Specials Area Classes

TuES students can discover their inner artists throughout the year by attending Art classes twice a week.  From discovering the origins of art history and processes, to learning about current artists who share a rich, cultural outlook on life and art making, students will have many opportunities to create personal connections to enhance motivation and understanding in their safe and nonjudgmental art studios.  Drawing, painting and sculpture will be explored while cultivating student needs so they can meet their individual potential.  The valuable skills and techniques taught are driven from the FCPS approved Art Curriculum, and will foster students’ preparedness in their future art journey from elementary education and beyond.

Students visit our school media center once a week for 40 minutes to receive instruction on literature and learn about digital citizenship. They use our school databases and print books to locate needed information. Students use technology and STEM materials to tinker and create. For the last 10-15 minutes of each library block, students self-select books of interest to take home.  It is imperative that books are returned in a timely fashion to allow others the opportunity to check out and enjoy; students who do not return books may not be permitted to check out additional books.

From learning your ABC’s to memorizing your math facts, music has always been a powerful teaching tool. At TuES, students attend general music classes twice weekly. All grade levels explore concepts involving rhythm, music notation, music history, expressive elements, tone color, melodic elements, and much more. Activities such as singing, listening, movement, playing instruments, playing games, writing and more, are used to help master the above concepts. The mastery of these concepts will enable students to gain a deep appreciation and understanding of music as it relates to their everyday lives, history, and culture. In addition, many students will be well prepared for future experiences in band, orchestra, choir, and theater. 

Students will participate in Physical Education class at TuES twice a week for the whole school year. Throughout the year various concepts will be taught in PE class such as: motor skills, knowledge and behaviors for active living, physical fitness, sportsmanship, self-efficacy and emotional intelligence. All these concepts will be focused on during various types of sports, games, and other activities during PE class. Students should dress correctly for physical activity on their PE days and expect to be active every PE class at least 80% of the time they are in class. 

Instrumental Band and Orchestra will be offered during the school day to all interested fourth and fifth grade students. We encourage students to take instrumental music for the joy of the experience as well as the development and use of higher level thinking skills. Research has shown that children who take instrumental lessons are better able to understand math concepts and achieve higher scores on tests. Enrollment forms are available in the front office.