Lower School Curriculum

Language Arts

Our language arts program is grounded in multi-sensory, systematic phonics instruction built on strong phonemic instruction in early childhood classrooms. While explicitly teaching the code of reading, our teachers continue to nurture strong fluency and comprehension skills through interactive read-aloud, decodable reading, and book clubs in the upper elementary grades. 

Our students are intentionally immersed in rich vocabulary through inquiry experiences in a wide range of topics. A defining element of our approach to language arts is that reading and writing are taught concurrently, solidifying spelling and written syntax skills as reading skills develop. Our central goal is to provide our students with word recognition and language comprehension skills that grow their confidence as readers and writers, cultivating joy in the English language classroom.​​

Mathematics

Lower School teachers take every opportunity to integrate math throughout the curriculum and in daily routines, incorporating National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) standards. Utilizing the Open Up Resources K–5 Math curriculum, we foster the development of mathematics learning communities in our classrooms and give students access to mathematics through a coherent progression. We strive to ensure that our students become competent in basic math skills, view math as fun and relevant to their lives, and are prepared for more advanced math work in the Lower and Middle Schools.

Science

Our science program supports the innate curiosity of children and emphasizes hands-on, process-oriented activities that allow students to explore the living and nonliving world. Students use their senses and are given time, materials, and resources needed to question and experiment.

In addition to raised garden beds outside our preschool classrooms, we maintain a 1.5-acre instructional organic farm, and our Lower School Farm Program serves not only to expand students’ scientific thinking but also to further develop their understanding of stewardship and continual care of the earth. In this inquiry-based setting, they reflect on and record their explorations and experiences and have the opportunity to form their own conclusions.

Social Studies

Our social studies curriculum opens the door to the discovery of communities across the globe. Students explore diverse cultures and their history, environments, and people. Map skills are developed through the study of geography. Students learn the many ways that world cultures and traditions have influenced American communities over time. Retracing the steps of history, they develop a basic understanding and chronology of key events.

Arts

Our art program focuses on exposing the students to a wide range of artistic principles and techniques, enhanced by illustrations from art history and different cultures. The arts program fosters a sense of pride, pleasure, and accomplishment in their artistic ability while broadening their artistic knowledge base.

Music

Our music program fosters a lifelong enjoyment and appreciation of music by providing experiences that develop and continually increase musical skills while nurturing musical imagination and creativity. Students at all grade levels explore and expand their musical abilities through singing, moving, playing instruments, listening to selected musical works, and creating original music and interpretive movements.

Spanish

Our Lower School Spanish study focuses on active listening, comprehension, and communication. Students are introduced to the language the same way they were introduced to their mother tongue. As they progress through the grades, students gradually internalize frequently-used vocabulary and basic grammar while they learn to speak. By the Fourth and Fifth Grades, students get familiar with phonetic spelling and begin to communicate ideas in writing.

Physical Education

Our physical education program encourages the enjoyment of physical pursuits throughout life by helping students be successful and comfortable in a variety of active games, dance, and exercise. Our Quaker values are stressed in play to build good sportsmanship and teamwork. Our learning approach is developmental – accepting and challenging individual levels of fitness, skill acquisition, and understanding of strategy.