Specials

The Lower School art program offers students the opportunity to explore and discover ways to use their imagination and the symbols and languages of art to convey ideas, feelings and different ways of knowing about oneself and the world. Our approach encourages and nurtures each child's inherent creativity and enthusiasm while integrating art elements (color, value, line, shape, texture) and art principles (repetition, proportion, rhythm, composition, emphasis) into the students' projects.   Discussions, classroom technology, field trips, interdisciplinary projects, art history lessons and critique sessions engage and challenge the students.  

Students explore a variety of media and materials including ceramics, painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, pastels, book making and collage.Lessons emphasize process rather than product, leaving room for creative interpretation. Teacher guidance provides a foundation for each child to develop basic skills, a sense of aesthetics and a personal vision.  

Students have art class twice a week. Our spacious studio facility, which includes a ceramics kiln, lends itself to an inspirational environment.

All aspects of learning are enhanced when music is a key element of an educational program.   Music depends on good listening skills and we guide the children to make a habit of listening to each other and themselves. We spend time during each class period listening to the classical composers as well as the jazz greats.

The annual Founder’s Day performance, the Lower School Holiday Concert and May Day festivities encourage each student to participate in singing, acting, dancing and playing instruments.

All Lower School students participate in music classes three times a week. 

Physical fitness and sportsmanship are promoted as life-long habits. First  graders work to refine skills. As they grow up, students learn new games and begin to play modified team sports.

All Lower School students participate in May Day, an annual celebration enjoyed by the entire Tatnall community. May Day has a different theme each year and students narrate the performances. Each grade dances to music related to the year's theme. The program is capped off by a traditional Maypole dance performed by third graders.

Lower School students also participate in Field Day, a Tatnall tradition in which students are divided into two teams, the Swords and Shields, and engage in friendly competition in a variety of races and events including sack races, three-legged races and a tug of war. 

The primary goal of the Lower School science program is to develop fundamental process skills that help students solve problems. Interactive lessons using classroom technology supports exploring these important processes:

• Making precise and accurate observations
• Thinking both logically and inferentially
• Making predictions
• Communicating verbally and in written form
• Manipulating variables
• Composing hypotheses 

All Lower School students participate in computer classes twice a week, working individually and collaboratively. The primary goal is for students to become independent computer users with the skills needed to use technology as a tool to enhance learning. Developing logical thinking skills and independent problem- solving skills is central to achieving this goal. 

In addition to computer class time, each homeroom has several computers for individual and small group use. Computer use is integrated into classroom activities. The computer teacher collaborates with classroom teachers to implement projects that support the curriculum.

SMART Boards engage our students with interactive learning all year.