Knowledge refuses to be neatly categorized.  Of course, we try to impose some sort of organization on the school day by bundling skill sets and types of information into categories like “math” and “social studies.”  But true knowledge lies in the intersection of disciplines and learning occurs when categories overlap.

            At St. Martin’s, we foster the search for these connections through interdisciplinary activities and units beginning in Lower School and culminating in the Upper School, where, in addition to several interdisciplinary experiences, we offer even an interdisciplinary AP course.  Below you will find an abbreviated list of the interdisciplinary programs at our school.  Many of the units listed culminate in a special day for the students involved, who often display the fruits of their historical research through their very own hand-made costumes and food.

Lower School

Community Day, Pre K

Greek Mythology, K

Jour de France, 1^st

Louisiana Day, 2nd

Native American Day, 3^rd

World Fest, 4^th

Cinco de Mayo, 5^th

Asia Day began as a way to teach Asia’s influence on our local community.  The various Asian cultures in our community impact economics, science, art, music, food, films, literature, math and language. The unit revolves around geography and includes Earth Science class work on the Ring of Fire and volcanism and the study of Asian literature in English class.  Often, a few of our own students demonstrate Indian dance.  In past years we have hosted musical performances by students, speakers from the Bonsai Society (http://www.gnobs.org/), Vietnam veterans, marshal arts demonstrations and parents discussing growing up in Asia.  Students have explored the New Orleans area by visiting Asian restaurants, Buddhist Temples, museums, galleries, Asian markets and festivals. (http://www.louisianafolklife.org/LT/Articles_Essays/offeringskingsbuddha.html)

The English and Social Studies departments crafted this unit that focuses on Louisiana’s diverse history through fiction and non-fiction literature.   In English class, for example, students read narratives written by the slaves of Laura Plantation, then see the grounds first hand and learn the history of the farmers and slaves.  Several field trips are part of the Gumbo Heritage Unit, including a visit to Laura Plantation (www.lauraplantation.com), Oak Alley and a canoeing trip to learn about our wetlands.  The unit culminates in a day of games and good southern food, Gumbo Day.

While reading Romeo and Juliet, 8^th graders study the history of Elizabethan England and  research the daily customs of each class of Elizabethan.   The unit culminates in a beautiful Elizabethan feast of the students’ creation and a performance by the Tulane Shakespeare Festival actors (www.neworleansshakespeare.com/road.cfm) attended by students and teachers wearing historical costumes.

This trip is brings together lessons the 8^th graders have experienced in almost every class throughout the year.  8^th graders study American History in Social Studies class.  In English, students read Elie Wiesel’s Night, a first-hand account of his experience as a young boy in a concentration camp.  In Washington, D.C. students see the places they’ve studied and learn the depth of history as they visit the Holocaust Memorial Museum (http://www.ushmm.org/)  as well as several Smithsonian museums, the Newseum (http://www.newseum.org/) , the White House, the Capitol, Kennedy Center (http://www.kennedy-center.org/)  and WWII, Iwo Jima and other memorials.  (http://www.eliewieselfoundation.org/)

The departments of English, Math and Social Studies participate in this unit which focuses on the play Royal Hunt of the Sun and the ancient Incan innovations and way of life.

Freshmen spend one full day shadowing a professional in the Greater New Orleans community.  Afterwards, they write a reflection paper and teachers seize the opportunity to teach the skill of writing a thank-you note. 

The English, Religion & Social Studies departments participate in this unit, which culminates in an assembly for sophomores where prominent members of the New Orleans community speak to both sides of the issue.  Students clarify their beliefs on the issue in a persuasive paper assignment at the conclusion of the unit.

Students read the Crucible and explore connections between Puritanism and McCarthyism in Social Studies, Religion and English classes.

All departments participate in this week-long experience in which students visit several organizations that are vital to our community, such as Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (www.lumcon.edu) , the Times-Picayune, area art museums (www.noma.org)  and Laura Plantation (www.lauraplantation.com), to name a few.  The last day of the week is a group service day; in 2007, sophomores cleaned up some of the storm-ravaged rounds of City Park.