Lower School (K-3)
Learning in the Lower School
The Kindergarten curriculum incorporates reading, mathematics, computer, science and social studies. Each day includes a circle time for sharing stories and poems or for group discussions and learning games. Lively activity periods allow students to explore art projects, dramatic play, block building, board games or puzzles. Classes in the science lab, music room, dance studio, computer lab and gym enrich the program, as does weekly library time.
 The curriculum in Classes 1, 2 and 3 integrates language arts, mathematics, science and social studies. Girls achieve reading proficiency through a combination of phonics and exposure to literature. In mathematics, concrete experiences lead the student to form abstract concepts. Science classes encourage process and discovery. The social studies program includes history, the study of other cultures, and current events. Weekly library classes and hands-on projects complement the girls’ academic explorations. Students have many opportunities to learn to express themselves confidently and eloquently in front of a group.
Academic exposure to the arts and technology begin as soon as a girl enters the Lower School. Computer classes for Kindergarten students are held once a week in a lab, where the girls are introduced to technology and taught basic skills. In Classes 1 through 3, girls participate in the Technology Integration Program (TIP), which dedicates 60 laptops for the Lower School. Students continue to develop their computer skills through project-based learning that is integrated into the curriculum. Girls learn balance, movement, rhythm and other concepts through dance instruction, explore visually through studio art, and develop their singing and listening skills in music. The school day is rounded out with a physical education program created to suit the developmental needs of Lower School students.
Young girls see the potential for their own future through their exposure to the whole school. Lower School students develop positive relationships with Middle School and Upper School girls through community service, which allows older girls to work in Lower School classrooms. While in the Lower School, the students become familiar with all the learning spaces at Chapin, from the Gordon Room cafeteria to the gymnasiums and dance studio, identifying them as their own from the very beginning.
Teachers provide girls with experiences that build confidence and develop a sense of responsibility and independence. Daily classroom discussions provide time for the expression of ideas, information and opinions. Lower School teachers understand that each girl comes with her own culture, background, history and the desire to make sense of her world.
The relationship between home and school is an important aspect of the learning process. At semiannual conferences, parents and teachers focus on all aspects of the child: academic, emotional, social and physical. Teachers make ongoing assessments of students’ progress in all subjects and strive to keep parents informed. The school emphasizes the importance of home and school supporting one another when decisions are made regarding a child’s educational experience.
The Lower School program offers daily opportunities for each child to learn through interaction with her classmates and teachers. The academic program builds on skills learned sequentially, each grade building upon the last from Kindergarten through Class 3. Opportunities to share, cooperate, learn from one another, and take pride in one’s accomplishments are visible in all aspects of the program throughout the Lower School.
Last updated 07.10.08
This page overseen by the Head of Lower School
Questions, comments: E-mail
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