Green Acres School

Performing and Fine Arts
Every child is an artist, a musician, and an actor. The Middle School performing and fine arts program encourages a student’s self-confidence, creative spirit, and self-expression. We offer a rich variety of experiences in the visual arts, music, and drama that stimulate imagination, awaken aesthetic sense, enhance skills, and develop artistic judgment. We believe that by engaging in the act of creating, students awaken to their true natures and uncover something of the mystery and beauty of being alive. Our emphasis is on the process that children experience, rather than solely on the product. The Arts program is committed to providing activities that highlight diverse cultures and a sweep of history. The music program celebrates diversity by exploring instruments, songs, compositions and dances from all over the world. Art and drama draw regularly from other cultures in the form of folktales and multicultural symbols, which are regularly highlighted in assemblies, performances and art displays.

Studio Art
Every art project has been specifically designed to build in a level of success, allowing each student to enjoy the depth of learning and pleasure that creativity affords. From Matisse-inspired collages that “paint” with scissors” to multi-media portraits of fellow classmates, each wearing a headdress from a different culture, our students embark on a journey of learning that stretches the imagination while introducing and revisiting art skills to enhance their learning. Students use workbooks to record artistic processes and write personal reflections along with relevant information about art history and theory.

Photography
The photography program for 7th and 8th graders focuses on the creative, artistic,and technical aspects of both the film and digital worlds. Students seek to find their unique vision and interest in our state-of-the-art darkroom, and they also experience digital photography through photo shop manipulations and experiments. Students create their own personal archival books, produce displays of artwork, and participate in professional critiques of their work.

Ceramics
Working with clay is a unique and specialized art form that has spanned many centuries and cultures. Using a hands on approach, 7th and 8th graders explore the nature of ceramics and the role it has played around the world. Using a variety of hand building techniques, students create a body of work that includes functional and purely aesthetic work. Emphasis is given to the process of completing a ceramic piece, with an understanding that each step is as important as any other along the way. Technical skills and the imagination are the key ingredients, and both have an important place in the ceramics room. The goal is to create a joyful and exciting atmosphere that is surrounded with clay, encouraging each student to find success, satisfaction with acquired knowledge, and most of all, fun.

General Music and Handbells
The music program enhances students’ enjoyment and understanding of music, often complementing studies in other areas. We nurture students’ appreciation of their own abilities, develop a sense of responsibility and the joy of being part of an ensemble, and teach about varied aspects of the world of music. Through listening, singing, playing instruments, and performing, 5th and 6th graders learn about music as varied as classical repertoire, American folk music, Zimbabwean marimba music, and the Blues. The handbell program challenges them with music of increasing complexity. Students learn about music analysis and composition and play music composed for handbells as well as other genres of music: movie and show tunes, jazz, and popular music. All 5th grade students sing in chorus. Sixth graders receive basic guitar instruction. Seventh and 8th graders may choose guitar, vocal ensemble, or handbells as music electives. All 7th and 8th graders become the cast and crew of a full-length Broadway musical each spring, acting, singing, creating sets, props and publicity materials, and playing in the pit orchestra.

Drama
Middle school drama offers many ways for students to be involved in theater. They work on projection, communication, stage presence and teamwork. In 5th grade students develop monologues and work on a class production. Sixth, 7th and 8th graders may write their own plays or use published plays. They have more choice in how they wish to participate, either onstage or backstage. Once a play has been chosen, students have voluntary in-class auditions, create scenery, costumes and props, manage technical components (sound and lighting), and make programs. The drama program allows students to shine in new ways, and to play to their strengths and interests.