Fine and Performing arts, Music & handicrafts
Basketry develops fine motor skills and creates a beautiful and functional product of learning
Spinning raw wool fibers from the sheep on our farm
A watercolor rendition of the formation of a spiral galaxy, created during an Astronomy block
arts integration at SOLA
A beautiful lesson book illustration from a thematic lesson block on Roman History
Students in every grade at SOLA illustrate their studies with free-hand drawings. In the 6th grade astronomy block, for instance, students make detailed drawings or impressionistic watercolor paintings of constellations or planetary systems, while students in a geometry block may make 3D models out of paper, or construct beautiful geometric forms using a compass and straight edge. All students attend a handicrafts class twice a week, which, depending on grade, may include sewing, knitting, cross-stitch, weaving, woodworking, basketry, leatherwork, paper or book arts, clay modeling, needle or wet felting, and more.
Music instruction begins in first grade with singing and simple flute playing. In grades 3–8, recorder may be introduced. Singing is part of every day, and students in every grade participate in school and class or all-school singing and choir. Students in grades 5–6 also learn to sight-read music.
All students in grades 1–8 participate in a yearly class play, which can be inspired by a thematic block study during the year, or in the upper grades, co-written by the class teacher and students. Students create costumes, sets, props, and build confidence as they evolve from memorizing a simple (often rhyming or poetic) script in the early grades, to dramatically or comedically assuming a character as a true thespian.
All students participate in a class performance or play at the end of each year...sometimes we even include our four legged friends in the cast!