Visual Arts at Teller takes the approach of developing the whole child. The aim is to promote a classroom environment that is inviting, joyous, equitable, and allows students to feel comfortable to take risks. With lessons rooted in National and State standards, students hone observation skills and discuss works of art; develop visual arts vocabulary to describe art making. Students also read and write about art to reinforce literacy skills; interpret artwork by providing evidence to support assertions and reflect on the process of making art. In addition, students are encouraged to recognize the societal, cultural, and historical significance of art and connect the visual arts to other disciplines. Within all of these there is always a strong interest in tapping student’s personal experiences and connecting them to what we are engaged in learning.
Students will dive into a wide array of projects that include self-portraits, creating puppets, making action figures with paper mache, collaborating with classmates to create Black History Month posters, creating fish kites to celebrate the Japanese holiday, Children’s Day, and many more. In addition, there is also a unit long exploration with paint, clay, collage, and printmaking. Get ready to immerse yourself in all things creative and fun in this class.
Performing Arts is an integral part of the curriculum at Teller Elementary School. Students have the opportunity to receive weekly or biweekly instruction in General Music where they are exposed to various instruments, including recorder, bells, ukulele, keyboards, and other barred instruments. They learn the basics of beat, rhythm, and melody. All Teller students participate in grade level performances to showcase the many skills they learn in class. Additionally, all 4th graders participate in the DPS Shakespeare festival, and 5th graders participate in a musical where each class is featured as a cast.
Furthermore, Teller offers After School Music enrichment classes, including Beginning Band, Concert Band, Violin, and Tiger Voices. Beginning Band provides students the opportunity to learn to play a wind, brass, or percussion instrument, including trumpet, trombone, saxophone, clarinet, flute, bells, snare, and bass. In this class, they learn the fundamentals of reading music and how to blend their sounds with a larger band. Students that have completed a year of Beginning Band are asked to join the Concert Band where they learn more complex rhythms and increase their range. The focus of Concert Band is to learn to play as an ensemble, blending instruments to develop harmony and texture. Teller also offers violin class through their partnership with the Colorado Youth Symphony.
Moreover, in Tiger Voices, students learn to blend their voices, sing two and three-part harmony, and express themselves with group choreography. These classes are open to students in various grades, with Band and Violin classes being open to students in 2nd through 5th grades and Tiger Voices being open to students in 1st through 5th grades. All students in these classes have the opportunity to participate in two concerts per year as well as Teller’s Annual Art Walk.
For more information regarding Teller’s Performing Arts programs please contact Jennifer Bartos at jbartos@dpsk12.net.
The goal of Teller Elementary Physical Education program is about teaching fitness and health, providing students with the skills needed to participate in a wide variety of physical activities, and showing students the joy of movement so they want to be physically active for the rest of their lives. Through the focus of state standards, lessons are designed to teach students the value of personal and social wellness and the importance of safety and movement. All students are expected to challenge themselves – whether that means developing specific skills, practicing teamwork, or demonstrating sportsmanship when emotions are high. Teller PE classes promote a safe, comfortable, and exciting environment for all students to learn.