LOWER SCHOOL CURRICULUM
Early Childhood (PK - Grade 1) The Early Childhood Program, PK – Grade 1, is designed to cultivate a love of learning in young children. During the early childhood years, students engage with the world using all their senses. They are full of wonder and eager to explore and make sense of the world. Whether building with blocks, listening to stories, reading on their own, engaging in imaginative play, exploring on the playground, learning to code, or forming letters, words, numbers, and mathematical equations, young children are doers, experimenters, and inventors. Through integrated, thematic curricula, teachers build on this natural curiosity and sense of wonder, and at the same time, lay the foundation for early literacy and numeracy. At Brimmer, teacher-guided lessons are balanced with hands-on, multisensory learning activities and imaginative, exploratory play. Students’ academic learning is supported by the explicit teaching of social-emotional skills, including Brimmer’s Core Values of Respect, Responsibility, Kindness, Honesty, and Equity. Intentionally small class sizes allow us to offer a personalized approach that moves fluidly between individual, small group, and whole group instruction. Recognizing that there are distinct social, emotional, physical, and intellectual characteristics that define each stage of a child’s development, the early childhood curriculum is developed with these considerations in mind.
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Pre-Kindergarten
Values of Respect, Responsibility, Kindness, Honesty, and Equity.
CENTRAL QUESTION:
Thematic Studies The Pre-Kindergarten curriculum is centered around thematic studies that integrate the different subject areas and incorporate children’s literature, imaginative play, guided lessons, and hands-on exploration. Different themes focus on the young child’s everyday life and begin with an exploration of self, health and wellness, and one’s unique identity. Moving beyond oneself, students explore their families, their communities, and the natural world, particularly animals of interest. Thematic studies integrate reading, writing, science, and STEAM, and they allow students to explore topics of interest and pursue them in greater depth.
What is my role in my community? Overview The Pre-Kindergarten Program offers a joyful and inviting entry into school. Each fall, the teachers welcome students into the classroom and work intentionally to build a sense of community among them. Through Drop-ins and Share Assemblies, Pre-Kindergarten teachers establish warm, supportive relationships with students and collaborative partnerships with families. Recognizing that young children learn best when the connection between home and school is strong, teachers take time and care in establishing these relationships. The Pre-Kindergarten Program offers a rich, integrated curriculum that reflects the developmental characteristics of four- and five-year-old children. Teachers establish daily routines and schedules that match the natural rhythms of young learners and provide a sense of predictability. Through teacher-guided lessons, songs and games, and intentionally designed learning centers, children are invited to explore a range of activities across different disciplines. Hands-on learning experiences offer freedom of movement and exploration, as well as opportunities to engage in science and math curricula. Throughout the day, students may work independently, with a friend, in a small group, or with the whole class. While navigating different centers in the classroom, circle activities, and both indoor and outdoor play, students learn to mediate conflict and negotiate with peers. As members of the classroom and School community, Pre-Kindergarten students are guided by Brimmer’s Core
Language Arts The Pre-Kindergarten language arts curriculum focuses on developing a love of books and reading and introduces students to foundational skills in literacy, including rhyme, alliteration, phonemic awareness, and story elements. Songs and games during circle time and hands-on activities in literacy centers reinforce these skills. High-interest fiction and nonfiction literature fills the classroom and is used to launch thematic studies, teach science and math concepts, build social-emotional skills, and enjoy a wonderful story told. Through shared read-alouds and independent “reading,” students are made familiar with the basic concepts of print. At the start of the year, teachers introduce students to the names, forms, and sounds of the letters in their own names. Several months into the school year, students begin the Fundations PK Activity Set, which helps support their emerging understanding of alphabetic principles. Through
