Physical Arts & Fitness

Our Physical Arts and Fitness curriculum instills in children a profound appreciation for what their bodies can do that leads to a lifelong commitment to fitness and health. Each day, our students participate in activities and games that involve enjoyable exercise and develop physical skills. Children also learn about physiology as it relates to health, fitness and physical dexterity so that their efforts are given context and their engagement is deepened. We will constantly look for creative ways to incorporate vigorous physical activity into other areas of the core curriculum and into the emerging threads of interest and so that children experience their bodies as powerful agents of exploration and expression.

Our Physical Arts and Fitness curriculum offers a wide range of both group and individual activities. The Blue Man Creativity Center has arrangements with several facilities in the neighborhood, providing access to a full-scale gymnasium, a swimming pool and a wide range of athletic equipment.

Yoga instruction begins in the Two's Program and will continue throughout all grades. Our "soft rooms" also provide a space for robust physical exploration and play.

Playground and outdoor time continues to play a vital role in the program throughout the elementary grades. We will also create frameworks in which our students can invent new sports and athletic games, including some that involve parents and teachers.

We are committed to providing an environment that ignites a passion for physical activity in all of our students and that validates all levels of development. Our approach stresses the satisfaction that comes from teamwork, high performance "flow states," and from the process of mastering physical skills in a supportive environment. We avoid placing children in the kinds of "hyper competitive" or exclusionary contexts that we believe run counter to optimal learning and group cohesion.

We incorporate technology to make physical activities more engaging and fun. For example, we use our interactive light and sound technologies to create indoor games that benefit cardio-vascular health, balance and coordination. We also help children monitor and chart their heart rates and blood pressure throughout the year to help them have a direct experience of the positive impact exercise has on their bodies.

One of the unique attributes of our program is our commitment to incorporating fitness activities throughout the day. Children are not only involved in physical activities that play out over long periods during dedicated gym or playground time, they also are led through short bursts of vigorous physical exertion that are nested within class time. This practice stems from a desire to create an integrated environment that helps children flourish mentally while staying connected to their bodies.