"At Explorer West you just don't learn school subjects, you learn about life."

Academic Program

An Explorer West education is broad and challenging.  It is also focused and inspiring.  At the core is a strong, old-fashioned academic curriculum.  Each student in each grade studies English, math, science history and Latin.  Classes are small.  Our teachers have made a commitment to work with adolescents at this critical age.  They know and care about their students; they foster success in their students while addressing their very particular intellectual, social and emotional needs.

The Arts

We ask our students to try everything, to open their imaginations and broaden their horizons.  Consequently, all Explorer West students take art, music and theater classes.  The lessons in art class develop observation, imagination, problem-solving, and self-expression.  Provided with elements of design and a knowledge of artistic materials, every student succeeds at the artistic process.

Students at Explorer West learn the elements of music by listening to a wide array of music from cultures around the world.  They learn about the cultural context from which the music springs.  And each student either studies an instrument in an ensemble or learns to sing as a member of a chorus.

Each year Explorer West produces plays in which every student takes part in production and set design and in performance.  These young people are at an age when they are first beginning to discover identity.  Theater provides a perfect workshop for trying on identities in the same way we try on costumes.  Theater is a social art and demands self-control and cooperation.  Performing encourages curiosity, discipline, and imagination, all of which are necessary to a full education.

Art

The lessons in art class are designed to develop creativity and the process of making art.  The process of making art is not dependent on "artistic talent"; rather it is based on the development of observation, imagination, problem-solving and self-expression.  The students combine these skills with elements of design and a knowledge of artistic materials in order to achieve the artistic process.

Drama

A typical day in drama class will include a group warm-up, a focusing game or exercise, examination and practice of various technical skills:  such as "projection", "articulation" or "memorization" - and explorative work on a topic related to the current project:  for example, "movement" as it relates to a pantomime routine.  The course objectives, however, differ for each grade level.

English

English classes focus on reading, composing, speaking and analyzing the English language.  Each student studies literature, expository writing, structural grammar, spelling and vocabulary.  The program aims to increase a student's fluency and flexibility in writing and speaking and to increase understanding of and confidence in interactions with written and spoken English.

A partial list of literature studied by students include Black Ships Before Troy, Romeo and Juliet, To Kill a Mockingbird, Of Mice and Men, The Grapes of Wrath, and Sense and Sensibility.

History

The history sequence explores questions of sustainability. How can people meet their needs without limiting the ability of future generations to meet their needs? In 6th grade Ancient Civilizations students are immersed in a study of geography that is integrated with prehistory and ancient civilizations of Asia, Africa and the Americas. We ask, "What makes a culture survive, thrive, or fail?" 6th graders end with European history in the Age of Exploration. This serves as a prelude to 7th grade American history, which emphasizes historiography (primary source work), as well as art and music, to explore the question, "What makes our American culture and institutions sustainable?" In 8th grade Global Studies we study world religions, colonization, and independence movements to set the stage for contemporary global issues and sustainable solutions for population, food, water, environment, politics, poverty, education, and health. We address quality of life issues such as media literacy, consumerism, globalization, and social justice. We also pursue current international events and service learning.

Latin

Latin, while not a language spoken by any modern culture, is an excellent primer for the study of other languages and also of English.  Learning Latin will boost a student's English vocabulary and supplement his/her understanding of English grammar.  The regular structure of Latin also teaches students to think logically, to solve problems, and to pay attention to cues and details.  Along with the study of the language, we introduce our students to the study of classical culture, ancient history and mythology, and the ideas central to modern Western civilization.

Math

6th grade topics include place value systems, decimals, percentages, fractions, ratios and proportions, integers, geometry and measurement, and probability.  With these skills as a foundation, 7th grade students study explorations in patterns, formulas and percents, measurement and estimation, ratio and proportion, data analysis, and number theory.  Finally, 8th grade topics include properties of real numbers, solving, graphing and writing linear equations an inequalities, exponents and exponential functions, quadratic equations and functions, polynomials and factoring.

Music Performance

Every student at Explorer West is a member of a music ensemble. Students learn and practice the technique of playing their instruments, become familiar with music reading and music theory, and learn the skills necessary to perform with other musicians. Because students arrive at our school with varying degrees of musical experience, we offer several different ensembles in band, orchestra, and choir. These groups accommodate both beginning and more experienced music students. Our ensembles perform for the school community throughout the school year.

Physical Education

The goal of the physical education program at Explorer West is to encourage students to embrace a life of health and fitness.  Inclusion, participation and teamwork constitute the foundation for each unit.  Individual pursuits and challenges are explored through goal setting and, for the eighth graders, a leadership project.  Co-ed, multi-age classes emphasize respect and good sportsmanship.

Science

The school year is divided into major units of study, including first aid and the human body, understanding and forecasting the weather, and understanding atomic structure.  Much of each unit is based on hands-on activities that allow students to discover and learn for themselves.  Students are expected to form hypotheses and then test them.  Students often work together with one or more partners and are expected to share the work equitably.  6th grade studies the fundamentals of physical and chemical science, 7th grade studies the fundamentals of life science, while the 8th grade focuses on the Earth and space science topics.

World Music

In world music, students learn about the musical traditions of several cultures. Over the span of three years, these units of study include Native American, West African, Cuban, Indian, Jazz, and Western Classical music. For each unit, students listen to and learn to perform various examples of music; analyze stylistic features; become familiar with musicians and ensembles from the region, learn about and hear examples of musical instruments, and become familiar with the history and culture from which these musical styles emerged. This class is designed to provide students with a broader view of the many ways in which people express themselves musically.