Art Adventure

Band

Bike Rodeo

Branch Out

DARE

Destination Imagination

Environmental Learning
Field Trips

Fine Arts

Literature Circles

Lyceums

Math Olympiad

Parent Volunteers

PERK

Student Council

Enrichment Programs

Art Adventure

The Art Adventure program offers all Woodland students the opportunity to learn about art through reproductions of artwork from the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. Woodland parent volunteers receive training at the Institute and then visit every classroom to discuss a thematically grouped set of eight reproductions. Students learn about two different sets each school year, one in the fall and one in the spring, and are encouraged to visit the Institute (admission is free) to see the original pieces of art.

Band

The instrumental music program at Woodland provides small group instruction for band instruments, as well as weekly large group rehearsal. Instruction begins during the summer preceding the student's Fifth Grade year, or at the beginning of the student's Fifth Grade school year. Participation in the instrumental music program is optional for Fifth Graders. It is recommended that students interested in oboe, French horn, or percussion have at least two years of piano lessons.

Bike Rodeo

Second and Fourth Grade students participate in a bicycle safety unit which culminates in a Bike Rodeo. In collaboration with the Eagan Police Department, students have their bikes checked to make sure they are in good working order and then ride a road test to demonstrate their safe riding skills. For Second Graders, this is a learning experience. For Fourth Graders, this is a chance to demonstrate skills necessary to participate in the afternoon cycling field trip to a local park.

Branch Out

Branch Out is an after school enrichment program. It provides Woodland students the opportunity to expand interests and learn new things. There are fall and winter sessions. Past programs have included: art, computers, sports, chess, baby-sitting, quilting, and theatre.

DARE

DARE stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education and is unique in that it brings a uniformed police officer into the Fifth Grade classrooms. These officers have taken a special, intensive training course and work with Fifth Grade students once a week for 17 weeks. The officer helps students to:

Understand laws and issues surrounding drugs
Develop skills to say no to drugs and alcohol
In addition, the officer discusses the consequences for using and alternatives to these chemicals.

Destination Imagination

Destination Imagination is an international program that promotes creative thinking, team building, risk taking, and spontaneous problem solving. DI is open to every student in Grades 3-5. Students are divided into teams of five to seven members and are coached by trained volunteers. Teams meet at least once every week from October through March, after school or on weekends, until performing at the regional tournament. An informational meeting is held in the fall to further explain the program. There is a registration fee; however, scholarships are available.


Environmental Learning Center

Fifth Grade students take an annual trip to an Environmental Learning Center. Through a cooperative team approach, students experience environmental awareness, wilderness life, and survival skills. The trip is scheduled each fall for three days and two nights. There is a fee; however, scholarships are available.

Field Trips

Students participate in at least one field trip each year. A nominal fee is charged; however, scholarships are available. Past destinations have included:

Children's Museum
Science Museum
Minnesota History Center
Dodge Nature Center
Orchestra Hall
Murphy's Landing
Children's Theatre
Various musical productions



Fine Arts

The Fine Arts Committee is one of the five committees of School Council. This committee is chaired by parent volunteers and sponsors an activity for each grade level. Some of the activities have included: a visit from an author, a trip to the Children's Theatre, a trip to Orchestra Hall, and a residency with an artist.

Literature Circles

Literature Circles were created to help young readers enjoy literature beyond the regular classroom setting. Adult volunteers guide students through literature which has been chosen for the appropriate reading and interest level. Literature Circles give student readers the opportunity to share feelings about text, characters, language, and other aspects of literature in a small, comfortable setting.

Lyceums

Two to three school-wide enrichment assemblies (lyceums) are presented each year. The goal of lyceum presentations is to broaden student experience. In past years lyceum topics have included:

Life stories presentations by Historical Perspectives For Children:
Ben Franklin, Helen Keller, Amelia Earhart and Laura Ingalls Wilder
Science Museum presentation on Antarctica
Magic
Birds of Prey
Storytellers

CLIMB Theatre comes into our classrooms each year for a
presentation. Topics have included: Friendship, Bullying, Acceptance
of Differences, and Self-Control.



Math Olympiad Team

Math Olympiad is a non-profit program devoted to these goals:

To develop enthusiasm for problem solving
To contribute to cognitive development
To enrich experiences in intellectually stimulating and significant mental activities


Parent Volunteers In the Classroom

Parents may volunteer in their child's classroom throughout the year. There will be sign-up sheets in the classrooms at Open House for various activities including classroom parties, reading and math groups, and special projects. Teachers are responsible for setting up schedules and contacting parents.


PERK: Parents Enthused to Reinforce Kids

Parents Enthused to Reinforce Kids (PERK) is a program for Kindergarten and First Grade students. It is a volunteer opportunity for parents to come to school and participate in either one-on-one or small group activities with students from their child's classroom in the areas of language arts and math. It is scheduled monthly throughout the year for First Grade and three times for Kindergarten students during the second half of the year.

Student Council

Student Council is a service group comprised of at least two members of every Fourth and Fifth Grade classroom. The Council sponsors school pride activities and various service projects at the school, local, and global levels