Lower School
Confidence in knowing.
Everything they can be. Every wonder they’ll discover. Every friend they’ll make and milestone they’ll achieve. It all begins right here — at the foundation of what’s next.
Welcome to Lower School
“In Lower School, I am able to unlock my true full potential as a learner and as a leader.”
Juhl Lower School Student
What a magical time this is in a child’s life! These years are filled with wonder, curiosity, & joy.
It is our responsibility to build lifelong foundational learning skills as well as a passionate love of learning. At Breck, we honor this time by immersing children in play to unleash imagination, develop skills, and instill a love of learning. Our skilled teachers nurture student growth by providing support and challenges appropriate to each new developmental stage. We inspire students to explore questions, engage in deep conversations, spark creativity, and become independent thinkers. Collaboration fills our learning environments. We believe in rigorous academic learning, character development, and community engagement as cornerstones of the Lower School experience.
In Lower School, your children will be a part of a community where they feel a deep sense of belonging. Where teachers believe and support their unlimited potential as students develop an understanding of who they are as learners, leaders, and human beings in the world.
Katie Mahoney Lower School Director
Welcome the start.
Literacy
Through language-rich classrooms, literature, and personalized instruction, teachers instill a love of language from a young age. By using research-informed practices in phonics, phonemic awareness, comprehension, vocabulary, and fluency, we help students grow into effective communicators, proficient readers, and powerful writers.
Mathematics
We want every Breck student to develop their own mathematical mind — from the abstract to the concrete. In partnership with the Singapore Math in Focus program, we develop problem-solving strategies, computational skills, metric and measurement, early algebraic thinking, and numerical exploration in data, patterns, and graphs.
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If you want a young mind to grow, teach them to love learning. We guide our Lower School students by teaching the whole child — focusing not just on their minds, but their interests, strengths, and challenges as well.
Science
Students explore the scientific process through guided observation, data collection, experimentation, and inquiry. From physics lessons with toy cars and ramps in the classroom to phenology walks around the school’s ponds, prairie grasses, and wetlands, students get firsthand experience in discovering the wonders of science.
Social Studies
Our approach to social studies develops a student’s understanding of themselves, each other, and our environment. Through classroom discussions, research, and project-based learning, students study history, culture, geography, economics, government, and citizenship to deepen their knowledge of our community, state, country, and the world.
Parts of the greater whole.
At Breck, our students learn to be citizens of the world. Open, curious, and always hungry to know more.
As a pioneer in the United States in teaching Mandarin to our youngest learners, our World Languages program is steeped in tradition and excellence. Students begin in preschool with a semesterlong introduction to both Chinese and Spanish. Starting in grade one, students choose a language track to pursue throughout their Lower School experience.
At Breck, students study and celebrate many faiths and cultures to deepen our own concepts of spirituality and expand our understanding of one another. Through weekly divisional chapels and monthly All-School Chapels, we reflect on one another’s stories, literature, and religious traditions.
“At Breck, we provide meaningful opportunities for hands-on exploration, experimentation, storytelling, and inquiry to nurture innovative ideas and student learning.”
Kerry Marshall Kindergarten Teacher
Student Leadership
Leadership development is an integral part of our students’ everyday experience. In class, children have weekly responsibilities to practice leadership in various roles. Students also have opportunities to demonstrate leadership beyond the classroom by engaging in mentoring relationships through the Lower School Buddy Program and participating in Community Meetings.
Driven by wonder.
In and out of the classroom, every moment is a chance to learn and grow.
Co-Curricular Activities
Lower School students have opportunities to connect and engage beyond the classroom. From our Lower School community meetings to our Explore Block and clubs, Lower School students can find new and exciting ways to explore their curiosities and interests across campus.
Community Engagement
Building toward greatness.
We believe it’s essential for children to see the impact they can have on the world — whether it be an act of kindness, a generous heart, or a helping hand. Reflecting our mission of social responsibility, Lower School students learn their role at Breck and across communities through civic engagement, community partnerships, and our beloved peer-to-peer buddy program that connects students across grade levels.
