Kindergarten: The Rodeo!
Kindergarten was so excited to bring the Rodeo back to campus this May! The Kindergarten Rodeo is a long-standing tradition at Graland Country Day School and has evolved and developed over the years to teach students about the history of the American West, implement creativity and empathy in classroom activities, and engage the community in an original, public performance. “The Rodeo is the culmination and biggest celebration for Kindergarten,” Kindergarten Teacher Mrs. Helen Valiant said. “We love seeing their growth and watching how proud they are to share all they have prepared for the event.”
During the month of May, Kindergarten students dive into all things Western, reading stories, hearing speakers, and writing about what their ideal ranch would look like. “The students study many aspects of the West: life on the range and a ranch, horses, wrangler gear, and cowboy poetry,” Kindergarten Teacher Mrs. Wendy Demartini said. “The Rodeo experience allows the students to connect with the history of this part of the country.” That connection also includes empathy, as students spend time discussing the problems cowboys in the Old West faced and invented items that might have helped. On Rodeo day, the students perform for their guests, sharing their knowledge, inventions, and their very own horses that they made and named. “My favorite part is to see the confidence the students have,” Mrs. Demartini said. “And just the fun of a rodeo!” Awesome work, Kindergarten!
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Graland Country Day School
Graland Country Day School is a private school in Denver, Colorado, serving students in preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school. Founded in Denver in 1927, Graland incorporates a rich, experiential learning approach in a traditional classroom setting, emphasizing the development of globally and socially conscious leaders who excel academically.
