Art is incorporated into every classroom’s daily routine, and complemented by focused classes with specialized teachers. Our Toddler students enjoy time in small groups engaged in Sensory Art, where they are encouraged to explore and experiment with a range of art materials and objects in a hands-on and self-motivated manner. Weekly Studio Art times for our Nursery and Connecting/Pre-K students offer an extension of the ample artistic endeavors that occur in the classroom. During these times, the children work either in a small group or as a whole class with a teacher who is also an artist. They learn particular techniques for working with clay, paint, oil crayons, collage, and utilize a wide range of materials and inspiration to create artwork that spans multiple mediums. At Putnam Indian Field School, we focus on the process of working and learning rather than simply the end product, and this emphasis is on full display in our art classes. Children are encouraged to take initiative and risks to express their ideas and pursue their creative interests, understanding that each experience with an artist’s tool is a learning moment.
