Lower Elementary

As children progress to the Lower Elementary classroom, the curriculum focuses on activities that challenge the ability to think in abstract terms and consider the “big picture”.   The Great Lessons, stories that span time-from the origins of the Universe to the rise of civilizations, provide a framework for learning about various aspects of human culture, scientific discovery and mathematics.  These lessons are designed to promote the student’s imagination and natural curiosity.  

As in Children’s House, specially designed materials are used to enhance learning. They are intended to complement the lessons by sparking imagination and helping the child to think in abstract terms. Charts and timelines give students the opportunity to examine and learn the details surrounding the Great Lessons. Facts about geology, biology and anthropology are presented in the context of natural history and world ecology. Taken together, the materials and lesson presentations serve to create a sense of awe and respect for the abundance of knowledge available to explore. 

“The Great Lessons spark imagination and curiosity in the children. I have observed that  the children have a deep desire to know about the world in which they live. They respond to a story or a lesson with a need to discover, wanting to absorb everything around them. There is nothing outside their natural desire to learn.”      

                       - Colleen DiSanto                 
                         Lower Elementary Teacher