Curriculum: Lower School
(Grades 1-5)
Children in the Lower School are eager to explore, question, and seek to define the world around them. With each year of growth, they develop higher level thinking and problem solving abilities, develop skills to engage more deeply in complex academic content, and experience more meaningful social relationships and friendships which last a lifetime. Taking advantage of their enthusiasm, teachers create an enriched environment with a differentiated curriculum that seeks to challenge all children in meaningful and productive ways. Children spend increasingly more time developing formal proficiencies in math, science, language arts, foreign language, sports, wellness and the arts.
Core values, called life skills, are an important focus in not only a daily chapel, but throughout all aspects of school life. All children are encouraged to strive for personal best, to become independent learners, and to become increasingly responsible for their own learning, behavior, mistakes, and successes.
All Lower School students and teachers:
- Gather for daily and all school chapel services
- Participate in Earth Day celebration activities
- Enjoy activities with “Buddy Classes”
- Share in treasured holiday traditions and service projects
Some of the highlights at each grade level include:
First Grade
- Learn about the different kinds of bears, their native regions, eating habitats and more in the Bear Unit
- Research a famous American and, in costume, present the person in the musical tribute called "Hooray for the USA"
- Study literacy concepts and poetry in a fun unit on classic Fairy Tales that wraps up with students dressing as their favorite character
- Create unique Impressionist paintings using live floral exhibits on display at the Nelson Museum during the Merry Month of Monet
Second Grade
- Serve as chapel and song leaders at divisional chapel
- Work in tribal clans during the Native American thematic study including cultural dance, music, arts and an appreciation of Mother Earth
- Share a family ancestor's story when researching their own family
- Learn about Asian culture and traditions, enjoy a traditional Asian Feast and receive instruction on the art of Chinese brush painting
- Study how whales survive in the ocean and enjoy a hands on science project where they create a material similar to real whale blubber
Third Grade
- Extensive, integrated thematic units on Westward expansion and the rainforest
- Star of the Week which provides opportunities for each child to be recognized and valued as a unique individual
- Dynamite Storytellers, an opportunity for each child to bring a special guest into the classroom to read to the class
Fourth Grade
- Extensive integrated thematic units on the 50 States and Environmental awareness
- School-wide recyclers
- Science and Math Clubs
Fifth Grade
- Extensive integrated thematic units on Community Government and American Presidents
- A vocabulary enrichment challenge program, Wordmasters
- Full-day of practicing community government at "Exchange City"