Specialists Program
As part of an enriching and well-rounded program, all students at Giddens participate in specialists programs, completing their full cycle of programs each week: music and performance, library, PE, and Spanish language & cultures.
Music and Performance
Singing and dancing imbue this program at every grade level. Students use rhythm instruments, bodies, voices, and imaginations to practice steady beat, using a light/high singing voice, and playing games and instruments as part of a group.
Older students practice and gain experience playing as an ensemble of musicians. As they develop in skill level, they work with multiple ways of notating music, sing songs with complicated rhythms and melodies, and develop independence in singing and playing rhythm instruments.
Our oldest grades learn melodic instruments (ukulele, flute, or recorder), practice standard notation, and work on singing independently in rounds, canons, and partner songs.
Library
Our library is a welcoming space where students discover the joy of reading and the power of stories. From their earliest visits, children are immersed in high-quality books that spark imagination, curiosity, and conversation. With a robust collection of over 5,000 titles, the library offers students windows into new ideas, cultures, and perspectives as well as mirrors that reflect their own lives and experiences.
Alongside joyful reading experiences, students also begin developing media literacy skills—learning how to ask questions, think critically, and navigate information in both print and digital forms. Author visits, book celebrations, and school-wide events further bring literature to life, creating shared experiences that strengthen our community of readers. Above all, the library is a place where curiosity is encouraged, stories are celebrated, and a lifelong love of reading and learning takes root.
PE
Our Physical Education program supports students’ physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development through active, joyful, and age-appropriate movement experiences. Grounded in SHAPE America standards, the curriculum builds motor skills, fitness, teamwork, and a lifelong appreciation for physical activity.
Throughout the year, students explore a variety of units—from basketball and flag football to gymnastics, parkour, jump rope, and parachute games. Engaging tools like scarves, beanbags, scooter boards, and the oversized Omnikin ball add creativity and fun to each lesson. Classes emphasize movement concepts such as balance, coordination, and spatial awareness, while partner and group games nurture collaboration and confidence. School-wide events like the Jump Rope Challenge and Field Day highlight the joy of movement and shared celebration.
Spanish Language & Cultures
Our Spanish program introduces Preschool to 5th-grade learners to both the Spanish language and the diverse Spanish-speaking cultures through an interactive curriculum that includes learning through songs, music, games, stories, and movement. The lessons not only help students build skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening in Spanish, but also help cultivate respect and appreciation for all cultures.
Throughout the year, our youngest students learn basic vocabulary like colors, feelings, weather, parts of the body, etc., while our older students develop their listening, speaking, and comprehension skills. They practice the Spanish language through conversations, songs, and writing stories that they will later dramatize in class. Teaching language in meaningful and useful ways motivates students to continue their love of learning.
All this practice helps students build a solid foundation for continuing their Spanish language development and an appreciation for Spanish culture, communities, and traditions.
Ology
Ology (a study of a subject) is a year-long weekly class for every Kindergarten-5th-grade student. Created and taught by Giddens specialists, students spend eight weeks diving deeply into a specialized unit of study. These hour-long, focused classes foster creativity and inquiry while allowing teachers to share areas of expertise. Students rotate through several Ology experiences during the year, exploring new topics and ways of learning beyond the core curriculum. Examples of Ology classes include Coding with Scratch Jr., Destination: Genres!, Amazing Animals, Great Composers, EnviroDance, Design & Printing, LEGO Lab, Exploring Latin America, Yearbook Design, Amazing Architecture, Film & News Club, Ukulele, Latina Women in History, and Great Spanish and Latin American Painters.
For students in grades 3rd–5th, the Ology program also includes Giddens’ comprehensive, lifespan-spanning sexuality education curriculum, OWL (Our Whole Lives), which is co-taught by the school counselor and physical education teacher.
