Specialist Subjects

While Children's House students do not attend art class, artistic concepts are presented through the use of concrete materials throughout the classroom. Activities and lessons include: drawing line families, observation drawing of simple objects, drawing from imagination, learning and mixing primary colors, cutting simple shapes, collage or repeated design, working with clay, drawing and painting a self portrait , and weaving.

In Art class, children are exploring a variety of art materials and techniques including bookmaking, papier mache sculpture, watercolors, oil pastels, and painting with acrylics. There is a rich and creative variety of work and collaboration happening in the art studio as the children are becoming increasingly independent in their abilities and learning to care for their shared studio environment and materials. Historical and cultural elements are also studied.

The Art Studio is an expansion of the classroom environment where children are free to explore, hone their personal skills, and work in collaboration to build upon, make connections and deepen their learning. 

Elementary students attend art class once per week and are able to participate in Open Art Studio throughout the week. 

Junior High students build upon their Elementary 2 Art experience to further develop their understanding of the elements and principles of design, composition, and visual language. Working with a variety of media and working methods, they study both contemporary and historical works of art and culture.

It is important for the adolescent to have an authentic connection to the work they create in order to develop their sense of self and identity and further develop their skills in visual problem solving, self-expression, and appreciation for the world around them.

Junior High students attend art class once per week and are able to participate in Open Art Studio throughout the week. In addition, students have the opportunity to join the Friday Exploration Class that emphasizes trips to local art museums. 

Children's House students engage in weekly music gatherings where they explore concepts such as rhythm, pitch, percussion, and musical expression through directed listening activities, movement, and vocal exploration. 

Elementary Music
Elementary student's music classes are informed by the Orff Schulwerk pedagogy, a child-centered approach that emphasizes the child’s role in the creation of music, theater, and dance. Students work on improvisation, composition, ensemble work, singing, movement, and music literacy.

Elementary students attend music class once per week, participate in a level-wide all-sing once per week, and are encouraged to use time in Open Music Studio to explore their own musical or theatrical projects throughout the week.

Elementary 1 Theatre
Elementary 1 students engage in some sort of annual class presentation. This often takes the form of a class play directed by the classroom teacher. The play may be an existing story or something entirely created by the students, and is complete with costumes, music, props, and set design. 

Elementary 2 Theatre
Every spring, Elementary 2 students participate in a level-wide theatrical production. Directed by the Elementary 2 Music & Theatre Specialist, students participate in all creative aspects of the production, including writing, acting, costume creation, set design, props management, lights and sound, and music composition. This production is also bilingual, with all students performing lines in both English and French. 

Music & Theatre are performance based. Students continue the ensemble work begun in Elementary 2 with a connection to their historical studies. Improvisation and scene study are explored in conjunction with the Interim play.

Junior High students attend music class once per week and are able to participate in Open Music Studio throughout the week. In addition, an all-year elective choir is offered during the school day.

Junior High Interim
Supporting the adolescents’ developmental need for self-expression, January serves as a month-long theatrical experience that offers an immersion into another time and place through theater.

Working in crews, students participate in every aspect of creating, staging, and acting in a major performance for the school community. Crews include: costume, dramaturgy, lighting & sound, props, and set design. All Junior High faculty support this endeavor, led by the E2/JH Music & Theatre Specialist. 

An annual rotation of genres generally includes Shakespeare or other classical play and a musical.

Kindergarten students attend Physical Education once per week, engaging in fundamental motor skill development, the practice of body awareness, and teamwork.

During Physical Education, students take part in activities that demonstrate how to achieve and maintain a healthy level of fitness through a physically active lifestyle. With an emphasis on team play, respect for self and others sets the tone for all students no matter what level of skill they have attained. Students are expected to be inclusive in their play and supportive of their peers so that everyone has an equal opportunity to experience all facets of the game. 

Elementary students participate in Physical Education twice per week and are able to participate in Open Gym Studio throughout the week. ​​​​​​​

Physical Education offers team and individual sports along with a unit in social dance. An aerobic and fitness component is a part of every class. Students continue to develop as leaders and peer teachers by running class warm-ups, arranging teams for play, and coaching in areas of expertise. 

Junior High students participate in Physical Education twice per week and are able to participate in Open Gym Studio throughout the week. 

Spanish
While LCS is not an immersion program, Children's House learners are exposed to Spanish daily. Spanish is used in a natural way through typical interactions, songs, transitions, and weekly collectives using basic vocabulary such as elements of the calendar, weather, body parts, and clothing. Children develop an ear for sounds in the world language, learn everyday words, and by their third year, use some of the language they are exposed to while they interact with simple functional phrases.

Elementary 1 | Spanish
Elementary 1 students build upon the Spanish acquired in Children's House in small groups and full class lessons. The Spanish Specialist uses diverse materials such as books, pictures, or games to build Spanish vocabulary and basic sentence structure. Storytelling and small group instruction continue the exposure and use of the Spanish language. Cultural competencies are developed while students learn about Spanish speaking countries and regions around the world.

French
Building upon lessons focused on vocabulary expansion and grammatical structures in Elementary 2, Junior High students' French learning shifts toward practical and meaningful communication and cultural connection.

Students explore Francophone cultures in greater depth, reflect on social issues within those cultures, and connect language learning to global citizenship.

To put their lessons in practice, Junior High students have the opportunity to travel to France every other year. 

Junior High students have French class three times per week.

The World Languages program at LCS is focused on building Global citizenship, fostering a lifelong openness to cultural differences. Exposure to both Spanish and French either in class or through our extracurricular activities builds students’ curiosity for multiple languages and cultures. Maria Montessori stated,  “In the past, one language was enough, but today it is a social convention that education should include the ability to read and write correctly in several languages.” Our students learn in a natural, fun, and interactive way with our Language Specialists.

This enriching experience offers students linguistic and cultural education, fostering global understanding and appreciation. Interactive lessons, cultural activities, and real-world applications like travel enhance communication skills, language comprehension, and intercultural knowledge of French and Spanish-speaking communities. This bilingual foundation boosts cognitive abilities and prepares students for an interconnected world.

1. Enhanced cognitive flexibility – Switching between multiple languages strengthens executive functioning, problem-solving skills, and adaptability.
2. Improved metalinguistic awareness – Children develop a better understanding of how languages work (grammar, structure, sounds), which can even improve their native language skills.
3. Stronger memory and attention – Juggling multiple codes trains children' s working memory and focus.