VERO BEACH — In a day where education focuses on standardized test performance, Indian River Charter High School broke the mold holding its annual semester Curriculum Day, August 23.
This tradition, unique to IRCHS, provides an educational experience the entire school gets excited about. Focusing on the Baroque Period, each academic department researched and collaborated creative ways to demonstrate their subject’s relevance in the chosen historical time. Students spent the school day traveling with their Homebase experiencing a day of educational treats, literally.
The Science department at IRCHS focused on the cell, discovered during the seventeenth century. Teacher Rose Gaines, broke down the parts of a cell using sweet treats like jelly beans and licorice to create an edible model of a cell and its parts.
“It’s interesting because we learn things I never knew and might not have learned,” shared Kendall Pancotti, a senior at IRCHS. She enthusiastically went on to share her favorite experiences, including Math. “My teacher told us of the story of this guy during that period who was too lazy to get up to kill a bug, so he tried to explain to his friend where the bug was and created the coordinate plane to tell him– we reenacted that with a partner. Photography was really cool too; we learned about Rembrandt lighting and experienced the camera obscura that Mr. Pine set up.”
Each semester, teachers and administrators come together to explore a specific historical time through integrating curriculum designed to help students make connections across all subjects.
The community can also experience Charter’s enthusiastic and immersive approach to education during this fall’s VAPA Fundraiser featuring educational displays, including a tour through several countries during the Baroque period and incredible Baroque Period performances in Dance, Music, and Theatre.
Experience the arts, education and more Thursday and Friday, Nov. 3 and 4, followed by the Children’s Art Fair on Saturday, Nov. 5.
For more information, call (772) 696-1069
