Lower School Curriculum
Through the Lower School curriculum, students begin to explore the world around them. They acquire excellent reading and writing skills, integrate the basic concepts of science and math, begin to study Spanish, and express themselves creatively through the arts. Every girl is encouraged to become a life-long learner and leaves the Lower School well-prepared for the increasing challenges of Chapin’s Middle School.
Literacy
Our Literacy Program develops thoughtful readers, effective writers and skilled communicators. At Chapin, literacy encompasses reading, word study, writing, handwriting and opportunities for speaking and listening. In reading and phonics, students progress from learning basic sounds to decoding complex multisyllabic words. They build comprehension by engaging with texts both individually and in groups, asking deep questions, considering perspectives, making meaningful connections, and drawing inferences. We believe that even the youngest writers have compelling stories to tell. Our focus is on both spelling and grammar as well as on the writing process. Students write across genres and develop their voices. Students leave the Lower School as fluent, lifelong readers, enthusiastic speakers and listeners, and compelling writers ready to tackle the challenges ahead.
- Kindergarten: In our Kindergarten program, we lay the foundation for a robust literacy education. Students develop their phonemic awareness, learn phonetic concepts, and build an extensive repertoire of sight words. The girls expand their vocabulary and are exposed to more complex fiction and nonfiction texts. Kindergarten writers express themselves through personal narratives, using illustrations and full sentences to describe their unique experiences and stories. As budding experts in a variety of topics, they write informational how-to pieces with sequential steps.
- Class 1: Our Class 1 curriculum supports students as they further develop, refine and expand their skills. They bolster their phonemic awareness, investigate phonetic concepts, read sight words with increased fluency and learn to spell many trick words. As readers, they explore a variety of genres including fiction, nonfiction and realistic fiction. They draw connections and deepen their comprehension through conversation and written reflection. Using their vocabulary and understanding of each genre, students transfer their reading skills to their writing, crafting well-structured and engaging texts.
- Class 2: Our Class 2 students build on their skills by exploring new literary topics and genres. They delve deeper into phonics, focusing on complex sound patterns and spelling rules. Small book clubs foster rich discussions on mysteries, fiction and nonfiction, enhance critical thinking, and cultivate empathy. Students strengthen their writing through detailed creative narratives and convincing opinion pieces. They use expanded vocabulary, text structure and grammar, and syntax knowledge to craft compelling paragraphs.
- Class 3: Class 3 students study complex phonics and spelling rules. With enhanced critical thinking skills, they are able to gain perspective and extend empathy. Exploring diverse genres, including biographies, they make inferences and grapple with symbolism and figurative language. Through written responses and discussions, students deepen comprehension of themes, character development, vocabulary, plot and setting. Their writing becomes more sophisticated as they cite evidence and consider alternative perspectives through persuasive essays, creative narratives, and rich realistic fiction stories.
Science
Our Lower School Science curriculum inspires curiosity, emphasizes the process of learning, and fosters the joy of discovery all while growing our students' confidence. Designed and built in the model of a maker space, the LS lab embodies the ethos of our science pedagogy and curriculum—that students learn by doing. Through hands-on, active exploration and activities, our young scientists build an understanding of the world around them while designing models, planting seeds, programming robots and building bridges. Our goal is to nurture questions and challenge them to develop even better ones.
Each year, students experience a series of earth, physical and life science units that aim to impart both content knowledge and a focus on specific scientific skills. Units are kicked off with a phenomenon or hook that springboards students into discovery mode. Within those inquiries are activities where students learn, explore and practice the steps within the scientific method, all while observing and experimenting first-hand.
The LS science curriculum intentionally integrates an engineering component into every unit to give students ample practice with design thinking—the practice and process of solving real-world problems. Students are explicitly taught STEAM skills, such as planning and design, cardboard and paper construction, coding and robotics. This natural connection looks different in each grade.
- Kindergarten students construct a life-size tree during their Botany unit and, during the Comparative Life Cycles unit, create a home to observe caterpillars metamorphosize into butterflies, which they release in the spring.
- In Class 1, students learn paper engineering skills to build and create a city using recycled materials. This sustainability unit integrates with the students’ social studies curriculum.
- In Class 2, students study animal and insect adaptations and solve a series of real-life design problems based on what they discover from nature.
- In Class 3, students employ all of their engineering skills through the construction of a magnet-powered car. These creations are based on designs students draw to-scale during the Simple Machines unit.
Technology
In the Lower School, educational technology is used to enhance curriculum and elevate student learning across disciplines and grade levels. Both low and high tech tools are used intentionally to scaffold classroom experiences and promote a greater understanding of how tech can improve the daily lives of students and their teachers.
Lower School students use an array of technology tools and benefit from our 1:1 iPad program. In addition to learning how to use iPads and keyboards, students are introduced to robot design and programming, fundamental computer science skills, and the Design Thinking Process through various project-based explorations that are closely aligned with their everyday learning.
Throughout the year, all Lower School students will explore critical elements of coding and programming, focusing on its authentic and responsible use in everyday situations. Students explore various opportunities for hands-on learning with both “unplugged” programming activities as well as the use of robots and robotics tools such as Bee-Bots, Unruly Splats, Ozobots, and MBots.
Library
The Lower School Library provides an open and inviting space where students are actively encouraged to explore stories, genres, subjects and ideas during their once-a-cycle library classes. With an expansive and diverse collection of over 28,000 books geared specifically towards readers in Kindergarten through third grade, students can see themselves, learn about others, pursue current interests, and make discoveries.
Foundational research skills like responsible library citizenship and independent navigation of the collection are introduced beginning in Kindergarten and built upon each year.
In Class 1 and 2, students learn key visual literacy skills by evaluating illustrations for emotion, character development, and thematic connections, and practice comparing and contrasting books on similar topics to find the right one for them.
Our Class 3 students, in addition to being connoisseurs of their favorite genres, become experts in searching the online catalog, recognizing the importance of citation, and identifying the strengths and weaknesses of both physical print and digital resources.
Throughout it all, our students develop a love for independent, recreational reading. To support our students’ curiosity and creativity, the Lower School Library partners with both classroom teachers and families so that every book that goes home is an opportunity for a student to learn something – whether it's the content of the book itself or a better understanding of who they are as a reader.
Visual Arts
Lower School students are introduced to many artistic concepts to expand on their understanding of methods and materials, and challenge their ability to think and create visually. They learn about sculpture, construction, basic printmaking and painting among a wide variety of media and visual concepts.
As students progress through Lower School, they strengthen their artistic skills while exploring new mediums. Our artists use their creative voice to explore and express identity, culture and community. While growing their understanding of self, connections are built with others through sharing within their classroom communities, learning about creative people in many mediums and connecting with visiting creative professionals who bring a range of perspectives.
With a focus on Arts Integration, we examine how the arts can more powerfully interact with other subjects of study. Each division has a dedicated Arts Integrator who, in collaboration with grade-level teachers, creates a curriculum that focuses on building artistic literacy in visual arts, music, drama and dance, as well as cultivates a synergy between the arts and other subject fields.
Dance
Lower School Dance is a creative movement-based program that is designed to encourage body and spatial awareness and to strengthen the students’ sense of self.
Collaborative projects are an essential component of the dance curriculum, providing the girls with opportunities to develop the language of dance, express ideas, problem solve and create original choreography. With a focus on Arts Integration, we examine how the arts can more powerfully interact with other subjects of study. Each division has a dedicated Arts Integrator who, in collaboration with grade-level teachers, creates a curriculum that focuses on building artistic literacy in dance, drama, visual arts and music, as well as cultivates a synergy between the arts and other subject fields.
Learning Resources
In a learning environment that is adaptive and collaborative, the Lower School learning team supports students’ development and potential across the curriculum. They work with students both in and out of their homeroom classrooms and collaborate with classroom teachers to fine-tune their teaching practices to best suit each child's needs. They are an integral part of each grade level team and meet weekly to provide resources that help teachers reinforce or extend concepts with their students. In addition to their work in the classroom, the Learning Resource teachers partner with families in support of students.
Mathematics
In the Lower School Mathematics Program, inquiry-based explorations, real-world problems, games and direct instruction are essential for developing students' conceptual understanding and problem-solving skills. Through hands-on experiences and daily discussions, students learn to communicate in the language of math, connect concepts and apply their learning to new situations. They apply their knowledge in real-life scenarios and practice calculations to build fluency. A combination of whole class instruction and small group work ensures that each young mathematician receives the necessary support and challenges to thrive. Throughout their time in Lower School, students engage in 4 ”Cs” – Constructing Understanding, Connecting Ideas, Communicating Thinking and Computing with Numbers.
Kindergarten
- Foundation in numbers - comparing and ordering, composing and decomposing, and using numbers to solve problems
- Numerical flexibility performing operations - addition and subtraction
- Foundations for place value (base 10)
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Describing and sorting sets of objects by their attribute
Class 1
- Counting, combinations, and measurement
- Exploring addition and subtraction - part/whole relationships, composing and decomposing numbers
- Geometry- analyzing shapes and fractions
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Place value to 100
Class 2
- Addition and subtraction fluency
- Efficient and strategic multi-digit addition and subtraction
- Geometry and fractions
- Place value into the thousands - applying understanding & mental math strategies
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Foundations of multiplication: groups, arrays and fractions
Class 3
- Strategic addition and subtraction of large numbers
- Properties of multiplication, division and fact fluency
- Applying properties of multiplication and division to strategic calculations and multi-step problems
- Geometry, perimeter, and area
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Fractions as equal shares
Social Studies
The foundation for the Lower School Social Studies curriculum is built on the concept of community, which informs our understanding of the past and our thinking about the future. Within the study of community, students become caring learners, who feel valued for their own experiences and cultural backgrounds. We use an inquiry approach, encouraging students to ask questions and explore the world around them as they study four main domains of Social Studies education: geography, economics, civics and history. Lower School teachers inspire students to appreciate the value of living in a diverse and sustainable environment and to understand their responsibility as citizens of school, neighborhood, city, country and the global community.
In Kindergarten: Getting to Know My Community - Myself, My Classmates, Families, and Chapin’s History, young learners build community, advocate for their needs, and care for their environment. They discover how families and communities support each other and explore their place in the world through history and geography. They gain a sense of identity, community and responsibility by examining how schools and families have changed. As part of their inquiry-based "Chapin Study," the girls develop thoughtful questions and explore the School’s characteristics, values and traditions, as well as the people who help make Chapin a supportive, positive and inclusive place.
In Class 1: Building the Future: A Study of Sustainable, Innovative, and Equitable Communities, students learn about the history of our neighborhood and others around the globe to inspire their community designs. Students explore how geography impacts community, learn to differentiate between needs and wants, and gain a deeper understanding of how to contribute to creating sustainable, innovative, and equitable communities. Embracing the role of urban planners, students collaborate, build and design essential structures to bring their ideal community to life.
In Class 2: Learning About Indigenous Heritages: A Comparative Study of People, Land, and Resources on each continent, the curriculum delves into how history, geography, and culture shape communities and examines how available resources influence people’s choices. Additionally, students learn the importance of active citizenship and how it can benefit others, which fosters a deeper connection to their heritage and a sense of responsibility within their communities.
In Class 3: Exploring the Regions of the United States, the curriculum utilizes the four core social sciences to investigate the history, geography and civic life of each region. This exploration helps students understand the distinctive cultures and varied experiences across the country. They end the year synthesizing all they have learned. The girls also integrate an Arts component to creatively share their learning with the community.
Spanish
The Lower School Spanish program is student-centered and provides a culturally rich language experience that develops communication skills and a keen ear for the sound of Spanish. Students acquire the language by engaging in storytelling, singing, games, as well as using Total Physical Response – a teaching method built around the coordination of speech and action – and exploring Spanish artists and culture. Supporting an integrated curriculum, Spanish teachers collaborate with homeroom teams and other disciplines to create units that infuse and reinforce content studied in the social studies, arts, library and science programs. Integral to the program is developing an understanding how our identity, and the identities of the members of our community, connects us across cultures. Aligned with the School's mission, the Spanish program considers equity, inclusion, and collaboration as essential components. Embracing a growth mindset, we reinforce three key ideas: all questions are welcome, mistakes are part of learning something new, and trying again and again builds knowledge.
Physical Education
We believe that students' physical, intellectual, and emotional lives are interconnected. The Lower School Physical Education curriculum is specifically designed to foster the enjoyment of movement, develop physical and cognitive abilities, understand the importance of health and wellness, guide social and emotional growth, and cultivate character through decision-making and teamwork activities. Skill development, fun fitness, inclusive participation, and fair play are key components of our curriculum. The student-teacher ratio is kept small in order to maximize learning through individual attention. By the time students leave Lower School, they have foundational skills, an age-appropriate understanding of rules and strategies, a respect for and an appreciation of others, and a healthy spirit toward all aspects of movement and play.
Drama
Drama in the Lower School provides students with the opportunity to cultivate creativity, express their learning through performance, and develop skills such as empathy and confidence while deepening their connection to each other and the world around them. Students get experience with various art forms including puppetry, stop-motion animation and playmaking.
Our youngest students begin by building their social emotional and expressive skills through puppetry and role-play. In Classes 2 and 3, the girls learn the fundamentals of theater making and develop the tools to facilitate their creative endeavors. Students use their own lives and experiences as inspiration for their storytelling and are given the opportunity to write and perform original plays as well as exhibit their learning in non-traditional formats.
With a focus on Arts Integration, we examine how the arts can more powerfully interact with other subjects of study. Each division has a dedicated Arts Integrator who, in collaboration with grade-level teachers, creates a curriculum that focuses on building artistic literacy in drama, visual arts, dance and music, as well as cultivates a synergy between the arts and other subject fields.
Music
Our music program strives to develop unique abilities and the potential of each child by offering a student-focused, developmentally appropriate, and enriched music program.
Lower School Music is a sequential and experiential program that draws from Kodaly, Orff, Dalcroze and Music Learning Theory. The LS Music pedagogy blends together various core fundamentals of these approaches to cultivate musical curiosity and a love of making music.
Throughout their time in the Lower School, students develop musical skills through playing cooperative games, singing, listening, moving, improvising, playing classroom instruments (recorder, tobanos, ukulele, xylophones), and reading and writing Western music notation. Each year, students have several opportunities to perform in concerts as well as in interdisciplinary presentations.
With a focus on Arts Integration, we examine how the arts can more powerfully interact with other subjects of study. Each division has a dedicated Arts Integrator who, in collaboration with grade-level teachers, creates a curriculum that focuses on building artistic literacy in music, visual arts, drama and dance, as well as cultivates a synergy between the arts and other subject fields.