The Lower School focuses on providing a balanced curriculum of academics, arts, and athletics. Each student follows a sequential curriculum to master the foundational knowledge and skills in English, mathematics, science, history and geography, Spanish, music, art and physical education.
Curriculum Overview
LANGUAGE ARTS: Students enjoy works of literature through reading assignments that may include such works as The Trumpet of the Swan or The Sign of the Beaver. Literature is read and discussed in a Socratic seminar format. Students have the opportunity to appreciate other works of classic literature through daily teacher-read stories which may include Old Yeller or Stuart Little. Writing is taught in a workshop format with an emphasis on the components and processes essential to developing pieces in a variety of genres, including fiction, essay, and non-fictional narratives. The building blocks of the English language are taught through grammar studies with an emphasis on sentence structure and parts of speech. Students continue to utilize phonogram knowledge and spelling patterns through regular spelling and vocabulary practice. Students make oral presentations in order to become skilled and confident public speakers.
MATHEMATICS: In the Singapore math program, addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division are mastered. Other topics covered this year include numbers through the thousands, measurements of length and weight, unit conversions, time, money, area, perimeter, and extensive practice with multi-step word problems.
SCIENCE: Students in grade three use the scientific method through their hands-on experiments. They learn to predict, observe, classify, and communicate their findings, and they begin to design experiments and develop a more concrete sense of variables and controls. Topics of study include plant life cycles, insects, soil composition, electricity, and magnets.
HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY: Topics include the ancient Roman, Viking, and Islamic civilizations, and Europe in the Middle Ages. Students also study the native peoples and early explorers of North America.
SPANISH: The goal of the Spanish program is communicative competence in speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Students continue to build vocabulary and study sentence construction. Topics include parts of the body, clothing, calendar, rooms and furnishings of the house, entertainment, appliances and toys, and names of foods. Throughout the year, students are introduced to the various cultures and regions of the Spanish-speaking world. In addition, all grades participate in a special unit of cultural study that culminates in a larger event.
MUSIC: Students receive weekly piano lessons in small groups and study formal music theory. Students analyze complex musical pieces and practice sight singing and aural and rhythmic exercises. Students apply previously learned musical concepts with the use of instruments, singing, dancing, and expressive movement. Theory and piano classes prepare students for regular recitals, participation in school concerts and musicals, as well as the graded examinations of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, London. Some of the major studies include Tchaikovsky’s ballet The Nutcracker and Humperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel.
ART: Students review the five basic elements of shape and how they can be combined. Students observe how the basic elements of art, lines, color, light, shadow, texture, pattern, etc., work together to please viewers, to show emotion, to tell a story, or to give viewers a new way of looking at something. Students learn volume drawing, learn to recognize and duplicate positive and negative space, practice still life drawings and paintings, and learn to sculpt. Learning how repetition of shapes and color can create a pattern or rhythm, students participate in a Faith Ringgold quilt-making study and a pointillism project. Art topics and activities may be added to complement other class subjects.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION: The program emphasizes physical skills that can be applied in multiple sports situations. Through games and drills, students learn basic ball handling skills, fine and gross motor movements, spatial awareness and basic strategy. Students develop confidence and motivation to participate in organized and individual physical activities. Leadership, teamwork and good sportsmanship are taught. The program emphasizes lifelong fitness.