Our Core Curriculum

As trauma-informed educators, we base our curricula in experiential social-emotional learning (SEL). Benefiting from 30 years working with children of diverse backgrounds in a multitude of settings, we continue to innovate effective learning environments and have honed the following 5 classes:

ART & MUSIC

Art and music are foundational components of all of our programs, because they enhance creativity, confidence, and innovative thinking.

Mindfulness

Employing wisdom from numerous practices like yoga, tai chi, qi gong and sitting meditation, we encourage students to become interested in developing inner strength. Building a calm center within provides a framework for active and successful peacebuilding.

Connection to Nature

We believe that sustainable inner peace is built on a deep connection to the natural world.  This can be found in the simple action of planting a sunflower seed in a pot to take home, or hiking to a dramatic cliffside by the sea. We provide unique experiences that enhance our students’ respect for and connection to nature.

Media Literacy

Acknowledging we are consistently engaging with a vast array of media, this class teaches students how to discern and navigate what they encounter. We cover topics such as deconstructing advertisements, cyberbullying, choosing what to post on social media and violence in all forms of media.  At the end of this course, the students will create a video or social media campaign focusing on peacebuilding.

Conflict Resolution

Using the tools from the classes above empowers students as they engage in building the concrete skill of conflict resolution.  We inspire the students by providing opportunities such as communication activities, role plays, empathy building, mediation skills and understanding compassionate action.