At an Ambleside School we include many subjects during our regular day that are often seen as extra curricular such as Art lessons, Drama, Recitation, Handwork, Poetry and Nature Study so our school day is full and varied with rigorous academic subjects as well and what can be seen as “intra-curricular” extras. We also offer Chess as an extra curricular club.

Through the discipline of recitation, students are given the opportunity to memorize and recite passages from a variety of
subjects, including Bible, poetry, citizenship, world languages and history. Texts include Scripture passages, prayers,
poems, inspirational literary passages, famous speeches, and important historical documents. Students create a portfolio of
inspirational texts in their memory to which they can return time and again throughout their lives. They also learn the skills of
confident, well-poised, clear, and humble presentation.

Charlotte Mason believed in acquainting the children with Shakespeare. She said, "To become intimate with Shakespeare in this way is a great enrichment of mind and instruction of conscience. Then, by degrees, as we go on reading ... lines of insight and beauty take possession of us, and unconsciously mould our judgments of men and things and of the great issues of life." She saw what others knew to be true.

As an Ambleside school our intentions are to introduce the students to the greatest dramatist the world has ever known, to acquaint the students with the beautiful English tongue in which he wrote and to provide the students with a complex story, with varied characters, twists of plot and turns of fate.

All students from the Preschool through Grade 8 become acquainted with Shakespearean comedies, tragedies or histories that are being performed via a reading of the narrative version of the play chosen. The younger grades also learn about Shakespeare’s life and times. All grades memorise a sonnet which are recited, for all to enjoy, during assemblies. The older grades are assigned roles from one or more plays, the play is rehearsed and finally performed for the younger students, school families and friends.

At our Shakespeare Fair, where we encourage all who attend to dress in Elizabethan costume, sonnets are recited, several children participate in choreographed dance around the maypole, some demonstrate a sword fight, and others perform a period-piece dance. Our older students perform an abridged version of one of Shakespeare's plays. It is a celebration of the year's learning and relating to that which is worthy and good.

Often when we think about art done by children we think about the typical symbolic stick figure drawings. This type of drawing is naturally done by children all over the world and is important for self-expression and language development but it should not be compared to realistic drawing.

Realistic drawing, unlike symbolic drawing, needs guidance and instruction and that is what our art programme achieves. Realistic drawing is not in conflict with symbolic drawing and children should be encouraged to do both since their objectives are different. When children draw realistically they are building visual perception, concentration, and problem-solving abilities along with language development.

When they naturally give up symbolic drawing they can easily make the transition into the creatively sophisticated styles of drawing done by older teen and adult artists.

The content of this article is based on the book "Drawing with Children" by Mona Brookes.

See some of the artwork done by our students below

Nature teaches us an appreciation for beauty and art -- the sunset, the silhouette, the sparkling light on water. It teaches us the realities of life -- our physical limits, pain, humility, reproduction, birth, death, regeneration.

Nature Study at its simplest is time in nature, observing the natural world around us. It is not a one-time event; rather, it is a habit of being outdoors on a regular, consistent basis over weeks, months, and years. It is a process of getting to know the natural world around us through first-hand, personal experience. Nature, or creation, is worth knowing personally. No textbook, no nature video can replace its significance in our children's lives. At The Vine School, students take part in a nature Study lesson once a week and spend a few weeks on one particular topic.

They start off with quiet observation of the specimen, listening to short readings about the plant or creature and narrating what they have learned. The class will then observe the specimen more deeply - tell what they see, naming and describing nature, using the language of a naturalist. Every student will then carefully and with the attitude of "if something is worth doing, it is worth doing well," do a water colour painting of the object using dry brush technique.

"We were all meant to be naturalists, each in his degree, and it is inexcusable to live in a world so full of the marvels of plant and animal life and to care for none of these things"- Charlotte Mason

"Consider, too, what an unequalled mental training the child-naturalist is getting for any study or calling under the sun—the powers of attention, of discrimination, of patient pursuit, growing with his growth, what will they not fit him for?" - Charlotte Mason.

See some of the Nature art done by our students below

"He practices various handicrafts that he may know the feel of wood, clay, leather, and the joy of handling tools, that is, that he may establish a due relation with materials. But, always, it is the book, the knowledge, the clay, the bird, or blossom, he thinks of, not his own place or his own progress." - Charlotte Mason

The emphasis in teaching handwork and handcraft is placed on the skill to be learned rather than the project to be produced. The value of perseverance and industry, precision and neatness, patience and practice, creativity and good taste are learned in the steady activities of gaining skills through finishing the work of the hands.

See some of the work done by our students below