Lower School

By establishing a framework for learning in the earliest years, students are better equipped to succeed in school and in life.

Our Lower School (grades JK-6) recognizes and celebrates that each student is unique and learns differently. With small classes and attention to every student, we are able to individualize learning and teach to each child’s strengths. Students are given the space to extend and challenge themselves in meaningful ways and become confident self-advocates for their own learning.

At Flint Hill, children are nurtured to be their very best, surrounded by people who know and care about them. Our Lower School sets new standards for excellence by relentlessly innovating our approach to learning. We ensure children develop in a positive environment and learn essential social and academic skills.

COLLEGE
PREP
STARTS HERE

Why Start at Flint Hill Early?

The earliest years are when our teachers build the foundation for students to think like scientists and explorers. Flint Hill students are inspired to approach learning in a way that is already natural to them — with curiosity. Our teachers are their guides, prepared to help children discover the right tools and strategies for them to be thinkers and problem solvers. This approach builds confidence, a passion for learning, and the foundation to solve problems throughout their lives.

Our low student-to-teacher ratio (grades JK-1 have two teachers per classroom, and the general Lower School ratio is 7:1) allows for more individualized instruction and more meaningful connections between teachers, students, and classmates. The adults on campus know every student in the school. Research tells us that these relationships facilitate deeper learning.

Because our school runs through 12th grade, you’ll never have to go through the application process again. And by securing a spot in our earliest entry year, you’ll avoid the wait pools that occur in most of our later grades.

5th Grade Expansion: Lower School Leaders

At 5th grade, we add a third class, expanding to welcome a new set of students. As the leaders of the Lower School, our 5th and 6th graders enjoy increased independence, choice, and space as they prepare for Middle School. They switch classes for math and their choice of music class while also participating in art and innovation. Their days include productive challenges in the classroom and active, unstructured play outdoors.

Our 6th graders use their leadership skills to plan and present our weekly Lower School Morning Meetings and create content with lower grades for cultural celebrations. Their schedules include flex time blocks for projects, study skills, and executive functioning practice with a learning specialist.

SEE OUR PROGRAM IN ACTION

going beyond classroom walls

The Lower School Field Studies program includes outdoor and experiential programs for students with activities — like this water testing lesson in 4th grade — that are integrated with the curriculum and take place both on and off-campus.

STUDENT-LED PROBLEM-SOLVING

Hands-on learning is key throughout all grades. When Head of School Mr. McHonett challenged the entire 6th grade to a massive game of rock, paper, scissors, nobody expected him to beat everyone! The students were curious to figure out how he did it — so in math class, they calculated the probability of his win.

DISCOVERY-BASED LEARNING

Lower School teachers facilitate hands-on exploration and spark student inquiry in a variety of ways. In this example, Kindergarteners visit a farmers market after learning about where their food comes from.

After-School Clubs

Flint Hill offers a variety of after-school enrichment clubs to broaden students’ interests, with activities like Chess, Dance, Debate, Little Scientists, Mixed Media Arts, Radio, and Theater Arts offered from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Take a peek into the Little Scientists Club!

MORE PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

Hopes & Dreams Conferences

Lower School teachers make it a a point to learn directly from the students what their individual hopes and dreams are for the school year. They also take the time to invite their parents' perspective. Just before the start of each new school year, Flint Hill hosts a series of conferences for Lower School parents to drop by the classroom to share their hopes, dreams, and goals for their child’s upcoming year, along with any additional information they believe would be helpful for our teachers to know about their child.

Lower School Morning Meeting

Tuesday mornings begin with a Morning Meeting for the entire Lower School to gather in the Olson Theater for a student-driven exhibition of learning that cycles hosting duties throughout each homeroom. Students and teachers are encouraged to share about meaningful holidays and celebrations to foster inclusivity. The core values are highlighted and demonstrated through students sharing their personal and academic passions with the student body.

Every other day of the week, students start their day with morning meeting in their classrooms as part of the Responsive Classroom curriculum.

Family Classroom Visits

Several times a year, students have the opportunity to welcome their parents into the classroom to hear about their learning, see projects they have been working on, and experience the classroom community and environment firsthand. Following the classroom visit, parents join the Director of the Lower School for a coffee and Q&A on a particular topic of interest.

Day of Play

Part of the annual Global Day of Play, our Day of Play curriculum introduces students to design skills used by engineers, architects, and other professionals. Teachers are the facilitators as students brainstorm, plan, build, test, and improve their creations. Additionally, students have opportunities to learn about giving and receiving constructive criticism during feedback sessions. Lower Schoolers ultimately build upon the foundation created by Day of Play activities through our Middle School Maker Education program and Robotics and Design Thinking courses in the Upper School. Past Day of Play themes have included "Huskies Go Jurassic" and "Camp Curiosity".

grade level buddies

As a a Lower School that spans junior kindergarten through grade 6, we maximize opportunities for students across the grade levels to learn from each other. Youngest Huskies in junior kindergarten through 1st grade are paired up with older students in 4th and 5th grade to serve as mentors and “buddies” for the younger children. The buddies meet regularly to collaborate on service learning projects, play games, and attend school events together. The connections they make follow them into Middle and Upper School.

Student-Involved Conferences

Each spring, Lower School students host a Student-Involved/Student-Led Conference with their families and teacher(s). The objective of this conference is to celebrate each child’s competencies and to allow them to articulate the progress they’ve made during the year. The focal point is a portfolio developed by each child that shows a wide range of assignments along with important reflections of their work and their learning. As they review their work, the children consider reasonable goals for themselves for the final quarter of the year, which is shared during the conferences.

LOWER SCHOOL LEARNING JOURNEY

Life in the Lower School is about laying the foundation for a lifetime of curiosity and joyful learning. In addition to substantive projects and academic work, our students’ capacity for curiosity, discovery and in-depth exploration is celebrated through engaging activities that stimulate and instruct them in age-appropriate ways.

FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS

More than half of the day in our Junior Kindergarten program is devoted to developing the foundational skills they’ll need for math, science, and language arts.

MATH

While students often work independently on sorting, pattern building, grouping, and other early math skills, their teachers help introduce them to calendar math, with concepts such as, “How many days are left until the next birthday?” and “How many days are in a week?”

PLAY

Junior Kindergarten is when students are learning how to play and socialize with others! Running around on the JK playground helps them regulate their emotions and get their wiggles out.

SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING

Making friends and engaging in social behaviors are so important at this age — and we give them many opportunities to do so.

SPECIALS

Our JK class takes “specials” every day of the week, taught by our experts, including Spanish, music, library, computer science, physical education, and innovation.

EXPLORE

Since they’re so young, these students are often still experiencing things for the first time! Junior Kindergarteners take time to explore in every season, going on nature walks, identifying different leaves, looking at wildlife, and even just finding their favorite walking sticks.

LANGUAGE ARTS

Kindergarten students spend about an hour each day in Language Arts, where they continue building the foundational skills they need to read and write.

MATH

At this stage in child development, most Kindergarten students practice their math skills by modeling using manipulatives such as marbles or other play items to count and by drawing out math problems.

SCIENCE

Students are always encouraged to “think like a scientist.” In this lab, Kindergarteners apply fundamental physics principles. They work in pairs to build structures to protect a mountain town from falling boulders (ping pong balls). Using a mountain model made of inclined cardboard, students design and test their own solutions to re-direct the “boulders” away from their paper town.

COMPUTER SCIENCE

In Computer Science class, Kindergarteners continue to learn basic block coding. Here, they are coding robot mice to follow a specific path.

MORNING MEETING

Morning Meeting is a special time every day for kindergarten students and a key component of Responsive Classroom. Teachers reinforce concepts students have learned in previous lessons and focus on building community. The children are given the time and space to ask questions and be curious.

WELLNESS

Research-based weekly Wellness classes with our school counselors focus on helping students practice mindfulness, communication skills, and self-regulation.

READING/WRITING

1st grade is when reading and writing are separated, with students working on reading for about an hour and writing for about 30 minutes a day. The instruction becomes much more focused and includes everything from word study and vocabulary to how to give and receive feedback on their writing.

MATH

At this age, students work on subtraction and addition fluency, and they start learning more advanced concepts to prepare them for algebra and beyond. There’s a lot of repetition, but it’s necessary to solidify their knowledge!

ART

Working artist Adjoa Burrowes teaches our 1st graders basic art concepts, focusing on lines, color, and spacing. Here, students wrap up their self-portraits, which were drawn in the style of Frida Kahlo.

RECESS & SNACK BREAK

Twice a day, students get the chance to socialize and take a brain break! These breaks are essential for them to build social skills. Parents send in a snack, and students eat during the break.

SCIENCE

Students learn about plants, animals, and their behavior. At the end of the year, they each choose an animal and do research and a project on that animal, which they present to the class.

LIBRARY

Starting in first grade, students can check out books from our library to bring home! They spend 30 minutes each week in the library, where the curriculum corresponds with what they’re doing in the classroom. They are allowed to stop by any time to exchange books.

WRITING

Students have moved from just learning how to read and write to creating and writing their own stories. They learn about poetry and write their own poems!

READING & SOCIAL STUDIES

While becoming more voracious readers, students also begin to learn the ins and outs of researching topics in Social Studies. They evaluate the information they discover from different types of sources.

MATH

In 2nd grade, our students use a workshop model of math learning. Their teacher or math specialist gives a mini math lesson, and then students rotate among three activities that go with it: 15 minutes working alone, 15 minutes on a non-technology game or puzzle, and 15 minutes using technology (iPad).

INNOVATION

Teachers often work together to provide cross-curricular activities. This Innovation project was inspired by 2nd graders learning about the importance of rice in both food and culture around the world.

SPANISH

2nd graders take Spanish twice a week for 30 minutes, learning even more about the language and culture. Often, singing and dancing are incorporated to make it even more fun!

WELLNESS CLASS

In Wellness class every week, students work on understanding and empathy. They study the difference between facts and opinions, and practice using statements such as, “I think,” “I believe,” and “I agree/disagree.”

LANGUAGE ARTS

Students practice deeper comprehension in reading, as well as writing with a clear purpose in mind. In the “Author’s Chair,” students give and receive feedback on others’ writing.

MATH

In Math class, students are putting together all they’ve learned so far to branch out into new ideas, such as geometry. Here, they calculate the area of rectangles using blocks.

SCIENCE

Upper School Science Teacher Mr. Atwood visits 3rd graders to teach them about natural science. Here they are learning about ornithology, the science of birding. They use binoculars to identify native and invasive birds on our campus, and Mr. Atwood explains how bird bands help track migration and other behavior patterns.

SOCIAL SCIENCES

3rd graders explore economics, entrepreneurship, and math by visiting a local farmers market. In teams, they manage their budgets and analyze costs to make smart purchases. These types of cross-curricular activities are the norm at Flint Hill.

WELLNESS

Students practice mindfulness every day. Here, they take a “Mindful Moment” and focus on breathing techniques to ease the transition from recess back into the classroom.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Physical education is a key component of all grades in the Lower School. In this lesson, students learn about healthy eating while being physically active at the same time. They run to a mock grocery store and gain a better understanding of the components of a well-balanced plate of fruits, veggies, grains, and protein.

LANGUAGE ARTS

At this stage in their development, 4th graders are doing more independent reading in and out of the library. They even start their own book clubs in small groups to discuss themes and their thoughts.

MATH

In Math class, students need more immediate feedback on whether their answers are correct, so we introduce a hardcover textbook with more information. This year things move a bit faster, and they learn about variables, fractions, and other more difficult concepts using modeling. They have more ownership over their work than at previous stages.

SCIENCE

4th graders analyze scientific data and use inquiry skills to investigate the natural world. Here, they take water samples from a creek near our campus and test the quality of the water.

COMPUTER SCIENCE

In Computer Science and Innovation class, 4th graders program a Finch Robot to compete in an epic dance battle. Students learn to code the robot to light up, make sounds, and dance using short moves and turns that match the rhythm of the music.

SPANISH

Classes taught mostly in Spanish offer students the opportunity to refine their listening and speaking abilities, while also learning about the different cultures that speak the language. Here, students show off elaborate floats on wheels that they pulled on the floor to recreate the magic of the Brazilian Carnaval.

SOCIAL STUDIES & MUSIC

4th grade students learn about various historical aspects of Colonial Williamsburg and Jamestown to prepare for a field trip in the spring. To gain a deeper understanding of the three cultures of the Jamestown Settlement, the students create their own musical instruments, merging elements found in West African, Powhatan, and English cultures.

MIDDLE SCHOOL PREP

It’s time to start preparing for middle school! Students gain more independence in 5th grade, where they walk between classrooms to switch classes and have a bit more choice in which courses they take.

MATH

5th grade is when students branch into two classes for math instruction based on skill level: Math 5 or Math 5 Accelerated. They’re introduced to algebraic components such as variables, rational numbers, and negatives and positives.

BUDDIES

In our buddy program, 5th graders partner with kindergarten students to plan activities. Here, they work together on writing cards to share their appreciation on Veterans Day.

MUSIC CHOICE

Instead of taking one general music class, 5th and 6th grade students are able to choose one class as a focus: Band, Choir, or Percussion. All three classes perform at concerts.

SCIENCE LAB

Students have scheduled science labs in addition to their regular science classes. They do more hands-on experiments in these labs, such as growing different types of mold, learning how ice forms, and charting the growth of their own small plants.

LANGUAGE ARTS

Students go through a more advanced writing process by first planning, then drafting, revising, and finally publishing their original poems. They perform their own works as part of the 5th Grade Poetry Cafe.

LOWER SCHOOL LEADERS

Our 6th grade students are the leaders of the Lower School. They design and lead the Lower School Morning Meeting program and invite other classes to present and participate or co-host. Building these public speaking and leadership skills at this age is key to later success in middle and upper school.

MATH

At this stage, students learn prime factors, factorization, unknowns within equations, and unit rates. Students are separated into one of three math classes based on skill level. The highest level (pre-algebra) allows the students to take advanced math in middle school.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Students are bused over to the Middle and Upper School campuses for their physical education. They begin having PE uniforms, and they change in the locker rooms. This is all part of preparing for middle school. Here, they learn about track and field events from one of the Upper School coaches.

STUDY HALL

To continue middle school prep, 6th grade students have a study hall each week. During this time, they can work on projects, practice their study skills, and attend executive functioning practice with a learning specialist.

AFTER-SCHOOL PLAY

The 5th and 6th grade play is an after-school activity that is beloved by our students. Most recently, they performed “Up There in Lights” in the Olson Theater. These fine arts performances help build students’ skills in so many areas: collaboration, creativity, public speaking, and more.

INNOVATION & LANGUAGE ARTS

In a joint Innovation/Language Arts project, 6th grade students laser cut, sand and paint mini-bookshelves to represent their lives and interests. They also learn Adobe Illustrator to design mini book covers and use Innovation’s 3D printer to create decorations for the bookshelves.

CURRICULUM

Lower School teachers are equipped with a strong understanding of the neuroscience of learning and experience with strategies that foster deep learning in the classroom. Flint Hill students don’t say, “I don’t know,” if they don’t immediately know the answer to a problem. They dissect the information they’ve been given and pull out tools to find their way to the solution. Our students are comfortable with the productive struggle and expand their capacity for learning in the process.

ART

K |

KINDERGARTEN

Students are introduced to a variety of media, including drawing, painting, collage, printmaking, ceramics, and sculpture. Students draw upon their imaginations as well as observation skills to build visual literacy and expand their developing skills.

Objectives:

Develop creative thinking skills
Build imagination
Learn to express oneself visually

1 |

1st GRADE

Students are exposed to a variety of media in different art disciplines, including drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramics, and sculpture. Students learn basic color theory and are introduced to various drawing media.

Objectives:

Explore the concept of multiples in print
Learn basic color theory
Learn about the elements of art

2 |

2nd GRADE

Students expand on previous skills learned and are challenged with more involved projects in drawing, painting, collage, printmaking, ceramics, sculpture, and design. Students learn basic weaving and clay hand-building skills.

Objectives:

Expand on basic color theory
Develop knowledge of elements of art
Learn problem-solving skills in art

3 |

3rd GRADE

Students expand on previous skills learned for more in-depth projects in different art disciplines, including drawing, painting, printmaking, clay animation, ceramics, and sculpture. Students are challenged to combine art skills learned with personal points of view in their work.

Objectives:

Learn basic compositional design
Explore printing work in editions
Expand on hand-building clay techniques

4 |

4th GRADE

Students expand on previous skills learned with an emphasis on developing new ideas, expanding on known concepts, and integrating grade-level knowledge with the joy of self-expression. Students incorporate elements of art and principles of design in increased complexity and depth.

Objectives:

Build on artistic problem-solving skills
Develop technical and conceptual skills
Foster potential for more individual expression in art

5 |

5th GRADE

The 5th Grade Art course aims to foster creativity, develop artistic skills, and introduce students to various art forms and techniques. Through engaging projects and activities, students will explore different mediums and learn about the purpose of art in life and culture. The course encourages students to express themselves visually while enhancing their critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.

Objectives:

Foster creativity
Develop artistic skills
Apply the art elements and principles of design for visual impact

6th GRADE

The 6th Grade Art course with an emphasis on design aims to develop students' creativity, problem-solving skills, and understanding of the principles of design. Through engaging projects and activities, students explore concept development, composition, layout, elements, principles, and techniques. They learn to apply these concepts in various art forms and develop an appreciation for the role of art and design in culture and everyday life for visual impact.

Objectives:

Develop the creative process
Develop problem-solving skills
Apply the art elements and principles of design for visual impact

LANGUAGE ARTS

JK |

JUNIOR KINDERGARTEN

Junior Kindergarteners focus on early literacy skills with a strong emphasis on phonemic awareness, sound-symbol relationships, and concepts of print. Children combine letters, spaces, and pictures to communicate ideas, and they write using spelling approximations.

Objectives:

Concepts of print
Phonological/phonemic awareness
Letter knowledge
Listening comprehension
Writing process
Oral language - speaking/listening
Handwriting
Vocabulary

K |

KINDERGARTEN

Kindergarteners strengthen their phonemic awareness and start to decode language with corresponding sounds and letters. Play-based materials provide a launchpad for their reading and story writing, and they use their developing writing skills to record observations and share stories.

Objectives:

Concepts of print
Phonemic awareness
Phonics/decoding
Early reading comprehension
Writing process
Oral language - speaking/listening
Handwriting
Vocabulary

1 |

1st GRADE

First graders build on their foundation of reading accuracy while also strengthening their fluency and comprehension. Extended writing opportunities help them gain experience with the writing process. First-grade students begin the important work of developing research skills.

Objectives:

Phonics/decoding
Comprehension strategies
Genre-specific reading strategies
Writing process: pre-write, draft, revise, edit, publish
Oral language - speaking/listening
Research and inquiry
Grammar, usage, and mechanics
Handwriting
Vocabulary

2 |

2nd GRADE

Second-grade students study sound patterns while exploring more sophisticated texts. They explore setting, character, plot, and genre while also considering the author’s purpose. Students incorporate defining traits of various genres into their own compositions. They develop questions for inquiry that guide research and inform their nonfiction work.

Objectives:

Phonics/decoding
Comprehension strategies
Genre-specific reading and writing strategies
Writing process: pre-write, draft, revise, edit, publish
Oral language - speaking/listening
Research and inquiry
Grammar, usage, and mechanics
Handwriting
Vocabulary

3 |

3rd GRADE

Third-grade students learn to read as writers and write as readers. They explore more advanced comprehension strategies, and they write various genres, often with an authentic audience and clear purpose in mind. Students explore sound and spelling patterns while increasing their understanding of word meanings.

Objectives:

Phonics/decoding
Reading comprehension strategies
Genre-specific reading and writing strategies
Writing Process: pre-write, draft, revise, edit, publish
Research and inquiry
Oral language - speaking/listening
Grammar, usage, and mechanics
Handwriting
Vocabulary

4 |

4th GRADE

Fourth graders engage with independent, small group, and partner reading selections. They expand vocabulary using words from various aspects of the curriculum, and they analyze spelling features through sound and word patterns. In their written compositions, students execute skills from whole-class lessons as well as individual writing goals.

Objectives:

Phonics/decoding
Reading comprehension strategies
Genre-specific reading and writing strategies
Writing process: pre-write, draft, revise, edit, publish
Research and inquiry
Oral language - speaking/listening
Grammar, usage, and mechanics
Vocabulary

5 |

5th GRADE

Fifth-grade students build language arts skills through wide independent reading, close reading of shared class texts, and activities to deepen analytical thinking. In addition to creative writing opportunities, students refine nonfiction writing, making claims and using clear evidence to support their ideas.

Objectives:

Reading comprehension strategies
Genre-specific reading and writing strategies
Writing process: pre-write, draft, revise, edit, publish
Research and inquiry
Oral language - speaking/listening
Grammar, usage, and mechanics
Vocabulary

6th GRADE

Students enhance their comprehension and thinking through wide independent reading, analysis of shared texts, and a range of nonfiction resources. They use various strategies to gather, synthesize, and communicate information, and they exercise sharing their thinking in diverse genres and formats.

Objectives:

Reading comprehension strategies
Writing process: pre-write, draft, revise, edit, publish
Research and inquiry
Oral language - speaking/listening
Grammar, usage, and mechanics
Vocabulary

INNOVATION & COMPUTER SCIENCE

JK |

JUNIOR KINDERGARTEN

Junior Kindergarten students experience computer science and innovation explicitly through direct instruction from specialists and organically through continued opportunities in their classroom. Students are exposed to foundational coding concepts such as sequencing, debugging, and pattern recognition and are introduced to coding apps and physical bots to begin designing and debugging algorithms.

K |

KINDERGARTEN

Students are exposed to foundational coding concepts such as commands, numerical loops with block parameters, conditional loops, and sequencing. Students use coding apps and physical bots to practice basic programming concepts by designing and debugging algorithms. Through engineering, tinkering, creating, and sharing, students engage in the self-directed learning process that is crucial to innovation.

1 |

1st GRADE

Students practice with foundational coding concepts such as sequencing, conditions, and repetition using loops. Students use coding apps and physical bots to practice the fundamentals of coding by designing and debugging algorithms. Through engineering, tinkering, creating, and sharing, students engage in the self-directed learning process that is crucial to innovation.

2 |

2nd GRADE

Students develop their understanding of essential coding concepts such as sequencing, loops, events, and conditional statements. Students use coding apps and physical bots to practice fundamental concepts of computational thinking by designing and debugging algorithms. Through engineering, tinkering, creating, and sharing, students engage in the self-directed learning process that is crucial to innovation.

3 |

3rd GRADE

Students deepen their understanding of essential coding concepts such as loops, loop nesting, decomposition, abstraction, functions, and variables. Students use coding apps and physical bots to develop creative problem-solving and computational-thinking skills by designing and debugging algorithms. Through engineering, tinkering, creating, and sharing, students engage in the self-directed learning process that is crucial to innovation.

4 |

4th GRADE

Students strengthen their understanding of essential coding concepts such as nested loops, functions, and conditionals. Students use coding apps and physical bots to promote creative problem-solving and computational-thinking skills by designing and debugging complex algorithms. Through engineering, tinkering, creating, and sharing, students engage in the self-directed learning process that is crucial to innovation.

5 |

5th GRADE

Students learn the basics of computer programming, engineering, making, and design thinking, which are the building blocks of future study in Innovation courses at Flint Hill. In addition, students learn to use the resources available to them to make connections with their personal, social, and academic realms, all while being ethical and responsible users and producers of information within a one-to-one environment.

6th GRADE

Students further their foundation in digital citizenship and innovation. As they engage in interdisciplinary problem-solving and short- and long-term projects of increasing complexity and depth, students develop skills in critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, research, and communication. Students are encouraged to tinker, experiment, and create, using the power of digital design and fabrication, electronics, physical computing, engineering, and creative coding.

MATH

JK |

JUNIOR KINDERGARTEN

Students engage in play-based learning, counting, numeral recognition, and calendar activities to develop foundational math skills. Emphasis is on counting larger groups, numeral order, numeral writing, pattern recognition, and understanding the significance of numbers in everyday life.

K |

KINDERGARTEN

Kindergarten math builds a strong counting foundation for understanding numbers. Students engage in activities to develop addition and subtraction skills, grouping quantities, problem-solving, length measurement, spatial sense, shapes, and data collection using graphs, tallies, and tables.

1 |

1st GRADE

In 1st grade, students are immersed in practical experiences to develop a deep understanding of number relationships and mathematical concepts. Through hands-on activities, problem-solving, and pattern analysis, students learn addition combinations, explore shapes, and develop critical thinking skills through data collection and interpretation.

2 |

2nd GRADE

Second grade focuses on hands-on activities to deepen students' understanding of key math concepts. They learn place value through models, enabling visualization of two-digit numbers and developing strategies for addition and subtraction. Students also learn fractions, data analysis, measurement, and shape properties.

3 |

3rd GRADE

In 3rd grade, students develop a comprehensive understanding of math, focusing on four-digit numbers and the four operations. They learn multiplication and division properties, problem-solving strategies, and fractions. Decimal fractions, line graphs, measurement, and shape attributes are also explored.

4 |

4th GRADE

In 4th grade, students develop skills across various math domains. They focus on addition, subtraction, multiplication, factors, and multiples. Problem-solving, place value, fractions, decimals, data interpretation, probability, and shape attributes are emphasized.

5 |

5th GRADE

In 5th grade, students review and deepen their computational skills while focusing on fluency and accuracy. They develop strategies for multiplication, division, fractions, and decimals. Additionally, they explore 2D shapes, volume, data analysis, probability, and functional relationships through hands-on activities and collaborative discussions.

6th GRADE

Sixth-grade students focus on problem-solving strategies, patterns, models, and equations. They develop estimation, benchmarking, and reasoning skills. The math curriculum covers fractions, decimals, ratios, percentages, geometry, data analysis, and an introduction to algebra with an emphasis on connections, real-world application, investigation, and discovery-based learning.

MUSIC

JK |

JUNIOR KINDERGARTEN

JK-4th grade musicians engage in an active music curriculum, embracing Orff Shulwerk and Kodaly approaches to reading rhythm and melody. They also learn about the people and cultural traditions that contextualize songs, games, rhymes, and dances in the music room. Experiences are designed to teach students life skills, such as teamwork, concentration, and mindfulness. They celebrate their learning through two collaborative concerts a year.