Lower School Curriculum
Each day, students focus on these core subjects: literacy, mathematics, science, and social studies. They also have regular sessions in Spanish, PE, art, Bible, and music, and they spend time working in the IDEA Lab. An integrated, hands-on approach across the subject areas encourages students to explore, experiment, and problem solve using logic and critical thinking.
At the heart of all Lower School learning are high expectations of each student, spiritually based character education, and a commitment to differentiating the curriculum so that every child is engaged.
Literacy
Progress and proficiency in the essentials of literacy—reading, writing, speaking, and listening—are emphasized and evident at each level in Lower School.
Working along a literacy continuum, our instruction builds from interactive reading aloud and discussion with the youngest children toward guided and independent reading. The program incorporates phonics, spelling, and word study; includes extensive writing; and introduces oral, visual, and technological communication. The aim is to enable students to think within, about, and beyond the text—constructing meaning from language while developing fluency.
Applying a reading/writing workshop model that includes focused mini-lessons followed by independent and group practice, students explore various writing phases (drafting, revising, proofreading, and publishing) and forms (informational, narrative, persuasive, poetry).
Mathematics
Our program helps students master the key mathematical concepts of quantity, size, space, portions, proportions, and relationships in a way that makes sense in everyday life. Starting in kindergarten with the Math in Focus® program, we follow a three-step process—moving from the concrete to the pictorial to the abstract. Using manipulatives to demonstrate a concept, followed by a pictorial or graphic re-creation of it, sets the basis for understanding the concept through numbers and symbols.
After sorting, classifying, measuring, identifying patterns, exploring number concepts, and practicing logical thinking in first grade, topics such as basic geometry, time and temperature, money, graphing, and place value are introduced in second grade. From third through fifth grade, addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division become increasingly complex, with fractions and decimals introduced at the higher levels. Geometry, averages, mean, median, and mode, and the interpretation of graphs and charts, along with estimating and problem-solving skills, are taught as well. Students have opportunities to apply their math skills in both science and social studies projects as thy conduct research and report on their findings.
Science
Lower School students explore three main strands of science—physical, life, and earth sciences. An emphasis on place-based learning—applying scientific principles in our immediate environment and context—provides opportunities to transfer learning from the classroom to the community. Using our campus, students enjoy learning firsthand about habitats and ecosystems, as well as observing in our permaculture orchard, at our ponds, in the woods, and at bird-tracking stations.
Working with hands-on kits, the students learn the essential basics of engineering design, including how energy, electricity, forces, and motion work and how they can be harnessed for practical use in designing and programming robots. All grades have weekly robotics sessions in our newly renovated makerspace, with direct instruction and independent exploration time.
Units are aligned to the National Research Council’s NextGen science standards, and take into account three key dimensions of science:
- scientific practice—particularly what constitutes scientific inquiry and investigation
- crosscutting concepts—patterns, similarities, structures, and functions that apply across all domains of science
- core ideas from physical science, life and earth science, space science, and engineering design
Social Studies
The aim of our social studies program is to prepare students to be responsible, caring citizens in an interdependent, culturally diverse, democratic society. Learning experiences provide students opportunities to grow in awareness, understanding, and appreciation of peoples, cultures, and ideas—past and present, local and global.
Social studies units integrate learning across multiple facets and content areas, including literature, math, art, music, PE, and digital media. Children deepen their understanding and transfer of skills and knowledge through place-based activities and student-centered inquiry. The primary grade units focus on family, personal, and local history, and include field trips around Principia and the surrounding community. The intermediate-grade units focus on history, state-level and national government, and participation in local, hands-on field trips. In alternating years, the fourth and fifth grades take a combined weeklong trip to Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Washington, DC, to gain a hands-on experience of the founding of our country.
Art
Our studio is a hub of creativity, visual problem solving, and self-expression, as we harness students’ sense of wonder in weekly art sessions. As they observe, reflect, express, envision, and explore, students expand their world and their appreciation of themselves, others, and the beauty around them.
The art teacher works closely with classroom teachers to integrate lessons in the art room with learning in the classroom. As a result, students often create art and craft works that relate directly to their study of science and social studies.
Music and Band
Movement, rhythm, and repetition are all part of music education—an essential aspect of Lower School education.
In weekly classes, we use the Kodály Method to introduce children to elements of rhythm and tone through folk songs, games, dances, and Orff instruments (tonal devices such as xylophones, metallophones, and glockenspiels). By the end of grade 3, students learn how to play recorders, read notation, and play the pentatonic scales.
In grade 4, students are introduced to band instruments. After an evaluation process, students choose their instruments and are ready to begin their band journey. They participate in one end-of-year concert.
Participation in band is required in grades 4 and 5 (and on into sixth grade in Middle School). Students perform in two annual concerts beginning in fifth grade and participate in the annual ABC Solo and Ensemble Festival, hosted by Principia. These occasions provide early opportunities to develop poise and stage presence.
IDEA Lab
Our IDEA Lab program engages learners as they apply technology to projects of their own design. As they work on their projects, they build academic connections and develop future-ready skills. Whether students are exploring robotics, coding, websites, video broadcasts, circuitry, or structures, they’re developing critical-thinking skills. They’re solving problems, collaborating, and learning valuable project- and time-management skills. Additionally, they’re reflecting, communicating, and presenting not only their projects but their learning. Students will build skills, knowledge, and interests critical for college and career success.
Physical Education
Nothing is more fun and exciting for young children than active learning through movement!
Physical education classes for students in kindergarten through grade 5 meet five days a week. Our facilities include a renovated playground, with natural and manmade features, and two sports fields. Lower School students also have access to the School track and turf field; a climbing wall; and an indoor pool, allowing for swimming instruction in grades 1–5.
PE classes reinforce children’s natural joy in physical activity. In all classes students learn the importance of respect, responsibility, honesty, and moral courage, and they practice teamwork, problem solving, and leadership. The early grades focus on space awareness and movement and relationship concepts, as well as fundamental locomotor, non-locomotor, and manipulative skills to achieve movement competency and proficiency. In the upper grades, these skills are applied as activity-specific motor skills in a variety of settings.