The Discovery School

The Discovery School community has decided to try something new next year.  This decision was in response to a community need  and has taken the form of a year-long learning adventure titled “Raiders of the Renaissance Minds” which was developed using the ITI model, described below. The introduction of this "curriculum" is a way to bring forth an exciting community inquiry opportunity while  allowing  students to develop skills in ways that suit their particular interests and learning styles. Throughout the year, students will have a great deal of freedom in choosing how they want to explore the community topics and will have the liberty and support they need to continue along a self determined path should an interest take them in another direction than that of the group.  All students will also have ample time to pursue personal interests and to simply learn through play and through living in a democratic community.

2008/2009 Theme - Raiders of the Renaissance Minds

This  year- long theme  was designed to help students discover the distinctive traits that characterize a Renaissance Mind and apply them to recognizing their own potentials.

 The Renaissance Minds that will be studied throughout the year through self-selected and group inquiries have made tremendous leaps and affected mankind profoundly thereafter. These individuals include Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Shakespeare and Galileo among many others. One Renaissance Mind will be related to another throughout the year, searching for common threads. Students will be given tools to discover how to recognize a Renaissance Mind and also to understand the sacrifice and hard work that produced it.

 The goal of the year’s theme is that each student may catch the vision of his or her own potential and what it takes to develop it. 

Raiders will begin with a Brain Week, the Introduction to the Renaissance and Renaissance Life, and the formation of Guilds. Then students, ages 5-15, will begin a study of 23 Renaissance Minds grouped into the following categories:

-  Scientific Minds

- Transportation/Exploration

-  Communication

- Art and Music

The adventure will end with “Your Renaissance Mind”. 

The Discovery School’s approach to curriculum, which integrates all subjects into one theme, is called Integrated Thematic Instruction. The ITI model is based on learning principles derived from body-brain research that leads to the application of nine brain-body compatible elements: