The arts are critical to the process of making meaning. When children express themselves through the arts, they are involved deeply in thinking processes and discovery. They also become skilled in the various arts disciplines. Learners thrive in a safe, supportive environment. Different Ways of Knowing begins with children's strengths, celebrating all that they can do, encouraging them to take risks as learners, and to develop trusting relationships with other children and with adults.
Learners use both content knowledge and skills as tools to learn more.
Different Ways of Knowing develops the intellectual tools that will serve students for a lifetime through the use of rich, cross-disciplinary research which focuses on big ideas. Learners use the world as their laboratory. Different Ways of Knowing helps students understand and appreciate their community. Students explore resources outside the classroom and invite experts in to share information. Learners explore their learning over multiple drafts.