Exploratory Classes

Group Discussion holds a sacred space within Willowwind's learning community. Deeply rooted in tradition, Group Discussion provides an opportunity for students across grade levels to connect, collaborate, and foster friendships with older and younger peers. Group Discussion values and respects each voice in our community as equally worthy of being heard. During Group Discussion, you'll find students and teachers alike sitting together to discuss schoolwide topics, share thoughts on social issues, and simply laugh and play together. Group Discussions throughout the week bring together a variety of ages, from weekly Early Childhood Group Discussion (preschool and kindergarten) to multiple times per week K-6 Group Discussions.

Students explore the foundations of visual art as they work through thoughtfully designed units led by Willowwind's teaching artist. Topics of study include, line, color, shape, form, space, drawing, painting, ceramics, printmaking, sculpture, and mixed media. Watching students' personalities and passions come to life through art is one of our biggest inspirations!

Art is meant to be shared, to teach, and to inspire. Integrated Arts provides a dedicated block to cross-curricular project-based learning connections. It combines academic areas like history, science and literacy with the Arts. This provides students with opportunities to expand upon core curricular content and support major projects initiated in the home classroom. For example, students may use improv to get comfortable being in front of groups and learn about using their voice and expression in preparation to present their poetry at our Author’s Cocoa event. Students may learn about, or directly from, professional puppeteers as they work to refine their own creations for the end-of-the-year puppet show. Integrated Arts class offers the perfect opportunity for students to create a painting or learn a dance in the style of the ancient civilization they're researching during social studies. Integrated Arts also works with local creatives to bring even more art and learning to Willowwinders. Whether we're inviting muralists to come share insight into their creative process, or listening to a poet or musician share their work, we believe that providing students with regular opportunities to interact with art is imperative for both personal and academic growth. Content varies as class projects evolve and needs develop, but the focus is always on the Arts.

Physical Education at Willowwind teaches students to develop healthy living habits that will last a lifetime. Students are encouraged to participate in a wide variety of activities, sports, and challenges that will increase their physical, social, and mental abilities, as well as build teamwork and cooperation skills. We aim to provide a safe, fun, and motivating PE class that will inspire excitement for movement, wellness, and personal growth.

Learning a second language at an early age offers many benefits for children in terms of improved communicative ability, cognitive development, increased problem-solving skills, creativity, and cultural awareness. Willowind's Spanish Language program is offered to students in grades 1-6 and focuses on building foundational knowledge of Spanish language and culture, while providing authentic opportunities to engage with real-world experiences. 

“To develop a complete mind: Study the science of art; Study the art of science. Learn how to see. Realize that everything connects to everything else.” 

_{— Leonardo Da Vinci}

STEAM class combines Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math with creative thinking, imagination, problem-solving, and design skills. At Willowwind, STEAM education prepares students for the rapidly changing world by engaging them in the engineering design process and providing intentional opportunities to build 21st century skills. The Institute for Arts Integration and STEAM guides our curriculum. Each year, we are inspired by new cross-curricular integration ideas and are wowed by our students' innovative ideas. STEAM class challenges students to consider their impact and seek out new solutions to today's complex questions.

Music at Willowwind reflects the school’s commitment to curiosity and creativity. Preschool-sixth grade students connect to the world around them through music concepts that are an integrated and an integral part of our school’s curriculum. Our music class aims to enhance student interest, understanding, and appreciation of music through a diverse spectrum of musical styles and genres. Students gain experience in performance, listening, understanding, evaluating, and composing music.

Social emotional learning is at the heart of everything we do at Willowwind. Developing the whole child begins with working to create a safe, welcoming, and nurturing environment where all members of our community can thrive. Explicit and dedicated opportunities to engage with SEL topics are woven into daily classroom life, as well as Group Discussion class. Willowwind students are continually challenged to grow in areas of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.

Our upper grade students engage in weekly, dedicated creative writing time. Creative writing boosts vocabulary, self-expression and imagination, builds confidence, and improves communication skills and empathy. We love watching our young writers explore new worlds, imagine new characters, personalities, and plots, and think outside the box!