Lower School Humanities

Langauge Arts

Students in the Lower School learn to read, write and speak in an integrated curriculum. Multi-sensory techniques are employed to teach decoding and comprehension and students are encouraged to read for meaning. The faculty chooses material that reflects both the students’ reading levels and early childhood issues. Literature discussions, dramatic presentations and composition reading promote the development of public speaking skills. Students use the writing process to put their thoughts down on paper, edit and then publish their stories. Grammar and spelling are taught in an individualized and relevant manner. The faculty encourages love of reading and strongly emphasizes facility with the English language. Individual readiness determines student advancement. Enrichment activities include cooperative class books, published student books, guest readers, learning games, computer software, learning centers, field trips and Lower School newsletters.

Social Studies

Social studies develops the students’ awareness of their world and their place in it. The social studies curriculum begins in prekindergarten with a focus on the child, gradually enlarging the student’s world to regions of the United States. Units in each grade combine history, geography, economics, anthropology and the dynamics of culture. Teachers guide students through comparing, contrasting, analysis and decision-making experiences. The School seeks to develop in students an understanding of their world and tolerance for the people in it. Enrichment activities include hands-on projects involving research and written reports, field trips, and related computer software. All grades teach map skills and age appropriate current events.

Courses

• Prekindergarten Language Arts

  Given opportunities to interact with adults and peers in language and print-rich environments, young children develop vocabulary, language skills, and knowledge of the world around them. We use hands-on readiness activities and multi-sensory techniques to develop consistent habits for letter formation, promote self-confidence, crayon/pencil grip and body awareness.

• Prekindergarten Social Studies

  Social Studies is the study of how people live, work, interact with others and solve problems. The foundation of social studies for young children begins with their personal experiences and their interaction with family and friends. For young children, the family, the school, the neighborhood and the community are components of social studies. In Prekindergarten, the children will explore and gain information through hands-on experiences, many books and field trips. They will demonstrate their understanding through multiple forms of expression such as, drawing, dramatic play, conversation, art media, music/movement and emergent writing.

• Kindergarten Language Arts

  Language immersion is the guiding principle of the Kindergarten language arts program. Students participate in listening, speaking, reading, and writing activities in the subject areas through the school day. Competency with oral language is paramount. Kindergartners develop speaking skills by using language actively, such as when they describe meaningful experiences, talk about the Mystery Bag items, ask and answer questions and perform in Bell Hall. Good listening skills are fostered when the children listen to the teacher read aloud, while hearing tapes, during discussions, and while following directions for board games or pencil and paper activities. Listening for letter sounds during phonics activities or for rhyming words is another way skills are enhanced. Kindergarten students learn that there is a connection between spoken and written language as they dictate individual or group stories and subsequently observe their words in print. They begin the formal writing process by printing their own names and copying words or phrases. Gradually, they are asked to use their knowledge of phonics to approximate the correct spelling of words. Encouraging the use of phonetic spelling promotes writing fluency. As the school year progresses, the Kindergartners’ attention is called to the correct spelling of high fluency words. Specific writing activities include copying words, writing individual words or sentences for a group book, and journals. At the same time, handwriting is presented formally through activities such as “skywriting,” writing on the board, and workbook pages. Emergent-reading skills involve retelling stories, working with poems, sharing books with friends, choral reading as a class, reading personally-dictated material, and reading independently. A more sequential and structured component has been added to the language program. This will include phonological awareness, the alphabetic principle, and beginning direct language instruction. Formal language arts lessons and activities are taught to the entire class. In addition, the children receive individual reading instruction on their independent level of ability.

• Kindergarten Social Studies

  The social studies curriculum focuses on the comparison between the Kindergartner and people and places throughout history. The children begin their studies by discussing themselves, their physical characteristics, their home and school surroundings, and the people in their lives. Awareness of people from different environments is fostered by children’s literature, craft projects and field trips. Important holidays are studied and beginning map skills are introduced.

• 1st Grade Language Arts

  The first grade language arts program presents the students with many opportunities to develop their emerging reading, writing, listening, speaking and handwriting skills through formal and informal instruction. The reading program emphasizes the direct teaching of phonics skills, other decoding strategies, and comprehension skills within a literature-rich environment. Teachers follow a systematized plan for presenting the phonological aspects of reading. Directed reading activities are based on a published first grade anthology and on a variety of fiction and non-fiction trade books. Poems, rhymes, chants, and predictable stories reinforce language and motivate the students to want to read. Reading groups are needs based and focus on word recognition strategies, fluency and comprehension. The students’ comprehension is evaluated during group discussions and follow-up activities that also help to further develop reading and writing skills. Students are encouraged to write about topics relevant to their lives.

• 1st Grade Social Studies

  The social studies curriculum is centered on the Harcourt first grade program, as well as on holidays and historical people and events. Throughout the year, the children also learn about the United States. Continents and countries are identified, and discussions and activities related to parts of the world are initiated. Lessons include reading a variety of literature, creating class books, and doing craft projects.

• 2nd Grade Language Arts

  The language arts program in second grade uses a literature-based approach. The students read a variety of trade books that are selected to meet the needs of the individual child. Reading for meaning is the main approach utilized, and it focuses on literal comprehension, beginning inference skills, predicting outcomes, and drawing conclusions. Higher order thinking skills are also introduced in Second grade. If difficulties occur, such as confronting an unfamiliar word, the student is guided through decoding and comprehension strategies that are based on previous knowledge and word families. The students have spelling lists assigned each week.  These words build upon previously learned phonetic skills as well to teach new rules that apply to daily writing.  Writing assignments may include personal narratives, journal writing, simple poetry and short stories. Although some stories are teacher-directed, most come from the children’s own ideas. After the stories are complete, many are edited and published for the student’s own library. Grammar skills are introduced to further enhance the children’s knowledge of reading and writing. Handwriting is another aspect of the language arts program. These lessons are taught with a dual purpose in mind: accuracy of letter formation and practical application. The children are expected to master manuscript writing during the first semester; cursive writing is introduced during the second semester. There is time during the day for the students to listen to a variety of children’s literature that serves to stimulate their interest in the reading and writing process.

• 2nd Grade Social Studies

  Social studies in second grade will be taught using a thematic approach.  Second graders will then focus their attention on the United States and its cultural heritage. They will examine landmarks, traditions, climate, products, and customs across the country. The lives of many famous Americans will be explored and biographies will be read throughout the year. Students will learn about different cultures and diverse people from around the world. They will also sharpen geography skills while learning how to use directionality, keys, and symbols to interpret maps. Current events will be an integral part of our curriculum and will allow students to strengthen their decision-making and problem-solving skills.

• 3rd Grade Language Arts

   

  The third grade language arts program focuses on strengthening previously learned skills.  Students will continue to develop basic oral and silent reading skills, comprehension, predicting, vocabulary, fluency, and making inferences through the use of a variety of children’s literature.

  Writing assignments include creative writing, research projects, poetry, short stories, and journal entries. Grammar lessons including punctuation, capitalization, editing, and parts of speech are part of daily instruction. Spelling lists are distributed each week. The lists include words that the children misspell, words that are relevant to a topic or theme, and words from a published forth grade-spelling text. Handwriting is another aspect of the language arts program. Cursive writing lessons emphasize proper letter formation and neatness.

  Computer technology is included in the humanities program. Students are given the opportunity to work with various software programs preparing reports, stories, and presentations both in the classroom and in the computer lab.

   

• 3rd Grade Social Studies

   

  The third grade social studies program focuses on the study of early civilizations of Egypt, Greece, Rome and medieval times. Trade books relating to these time frames are used to gain meaning of key concepts and vocabulary. Acquired knowledge is then fully implemented into a hands-on approach. By using a variety of activities, the students can experience what they have read and understand key concepts.

   

   

• 4th Grade Language Arts

   

  The fourth grade language arts program uses a variety of children’s literature and online resources to teach reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. Skills such as locating information, decoding unfamiliar words, and developing fluency in both oral and silent reading are emphasized. The students are asked to respond to their reading assignments by answering questions that help to develop their comprehension and foster higher order thinking skills. Responses may include literature discussion groups or use various multi-media technologies.

  Many writing activities evolve from the literature that is read in the classroom. Writing activities include using a variety of resources and media skills in creating poetry, news articles, opinion pieces, personal narratives, short stories, and topics that interest the individual student. Grammar lessons including punctuation, capitalization, and parts of speech are integrated into the writing assignments.

  Spelling lists are distributed each week. The lists include words that the children misspell, words that are relevant to a topic or theme, and words from a published fifth grade spelling text.  

  There is a time most days for the teacher to read to the children. This helps develop good listening skills and increase comprehension. The students are required to read independently and prepare book reports in a variety of ways. By reading quality children’s literature, each student has the opportunity to realize a sense of his or her own success and growth as a reader and writer.

   

• 4th Grade Social Studies

  The students will investigate the evolution of democracy from very early migrations of people into the Americas to the successful establishment of an independent country, declared in 1776. The study will cover Native American cultures, European explorers, colonial settlement, and the causes and events which lead to the Declaration of Independence. Students will also examine the wider world through use of the Internet, current events, research, cultural experiences, and the continued development of geography skills.

• 5th Grade Language Arts

  In language arts, the students are taught vocabulary, comprehension, phonemic awareness, spelling, handwriting, study skills, writing, grammar, speaking, and listening skills. These components will be addressed using the U.S. History text, short stories, literature, as well as on-line resources. Emphasis will be placed on fostering critical thinking skills. Monthly book reports will be assigned based upon different genres.  Students will be expected to read nightly for twenty minutes. Spelling tests are administered weekly. Spelling lessons are taught daily and may include challenging words. Grammar lessons, at a Sixth grade level, are taught several times a week. Tests will be administered to determine mastery of the skills taught. As a fifth grader, your child will be exposed to a variety of writing forms that include expressive, imaginative, informative, and persuasive writing. They are challenged to produce an excellent product, in written or digital form. By the end of the year, students should be comfortable writing a well-organized three-paragraph selection that includes a variety of sentence structures and a rich and varied vocabulary. This three-paragraph writing piece may include the incorporation of a multi-media format.

• 5th Grade Social Studies

  Our U.S. History program in fifth grade includes the study of history, geography, economics, civics, government, and culture and society. Students will study events, evidence, and points of view to connect the past to the present. Study skills, writing skills, comprehension, test taking strategies, reading skills, and speaking will be incorporated within this course of study. Current events will be incorporated into the program. Assignments given will allow the students to demonstrate the mastery of concepts through projects that may include a digital format.