Lower School Enrichment

All students in grades K-5 receive instruction in Art, Music, Library and Physical Education each week.  Art and PE are delivered twice weekly, music and library classes are offered once weekly.  The enrichment curriculum is skills based, developed around the Louisiana GLE’s (Grade Level Expectations) and delivered in the target language when personnel are available.

Circus Arts is offered as part of the ISL enrichment experience and is integrated into the Lower School academic program.  Each grade level receives a 6 week integrated unit of study planned in conjunction with the homeroom teacher.

Middle School Enrichment

Students in ISL’s middle school (grades 6-8) schedule two elective classes per semester.  The courses change annually; following are the course selections for 2011-12:

Language: French and Spanish: Intro and Intermediate/Advanced

Art:

Art Foundations I and II  - This class introduces 6th, 7th & 8th grade students to the Elements (Line, Form, Color, Value, Texture) and Principles (Balance, Rhythm, Variety, Harmony, Emphasis) of design.  Students will create works of art by experiencing a variety of art media and techniques.  Students will build upon prior knowledge with an emphasis placed on understanding and appreciating the influence of art from other times and cultures.  Sketchbook homework assignments are required.

Museum Sketchbook – This class builds on the Elements of Art and Principles of Design learned in Art Foundations.  Students visit the Ogden Museum of Southern Art once a month to view and draw from the museum’s rich art collection.  A weekly sketchbook homework assignment is assigned.  A spiral sketchbook is required.

Cultural Art (Visual Arts, Music, and Dance) – Middle School students embark on a study of Art & Culture from around the world through Visual and Performing Arts.

Students learn about cultural art from around the world and have the opportunity to:
- Learn about and explore different countries and their cultural art (Research)

- Learn to make the Arts & Crafts (Visual Arts)

- Learn about the country’s music and dance (Performing Arts)

Study Hall:  Some students require extra time and assistance with their studies.  Students attend Study Hall with a subject/target language specific focus if extra support is required or requested.

Technology:

Computer Literacy – Focus on basic computer concepts that all middle school age students should know.  Class goal is to achieve proficiency in keyboarding, Internet research, productivity suites and use of Web 2.0 tools.  Concepts are explored through games, projects and assignments that test student creativity.

Desktop Publishing – Students use desktop publishing software to create a variety of publications for both business and creative use; also includes an introduction to web-design.

Animation – Students study both the technical and creative skills for creating an animated film, including photography, video editing, and audio editing.  Additional study in screenplay writing, crafts, makeup, stage design and film direction explore the creative side of filmmaking.

Music and Performance Art: Students learn music concepts/theory/notation and keyboard practice.  They will learn and practice a musical vocabulary while singing, playing an instrument, dancing and/or performing.  They will create their own music and drama pieces, perform alone or with others and learn from the experience and performances of professional musicians.

Science Olympiad: Science Olympiad brings science to life, shows how science works, emphasizes problem solving aspects of science and the understanding of science concepts.  Students form a team to compete at a region-wide Science Olympiad tournament in Spring 2012 (with possible statewide competition to follow).  A strong interest in science and the willingness to work hard is required.

Circus Arts

Intermediate Circus Arts “In pursuit of excellence” –  This class is for students who would like to focus on expanding and refining their technique all around and increase their skill level in their chosen specialties.  Students research Circus Arts in various cultures, analyze universal themes and discuss the question “What makes a good act/composition and why?”  Students of the class will have opportunities to display their progress as Circus Arts ambassadors in community events (participation is voluntary).

Circus Arts: “Creative Collaborations” – The focus of the class is exploring expressive potential.  This class requires a willingness to role-play and work in groups both constructively and independently.  Students will take inspiration from imagination, poems, music and personal experience, great ideas in philosophy and history then use Circus Arts skills to create improvised and more formal acts in collaborative groups.

“Circus arts around the World and through the Ages” – Students develop Circus Arts skills and the ability to memorize movement sequences.  Class will watch exciting performance tapes/clips from around the world and build their artistic vocabulary through discussion.  Students will brainstorm strategies to keep the group work organized, learn about the basic principles of composition, and how to be a supportive audience, which can analyze, interpret and evaluate each other’s creations constructively.  The class will culminate with a phenomenal performance piece of their own!