Lower Elementary Curriculum

A warm and collegial environment founded on respect; our school accepts each child for who they are. This framework of social and emotional support fosters student academic success by creating comfort; enabling students to take risks, challenge themselves and pursue their interests.  

English & Language arts

English and Language Arts encompasses a wide range of skills. Meeting daily, students work on writing, reading, literature, expression, spelling. Writing skills are both learning how to write in print and in cursive, as well as learning how to communicate through writing, including an introduction to grammatical structures. 

• Writing using Michael Clay Thompson's Writing Curriculum
• Print and cursive using Handwriting Without Tears
• Literature studies using Jr. Great Books and children's classics:
  • Year 1: Charlottes' Web, Mr. Popper's Penguins, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh
  • Year 2: The Cricket in Times Square, The Mouse and the Motorcycle, Frog and Toad Are Friends
  • Year 3: Freckle Juice, The Borrowers, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory​

Mathematics

Math for 80 minutes, four times per week, and they will have an opportunity to advance through math levels where they will be introduced to problem solving, and concepts not generally taught to younger grades, like set theory.

integrated civilizations and cultures

We integrate the study of civilizations from around the world over the course of three years. Each year we will focus on four different cultures. These integrated units of study include an immersive study of the history, cultures, language, engineering advances, art, and music of the civilizations. Through the study of the cultures, we also learn and practice the social and emotional skills of our community that is integral to a child. In addition to content, students learn skills such as non-fiction reading, problem solving, and being part of a community. Vocabulary and spelling are practiced in History with Wordly Wise 3000.

• Year 1: Ancient Rome, Ancient Greece, Ancient Egypt, Ancient China
• Year 2: Native Americans, Incas, Aztecs/Mayans, Australia
• Year 3: Mesopotamia, Ancient Africa, Vikings, Japan

integrated science

Our integrated science units are built on hands-on labs and exploration, as well as integration with non-fiction language arts. Organized around central questions and experiences that encourage curiosity, students act as investigators, performing lab activities, making observations, and testing ideas. With purposeful connections to language arts, we read and discuss science articles, keep observations in a science notebook, analyze figures and data, and learn to support our thoughts with evidence.

WOrld Language

Students learn Spanish through play and projects daily.

future skills

Through visual and logic puzzles, students practice their computational and problem-solving skills. Children are introduced to computing using visual computing with LEGO Education SPIKE.

MOvement

Outdoor and movement focus with daily morning walk, daily recess, and 15 to 20-minute breaks, in addition to weekly Physical Education