Lower School

List of 4 items.

• Kindergarten

  The Kindergarten experience in the Lower School is a developmentally appropriate blend of learning, which is interactive and play-oriented, and learning which is laying the foundational blocks for a rigorous independent school education. Learning takes place through centers and through whole-group, small-groups and independent activities.

  
  Since young children learn through doing, emphasis is placed on hands-on experiences in all academic areas. The language arts program focuses on phonemic awareness, spelling and vocabulary, oral language, writing and reading comprehension.  Language arts instruction incorporates whole-group and small-group lessons, word study, guided reading, the use of leveled readers and a basal series, vocabulary development and the Six-Traits writing program.
  
  The Lower School uses Math in Focus, an American edition of the Singapore Math program. Students are exposed to a rich curriculum that enhances the acquisition of a solid sense of numbers, their relationships and also place value. Based on Piaget’s stages of development in which children begin learning with concrete objects, manipulatives are used extensively for early learners. Students next encounter pictorial representations of problems, and finally reach the level of abstract reasoning and understanding. The program stresses mental math and problem-solving skills, using “bar modeling” as a visual representation for word problems. Developing strong computational skills is a primary objective in Math in Focus.
  

  
  Social science topics covered in Kindergarten include the five senses, nutrition, magnets, an investigation of the properties of objects, the characteristics of living things, an investigation of the sun, moon and shadows, conservation of resources, famous people and holidays, comparisons of changes in our lives through the years, awareness of maps and globes, characteristics of a good citizen, careers and communities.In addition, students have instruction in library and media skills, Spanish, music, art, physical education and technology education.

   

• First Grade

  The development of a child mentally, physically and socially continues in first grade. The four primary academic areas throughout the Lower School years are language arts, mathematics and the social sciences comprised of science and social studies.
   

  In language arts, students participate in whole-group lessons and also work in small groups for guided reading instruction. A basal series, leveled readers and supplemental reading books are used for learning. Small group activities may include a focus on word study or an oral reading session. Components of language arts incorporated throughout the year are phonemic awareness, spelling and word study, vocabulary, oral reading, independent reading, reading comprehension skills and the development of writing skills through Six Traits writing lessons.
  
  The Lower School uses Math in Focus, an American edition of the Singapore Math program. Students are exposed to a rich curriculum that enhances the acquisition of a solid sense of numbers, their relationships and also place value. Based on Piaget’s stages of development in which children begin learning with concrete objects, manipulatives are used extensively for early learners. Students next encounter pictorial representations of problems, and finally reach the level of abstract reasoning and understanding. The program stresses mental math and problem-solving skills, using “bar modeling” as a visual representation for word problems. Developing strong computational skills is a primary objective in Math in Focus.

  
  

  Social science topics covered in first grade include an investigation of the sun and the earth’s rotation and revolution, an investigation of matter, observations of physical properties using senses, classification of attributes and properties, an investigation of simple machines and investigations using  Lego WeDo Educational Kits, an investigation of goods and services and how people make choices, the uniqueness of individuals and appreciation of differences, holidays and customs, characteristics of good citizens, introduction to maps - their importance and how to construct one, and responsible personal and social behavior in a community.

  
  All first graders have instruction in library and media skills, Spanish, music, art, physical education and technology education.

• Second Grade

  The second grade year builds on the foundation laid in first grade in all academic areas and the development of independence in each student is a year-long goal of second grade. Children are encouraged to assume increasing personal responsibility for their assignments and their materials, as well as for establishing continuity in their home/school communication and interpersonal relationships.  
  
  

  In Language Arts, students read a variety of print material as they participate in shared reading, group reading and independent reading. A basal series, leveled readers, fiction and non-fiction books and poetry are just a few of the materials used. Instruction concentrates on phonemic awareness, spelling and vocabulary, oral language, writing, grammar, usage and mechanics, reading comprehension and information, and study skills. A wide variety of instructional strategies are employed including word sorts, flip books, poetry, phonics readers, original sentence writing, Daily Language Review, Drops in a Bucket, phonics centers and word work.
  
  

  The Lower School uses Math in Focus, an American edition of the Singapore Math program. Students are exposed to a rich curriculum that enhances the acquisition of a solid sense of numbers, their relationships and also place value. Based on Piaget’s stages of development in which children begin learning with concrete objects, manipulatives are used extensively for early learners. Students next encounter pictorial representations of problems, and finally reach the level of abstract reasoning and understanding. The program stresses mental math and problem-solving skills, using “bar modeling” as a visual representation for word problems. Developing strong computational skills is a primary objective in Math in Focus.
  
  

  In science, second graders investigate topics such as weather data, where they gather and record observations of weather patterns, magnets and their characteristics and properties, the properties for solids, liquids and gasses and how they change from one state to another, how some animals go through distinct changes during their life cycles while others generally resemble their parents, the changes that affect habitats over time, rocks, weathering and erosion.  During these units, students are called upon to compare and contrast, demonstrate, examine and describe, identify, measure, predict and interpret. Students also plant and care for a garden and study how plants grow from seeds and what is necessary for plants to thrive.
  
  

  In social studies, topics of study include a comparison of natural resources and capital resources, including making choices when resources are limited, responsibilities involved in citizenship, famous Americans who improved the lives of others, customs, traditions and characteristics of North American Indian tribes and where they live, mapwork identifying the continents, oceans and where the student lives.  Second graders also learn from each other by sharing current events.
  
  

  In addition, all second graders have instruction in library, technology education, Spanish, music, art and physical education.

• Third Grade

  The third grade curriculum builds on a solid foundation and offers an array of enrichment activities to promote inferential thinking, reasoning and creativity in students. Students are exposed to cooperative learning, as well as whole class and small group instruction and discussion.
  
  

  In Language Arts, a balanced literacy approach to learning to read continues to be utilized. Students read a variety of print material as they participate in shared reading, group reading and independent reading. A basal series, leveled readers, fiction and non-fiction books and poetry are just a few of the materials used. Instruction concentrates on phonemic awareness, spelling and vocabulary, oral language, writing, grammar, usage and mechanics, reading comprehension and information and study skills. A wide variety of instructional strategies are employed including word sorts, flip books, poetry, phonics readers, original sentence writing, Daily Language Review, Drops in a Bucket, phonics centers and word work.
  
  

  The Lower School uses Math in Focus, an American edition of the Singapore Math program. Students are exposed to a rich curriculum that enhances the acquisition of a solid sense of numbers, their relationships and also place value. Based on Piaget’s stages of development in which children begin learning with concrete objects, manipulatives are used extensively for early learners. Students next encounter pictorial representations of problems, and finally reach the level of abstract reasoning and understanding. The program stresses mental math and problem-solving skills, using “bar modeling” as a visual representation for word problems. Developing strong computational skills is a primary objective in Math in Focus.
  
  

  In 3rd grade, students explore the following science topics: the components of soil, conservation, the composition and layers of the earth’s crust; simple machines -- their functions and uses, how they work together to form complex machines incorporating Lego WeDo Educational Kits which create machines which are programed with drag and drop software to move; behavioral and physical adaptations which allow animals to respond to life needs; the unique properties of Earth as a planet and as a part of the solar system; the relationships among organisms in aquatic and terrestrial food chains; and how water-related environments support a diversity of plants and animals that share limited resources.

  
  In Social Studies, students investigate the similarities and differences among communities, how the climate, geography and natural resources of the southwest United States affected the life of the Anasazi Indians, how natural and human resources aided the Pilgrims in starting Plymouth colony, and how and why the city of Suffolk began as a community dependent on the river and railroad lines.
  
  

  In both Science and Social Studies, students gather, chart and graph data, classify objects into sets and sub-sets, make and communicate predictions of outcomes, and make inferences and draw conclusions.
  
  

  In addition, all third graders have instruction in library, technology education, Spanish, music, art and physical education.