and Responsive Classroom, multi-cultural and socially relevant, integrated with the academic curriculum, accessible to aural, visual, and kinesthetic learners, and most of all – collaborative.

In 1st grade, the play- and movement-based model continues as students go deeper into exploration of the Orff instruments. Besides the drone and melody, can students add harmony, ostinato, and percussion to make the full five part orchestra sound? They focus on the ability to play their own part within their small group as well as develop their musical ear by listening to how their part fits with the others. This is an ability that will serve them as musicians whether we are playing a rock song or a classical piece. Students continue to develop individual singing voices as well as the voice of the group, learning how to play and sing in a round. They begin to play and sing music in different time signatures and modalities.