Only At Westlake

“It was an initiation into the love of learning … as a matter of interdisciplinary cognition that is, learning to know something by its relation to something else.” Leonard Bernstein

Where can you get a lesson that’s one part Social Studies, one part Science, one part Art, and a whole lot of hands-on, kinesthetic fun? An interdisciplinary-based class, that’s where! For the last five or so years of my career, I’ve tried to implement interdisciplinary studies into my curriculum. I am happy to report to you that Westlake Christian Academy believes strongly in this educational paradigm, and I’ve been blessed to co-teach “Fossils and Dinosaurs” with the help of the High School Science, Social Studies, and Art departments collectively. When you really come to think of why teachers became teachers, it most likely had to do with our overwhelming passions for the subjects we teach. Nerdy and proud, we just cannot wait to share what we know and discover more with our students. It is the teacher-way! The gift, however, comes from the time we spend with one another, creating connections that will grow mindsets and retain information long after an assessment has passed. My favorite memory of second grade was when my teacher put tiny dinosaur erasers into an ice cube tray filled with plaster. Like mini geologists, we tinkered away, excavating our treasures. It is more than twenty years later, and I still remember that tiny project. It goes to show that sometimes the spin-off lessons are where the sweet spot of study truly lies. Already in our class, my students have had the privilege to examine and identify types of fossils that Mrs. O’Malley shared with us. Today, they created their own fossil casts in art with Mrs. Iverson. Careful to pre-pick the exact replica-worthy seashell patterns that looked most authentic, students were enamored with the process of literally re-creating history. Next week, we hope to have a “text-to-world” connective conversation with a “real, live archaeologist” involved in actual digs … our very own Mr. Naegele! Looking back from and forward to the rest of this unit, I am overwhelmed with joy and gratitude at the community surrounding our elementary learners. Having worked in over ten schools, I can tell you that this level of collaborative teaching is not the norm. Only at Westlake would three, high school professionals, take time out of their curriculum-packed days to nurture the growing curiosity and critical thinking development of fifth graders they do not necessarily even know. Only at Westlake is there the allowance of coverage for extension projects that truly resonate with our students and our staff. Only at Westlake is Christ interwoven throughout each and every facet of interdisciplinary connection. And so, it is for this reason that my own two children will continue to attend school … only at Westlake.