Common to all subject areas across the curriculum are various "overarching" skills and processes, such as synthesis, analysis, reasoning and communication. Integrating the fine arts into our curriculum through instruction and assessment supports the development of these skills and processes.
Through the study of the arts, Roberts Elementary students are encouraged to value and respond to their own perceptions, observations, emotions and intuitions. Students not only build skills, but also become more comfortable and confident in meeting the challenges of aesthetic self-expression.
The Fine Arts Magnet program offers enrichment in general music, vocal and instrumental music, drama and visual arts. The fine arts department produces several outstanding children's musical and stage productions each year. As a pull out program, instrumental training on the violin and piano have become an addition to our program. Children receive instruction in dance, creative rhythms, lifetime and team sports. The work of our visual arts line the hallways with creative examples of children's artwork at its best.
All students enrolled in Roberts participate in the Magnet program. To contact a specialist teacher, please browse the teacher contacts via the "Connect With" menu link above.
The Fine Arts and Specialty Program consists of the following classes:
In the weekly visual arts class, Roberts students learn thoughtful observation. Students have fun and are given the freedom to explore and express themselves with a wide variety of materials. Students have extensive exposure to art and artists of various cultures and times. Starting in Kindergarten, the elements and principles of art are taught and both 2D and 3D projects are introduced. A high premium is place on good craftsmanship and clear visual communication accompanying self expression.
Roberts students are often involved in collaborative projects with the Children's Museum of Houston and work on various projects with hospitals in the Medical Center. Contests are often entered at the local and state levels and the children learn to have a good understanding of the importance of community art work and their involvement with it. There are also two Art Club groups that meet for approximately one hour two days a week after school. Most stage decorations and art work for various school programs are produced by the students in these two groups.
At Roberts Elementary School, dance education begins with an awareness of the movement of the body and its creative potential. It provides kinesthetic experiences which directly benefit a child's physical, intellectual, social and emotional growth. A wide variety of dance experiences including creative dance, ballet, jazz, tap, and folk promote a recognition and appreciation of self and others.
Through dance education, Roberts students can also come to an understanding of their own culture and begin to respect dance as a part of the heritage of many communities.
All students at Roberts Elementary study singing and listening. They prepare to perform in programs and play classroom instruments using the Orff Schulwerk approach. Students are encouraged to become independent musicians by developing some note reading and rhythm reading skills as well as improvisation and learning parts on Orff instruments (xylophones). Rhythm, beat and movement are strongly emphasized and creativity is encouraged.
Music at Roberts is taught with the belief that all children can become active listeners and performers and that all can develop an appreciation for all types of music.
The goal of Roberts Physical Education program is to provide opportunities to the students to help them develop their gross and fine motor skills. In addition, they receive instruction in physical fitness and an excellent foundation in team and individual sports. The P.E. program not only aides in the development of the physical body of the students, it also encourages the development of different teamwork strategies and social skills. The P.E. program teaches students not only how to live a healthy and active lifestyle now, but how they can continue to do so as they grow older.
Field Day is scheduled for November 24, 2009.
Jump Rope for Life is scheduled for February 26, 2009.
Our Spanish Program is a communication-based program, with focus on the development of skills to produce and receive simple messages in Spanish.
The general objectives of the Spanish Program at Roberts Elementary are to:
- Provide an activity-rich, non-threatening environment for children to channel their natural curiosity as they begin to learn Spanish.
- Train children's ears to recognize the sounds of Spanish.
- Have the students comprehend the spoken language in the form of directions, commands, questions, and structured conversations.
- Participate in brief conversations over familiar topics using simple sentences
At Roberts technology is integrated into instruction and learning within each classroom. The goals outlined below are the skills that each student should have by the time they leave Roberts Elementary. Each grade level creates technology based projects that incorporates knowledge acquired from the IB planners and core subjects. The ultimate goal is to have fifth graders that are able to organize and present their knowledge using a variety of electronic media. They will use electronic tools to analyze, synthesize, and perform authentic tasks.
Technology Mission Statement:
At Roberts Elementary School, learners will be provided the opportunity to expand their capabilities through the use and facilitation of technology for enhancement of the curriculum.
Students will utilize technology to:
- Increase knowledge base
- Access and gather information
- Organize and apply data
- Locate primary sources
- Understand global issues
- Encourage creativity in a variety of format
5th Grade
Fifth graders will use appropriate software to express ideas and solve problems. They integrate movies, slide shows, spreadsheets, and other desktop publishing software as part of their IB Exhibition. Students will organize and share their knowledge using word processing and visual learning software. Fifth graders will use all technologies associated with digital picture taking. This includes using cameras, downloading pictures, scanning images, and basic picture editing. Digital citizenship is modeled, valued and emphasized. Students apply appropriate electronic search strategies in the acquisition of information and apply critical analysis to validate information.
4th Grade
Fourth graders will focus on creating slide shows and movies. They will learn to apply advanced skills for creating slide shows. The use of storyboards as an organizational tool for creative productions will be emphasized. Students will learn the basics of movie making including audio formats. They will incorporate basic picture editing skills. Students will select appropriate strategies to access information and apply electronic search strategies. Students model digital citizenship and respect copyright laws and guidelines when accessing information and downloading electronic work. In addition, they will practice the skills of charting and analyzing data using spreadsheet software and continue to practice proper keyboarding posture, using hand and body position, smooth, rhythmic keystroke patterns.
3rd Grade
Third graders will develop word processing and presentation skills. Students will utilize a network software to develop basic keyboarding skills and proficiency. Students continue to demonstrate touch keyboarding techniques such as alphabetic, numeric, punctuation, and symbol key with increasing proficiency. In addition, they will learn slide show basics. They will focus on layout, design, organization, and animation. They will learn to download, size, and crop images. They will create slide shows to demonstrate their knowledge. They will use electronic tools and research skills to build knowledge. Students will continue to apply electronic keyword searches to acquire information. Third graders will model digital citizenship. They will respect copyright laws and guidelines in addition to respecting electronic work of others.
2nd Grade
Second Graders will focus on desktop publishing skills. They will be able to produce documents, proofread, and correct errors. They will produce a variety of documents and publish them using a variety of media. Students use font attributes, color, white space, and graphics in documents. Students will use desktop publishing software and visual organizational software. They will use electronic tools and research skills to build knowledge. Students will be introduced to apply electronic keyword searches to acquire information. In addition, students demonstrate touch keyboarding techniques such as shift key, enter key, caps lock, and backspace.
1st Grade
First Graders are introduced to basics of word processing. They will use word processing with a purpose. First graders will produce simple documents using grade level appropriate language skills. Students incorporate word processing skills into all the computer projects. They will be introduced to keyboarding skills and positioning the hands on the home row. They will be able to use proper posture and correct hand and body position. In addition, students are introduced to visual learning software, inserting and cropping images, and to use age appropriate programs with audio, video, and graphics enhancing the learning experience.
Kindergarten
Students work on developing illustration skills. They use drawing software and learn all navigation skills to successfully create original illustrations. In addition, they will learn basic computer skills such as input and output devices, opening and closing a program, creating, naming, saving files, and mouse skills. They will use technology terminology appropriate to task. Students explore keyboarding skills by using left and right hand to search for letters on the keyboard.
Pre-K
Students are introduced to computer basics. They learn the parts of the computer, caring for computer equipment, how to use a mouse, mouse control, and closing a program. In addition, they follow oral and pictorial cues for operating programs successfully.
