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Language Arts: The Lower Elementary classroom is a place
for children to learn and experience the power of language. With
guidance, children build their base of knowledge and learn to express
their thinking through reading, writing, speaking, analyzing and
assessing their own comprehension. The curriculum includes spelling,
vocabulary and grammar, sentence and paragraph structure, and other
fundamentals of language. Language arts are woven into studies of
history, science, math, literature, geography, art and music.
We present a combination of approaches to language arts, including
phonics, whole language, responding to textual clues, comprehension
exercises and the study of authentic literature. Children apply
their developing knowledge through:
- journals
- original stories
- poetry
- book reports
- dramatic interpretations
- storytelling
- independent research studies
- oral presentations.
To practice and master basic skills, children study word families,
create spelling lists, investigate word origins and their meanings,
and test their proficiency at spelling. To cultivate their talents
and skills as authors, children keep journals, respond to literature
questions, write book reports, compose poetry, and learn the skills
of research paper preparation. Through all their work, we teach
and reinforce handwriting, both print and cursive.
Mathematics: The study of mathematics in the Lower
Elementary classroom is an active, hands-on exploration. Resource
materials allow students to develop an in-depth understanding of
fundamental concepts and operations. As they progress along the
continuum of skills and concepts, children learn to document their
thinking and explain their strategies for solving increasingly complex
problems. The memorization of math facts becomes an essential tool
for taking on new challenges.
Children receive individual and small group lessons and work at
their own pace. The curriculum is sequenced to allow young mathematicians
to use their recently acquired knowledge to take on the next challenge.
By the end of their Lower Elementary years, children have built
a solid base of knowledge in addition, subtraction, multiplication,
division, the decimal system, fractions, measurement, problem solving,
critical thinking, the fundamentals of geometry and other core concepts
in mathematical reasoning.
Concepts of Numbers
- even and odd
- skip counting
- formation of numbers
- decimal system
- commutative, distributive and associative laws
- multiples and factors
- squaring and powers of numbers
Understanding Quantities
- addition, subtraction, multiplication, division
- fractions
- estimation
- rounding
Mathematics of Currency
Mathematics of Time
Measurement
- English System
- temperature
Geometry
- solid figures
- two-dimensional figures
- lines
- angles
- equivalence
- symmetry
- open and closed figures
- perimeter
- area
- language of geometry
Science: In our Lower Elementary classroom, five
central areas of interconnected studies, referred to as the “Great
Lessons,” provide children with the fundamental concepts of
science and reveal the interrelationship of science with history,
language, culture, and art. The Great Lessons are introduced in
the form of stories that capture the wonder and excitement of children’s
imaginations, inspiring them to develop a global perspective as
they reflect, question and explore. Lower Elementary students also
have scheduled classes in the science lab.
As with their examination of history and geography, children proceed
to study increasing levels of detail and complexity within each
academic discipline with these stories as their guide. What causes
a quiet mountain to become a volcano? If the earth is spinning,
why are we not dizzy? These questions and many more become the focus
of children’s research and independent investigations. By
the end of their Lower Elementary years, children have constructed
a solid foundation of knowledge and skills they will build on as
they become contributing members of a global society.
Areas of study include:
- introduction to the Five Kingdoms: Monera, Protista, Fungus,
Plant, Animal
- introduction to zoology
- the animal kingdom
vertebrates and invertebrates
- introduction to botany
the plant kingdom
- fundamental needs of humans
Science Lab: Science Lab introduces the formal
setting of science exploration through hands-on experience. First
and second graders use the Science Lab as an extension of their
classroom investigations. Third-grade students meet weekly for focused
studies that complement scientific principles introduced in the
classroom. Technology plays an integral role in the Science Lab,
as students are encouraged to complete research tasks using online
and print resources. We guide students in consulting the sources
best suited for their research needs, and expect them to present
their findings clearly and thoroughly. We introduce techniques for
gathering information, and for unique and interesting methods of
presentation.
Through their studies, third-grade students are introduced to the
scientific method and guided to focus their skills of observation
and inquiry as they learn about the world around them. Students
learn to form hypotheses, gather materials and equipment, follow
procedures and draw conclusions. Topics of study include properties
of water, electricity, magnetism, wheels and pulleys, color and
light, plants and birds.
History and Geography: “The Great Lessons”
provide children with a sense of history, the development of civilizations
and culture, and geography. They reveal the interrelationship of
history, geography, the sciences, language, culture and art. Introduced
in the form of stories that capture the wonder and excitement of
children’s imaginations, these lessons inspire children to
develop a global perspective as they reflect, question and explore.
As with their examination of science, children proceed to study
increasing levels of detail and complexity within each academic
discipline with the stories as their guide. Who were the first humans?
Where did numbers and letters come from? These questions and many
more become the focus of children’s research and independent
investigations. This is how children construct a solid foundation
of the knowledge and skills they will need to become contributing
members of a global society.
History
- story of the universe
- timeline of life
- timeline of humans
- history of language
- history of mathematics
- concepts of time
B.C. and A.D., past/present/future
- timelines
creation, evolution, early humans,
fundamental needs of humans,
inventions
Geography
Physical
- continents and oceans
- land and water forms: island/lake, peninsula/gulf, isthmus/strait,
cape/bay
- landforms: mountains, faults, volcanoes
- geology: rocks, minerals, fossils, gems precious stones
- solar system
- Sun and Earth
- climatic zones
Political
- the world: countries in each continent
- maps: direction, location, visual referencing
- flags
Technology: Technology complements the curriculum
by providing alternatives to the exploration, completion and presentation
of work. Technology skills are applied in subject-matter learning,
enabling students to acquire technological expertise in context.
By the completion of the Upper Elementary years, our students master
the ability to problem-solve, choose the tool most appropriate for
accomplishing a task efficiently, use the Internet for research,
then synthesize and present information.
Students begin the elementary technology curriculum by learning
how to log onto the Kingsley network, launch personal settings and manipulate
age-appropriate software. Individualized lessons focus on the tools,
functions, or features of a chosen software program.
Once students are proficient in these basic skills, they move to
saving, accessing and printing documents independently. Projects
are directly linked to ongoing classroom activities, such as creating
word matching cards and short word processing documents that support
the language arts curriculum.
At the third-grade level and with teacher supervision, students
use technology in their weekly Science Lab meetings and in their
classrooms to create research reports using Microsoft Word®
with downloaded Internet images or KidPix® illustrations. Students
are also introduced to digital photography.
Visual Arts: Art is a language that comes naturally
to children, and the language of art is spoken at Kingsley from
Early Childhood through the Upper Elementary years. Take a walk
through the halls at Kingsley and you will be captivated by children’s
artwork. The Arts at Kingsley provide children with rich and varied
experiences. Lessons are designed to teach children a discreet set
of artistic principles and techniques, and also to allow students
to connect their lives as artists to their classroom themes and
projects.
At Kingsley, children develop new skills and techniques during
weekly visits to the art studio. Regular assemblies and exhibits
allow children to share their work with the community.
Lower Elementary students engage in a whole school art project
in September. They explore these topics in their studio classes
throughout the school year:
Year-One Lower Elementary
- self-portraits in printmaking
- painting
- drawing
- papier mache
- color-mixing
- 3D construction
- clay work
Year-Two Lower Elementary
- collage self-portraits
- 3D construction
- painting
- artist studies
- printmaking
- nature stamps
- textiles
Year-Three Lower Elementary
- scratchboard portraits
- mixed media compositions
- stencil prints
- collage
- textiles
- charcoal drawing
- painting
- illustration projects
Performing Arts: During weekly music and drama
classes, children explore different performance genres, musical
notation and composition. Third graders learn to play the recorder.
Our focus on learning to play an instrument helps to cultivate an
appreciation of pitch, rhythm and tempo. Weekly elementary assemblies
are times for Lower Elementary students to join with their older
friends to build community through the arts. Performances by outside
artists through our Cultural Enrichment Program also offer children
opportunities to discover a variety of artistic media.
Physical Education and Health: We encourage a
love of physical learning and discovery. Our physical education
program uses state-of-the-art facilities to develop lifelong skills
of fitness. Beginning in the Lower Elementary years, children participate
in weekly swim and gym classes.
Our swim program is held at the Charlestown Boys and Girls Club
and the Newton YMCA. Children are taught by American Red Cross instructors.
They learn about water safety, basic lifesaving techniques and swimming
strokes.
The gym program begins with a unit on games, focusing on gross
motor skills, listening, following directions and sportsmanship.
Throughout the year, classes emphasize:
- physical fitness
- hand/eye coordination
- fine and gross motor control
- ability to concentrate
- teamwork
- sportsmanship
- sports skills and techniques
- catching
- throwing
Health
As children in Lower Elementary begin to develop an understanding
of self and the human body, Kingsley’s science and physical
education curricula combine to explore health and nutrition. Students
in Lower Elementary study health and nutrition each year, focusing
on the following concepts:
- balanced meals and snacks
- the importance of nutrition
- importance of the human body
- foods that provide good sources of nutrients
- how nutrients provide energy
Spanish: Language proficiency is a tool for communicating
and cultivating connections. Spanish is taught at Kingsley beginning
in the Early Childhood years and continuing through the Upper Elementary
grades.
Studies show that children who begin a second language at an early
age achieve a high degree of proficiency, gain a better understanding
of the English language, improve their overall performance, become
more flexible thinkers, use critical thinking skills effectively,
and display a better understanding and appreciation of cultural
differences and social interactions. By the time students complete
their Upper Elementary years at Kingsley, they are able to understand,
converse, read and write in Spanish.
Lower Elementary students study Spanish in age-specific groups.
Concepts and structures are introduced sequentially, from simple
conversational forms to more complex grammatical constructs. Puppets,
songs, rhymes, stories, dances and games capture the children’s
imaginations and help bring the language to life each day. We explore
culture, art, music and the geography of Spanish-speaking nations.
During their Lower Elementary years, students engage the study of
Spanish by:
- acquiring and using verbal skills
- listening to, imitating and speaking the language
- learning songs, rhymes, games, verses and stories
- focusing on the rhythm, melody and sound of the language
- performing short plays and giving presentations
- studying prepositions, verb conjugations and adjective declinations
- writing and reading poetry
- learning the grammatical structure of language
- expanding vocabulary to include words related to home and
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