Special Student Activities
in the Classroom

Artist Adventure
The Art Adventure Program introduces 1-5 students to works of art from a variety of cultures. Trained school volunteers visit classrooms with posters of art relating to a common theme, such as animals, celebrations, or relationships. This program is offered in conjunction with the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and showcases pieces that students can see first-hand at their next visit to the museum.

 

Artist-in-Residence
Highland holds several fundraisers which help support the effort to bring artists into the school. The ongoing project is dependent upon grant funds and money earned through fundraising. The program provides students with a hands-on experience in various arts areas. A professional working artist teaches each experience from theater, dance, visual arts, music, language arts, native cultures or the folk arts areas. This program gives students a real-life connection to various art forms through opportunities to participate and work directly with an artist.

Ross Sutter teaches 1st graders to dance and play songs with his impressive array of instruments.	Performer T. Mychael Rambo focuses on drama skills with 2nd graders.	Puppeteer Julie Kastigar makes masks with the 3rd graders.	Wordman Jack Kreitzer concentrates on writing strategies with 4th graders.	Theater expert Maya Washington works with 5th graders on drama skills.

BRAVO
BRAVO is a music appreciation program for children in first through fifth grades. It is meant to supplement already existing music instruction. The BRAVO curriculum for grades one through four uses a different curriculum each year for four years on a rotating basis. All grade levels will use the same curriculum during a year, with modifications for the age of the children. Each yearly curriculum uses six different pieces of music. Lessons focus on rhythm, dynamics, mood, pattern, form, story music, and other musical elements.

 

DARE
DARE is the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program that brings a uniformed police officer into each fifth grade classroom once a week for 17 weeks. It is the officer's charge to help students understand laws and issues surrounding drugs and develop skills to say no to drugs and alcohol. The officer discusses the consequences of chemical use and alternatives to these chemicals.