Lower School

About Our Grade 1 & 2 Program 

The Grade 1 & 2 curriculum is designed to encourage students to ask questions and share their thinking with increasing analytic reasoning skills. They learn to consider multiple perspectives and respect divergent views. In first and second grade, students are developing friendship skills, navigating issues of fairness, and understanding the difference between “fair” and “equitable.” 

Our core Grade 1 & 2 program elements includes…

Language Arts

In Grades 1 & 2 are important touchstones in the development of writing and reading. Students experience literature and the process of reading through reading and writing workshops, guided reading practice (both individually and in groups), exposure to poetry, independent reading, and being read aloud to by a teacher accompanied by questions and discussions designed to support the development of reading comprehension. Students also participate in Writing Workshop, where they learn to write the way writers write – to communicate a message, tell a personal story, to draw the reader in. Practice in writing happens across all subject areas, and includes both fiction and non-fiction writing, poetry, as well as science and math recording. 

Math

The CFS mathematics program is designed to engage students to support their mastery of skills in three major areas of mathematical learning: concepts, solution strategies, and mathematical practices. It emphasizes reasoning about mathematical ideas and encourages students to communicate their thinking and knowledge in a variety of ways including verbal explanations, recorded work, and the use of objects and other materials. The curriculum spirals through topics, building through each grade to build a rich and deep understanding of mathematical concepts. In grades 1 and 2, students work on developing counting skills, addition and subtraction, and then build on those to solve more complex problems. Second year students move into two and three digit numbers. Students will explore geometry through comparison of two and three dimensional shapes and geometric relationships. And students learn to collect, interpret, and describe data through surveys and other data-oriented projects. Our goal is to support the development of confident math thinkers who are able to visualize, solve and communicate their understandings.

Science

Over the two year span of Grades 1 & 2, students will explore earth, life, and physical sciences as well as technology and engineering. Grades 1/2 start with studying soil in earth science by investigating different components of soil, and the organisms that live in soil. Life sciences builds on the work with soils by focusing on the growth of seeds and fruit. Then in physical science, students examine properties of various solids and liquids. In Technology and Engineering, students combine all their earlier learning to design their own seed dispersal packages, and then test them as part of the windmill project. 

Social Studies

In social studies, the students study people who were involved in the American Civil Rights Movement, which broadens and deepens the students’ understanding of how people have historically fought and are currently fighting racism and injustice. Students learn about the lives and work of leaders and allies of the past and will make connections to ongoing work today, and tie into the Quaker testimonies of Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equity, and Stewardship. In looping years, the curriculum focuses on global geography – places and peoples, cultures and resources. This theme weaves together all strands of the curriculum with a focus on sharing family history stories as well as student-driven learning about different peoples and cultures throughout the world. At the end of the year, students combine their learning to create and sell the CFS school t-shirt.

Arts

As children gain increasing ability to manipulate materials, they learn to use those skills to be intentionally creative. In grade 1 & 2, they are encouraged to use their increasing abilities to create with their imagination and express themselves. In visual arts, students get to work with a wide variety of materials like collage, printmaking, papier mache, clay, thread, and fabric. In music, students in Grade 1 & 2 are introduced to musical notation and continue to explore musical instruments, musical expression, and to be exposed to musical traditions from around the world. And of course, singing!

Social and Emotional Learning

Social and emotional learning is an essential component that weaves throughout all our classes. In Grades 1 & 2, students are learning to make a friend and be a friend, share their ideas, listen to others, to speak up about injustice, and be an ethical person. As opportunities arise throughout the day, our teachers take the time to work with the students – as a group, or individually as appropriate – to encourage learning and growth.

About Our Grade 3 & 4 Program 

Our multi-age classrooms provide students with opportunities to tackle big ideas and multi-­step projects, while continuing to work towards mastery of important skills, particularly in the areas of reading, writing, and mathematics. The third-­ and fourth-­grade curriculum emphasizes academic achievement, working cooperatively and independently, listening to and learning from others, asking questions, managing time effectively, organizing materials, and completing work efficiently. Students are also introduced to the idea of homework in third and fourth grade by reading and practicing math facts.

Our core Grade 3 & 4 program elements include: 

Language Arts

The reading program is a balance of supporting and enhancing decoding, comprehension, fluency, and vocabulary development. An important goal for students is to see literature as a means of deepening their understanding of human interactions, problem solving and knowledge of the world. In addition, students continue to develop the skills to analyze literature for stereotypes and biases. As they continue to develop their writing skills, students are provided with meaningful, structured opportunities to write and are actively taught the skills and strategies that writers need to write for many purposes. Through individual work peer feedback and group work, and one-on-one with the teachers, third and fourth graders learn to become fluent writers.

Math

The CFS mathematics program is designed to develop mastery of skills in the three major areas of mathematics: concepts, solution strategies and the language of math. Throughout their school experience, students at every grade level work through a spiral of learning in areas of math defined by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. And in tandem, students continue their mastery of basic math facts, addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Third­-graders begin fact quizzes on addition and move to subtraction and multiplication. Fourth-­graders begin with multiplication and move to division and then on to mixed facts.

Science

In science, Grade 3 & 4 loop through two curricular cycles. In the first year, students participate in the tree project where they study a specific tree on the CFS campus throughout the year, research the species, share with their class, and take a trip to the Arnold Arboretum to see the wide array of trees. In earth science, they study rocks and minerals, learning about their similarities and differences, and conduct tests on the minerals. And in physical science, they study sound: how sound is produced, how sound travels, and how the frequency of vibrations is related to pitch, and then build a small instrument. And in engineering, students create “flingers” – a simple catapult-style device and then run a challenge to see which design flings the furthest. In the second year, there are two physical science topics: Mystery Powders and Sink and Float. In Mystery Powders, children run experiments to discover their properties, keep lab notes and apply their findings to more complex problems as the unit progresses. In Sink and Float, children investigate the phenomenon of buoyancy and then design, construct, and test individual boats made from recycled materials. In life sciences, students learn about the water cycle, the significance of water in the environment, study of plants and animals within a particular water habitat, and ways to foster conservation and good stewardship of our water resources..

Social Studies

Grades three and four loop through a two-year cycle in social studies. Year one is focused on exploring the regions of the United States. Working as social scientists, they explore the economy and geography of each region. The themes of change, differences and similarities, location, place, movement, interdependence, distribution of wealth/scarcity, and production and power are explored. Year two is centered on exploring early Massachusetts state history through the lens of governance. They investigate their own classroom community and think about how rules are formed, explore local Native American tribes and learn about the impact of European Colonization on the people and the land, and learn about the American Revolution. As we look at each community through the lens of governance, students learn to understand and appreciate the extent to which cultural differences have enriched Massachusetts, and how power and privilege interact with history.

Arts

In music, students will explore song, dance, poetry, movement, percussion and melodic instruments. Collaborating with classroom teachers, students will learn about global music and dance, European instruments as well as instruments of cultures who long preceded the concept of western music. In visual art, one year students may build ceramic teacups to hold fiber art “tiny worlds,” while the next year students may build hollow animal sculptures with clay. They also continue to have space and time to explore materials and express themselves visually. 

Social and Emotional Learning

As part of our identity as a Quaker school, we gather in silence every Tuesday morning together as a class, and occasionally with the full Lower School or  in an all-school meeting. Students reflect upon queries and testimonies and practice being in silence. Often students are charged with bringing a story, query, poem, or reading to open the meeting. This time is invaluable in teaching children balance, equanimity, and to listen to their inner voice. 

About Our Grade 5 Program 

In Grade 5, students are encouraged to take more of an active role in their learning and academic selves. They have opportunities to work on larger and more complex projects and dig into more challenging issues. They continue to hone their skills in reading, writing, and mathematics while learning to organize their work and manage homework across different subject areas. Fifth-graders have more of a tendency to push limits but are also more open to learning mediation, and demonstrate creativity at solving both academic and social problems. Through group activities, such as performing plays and creating newsletters or literary publications, students learn to cultivate their cooperative abilities and work together to solve problems, initiate social action, and to engage in community service.

Our core Grade 5 program elements include: 

Language Arts

Fifth-grade Language Arts focuses on refining the skills and deepening the concepts of good communication, both oral and written. Students’ writing moves from factual, event-based reporting or storytelling to analysis, comparison and descriptive fiction. They learn to organize and produce substantial pieces of writing, such as short fiction, essay, memoir poem, and a multi-genre biography. Using the Writing Workshop model, and enriched with a wide range of mentor texts, students bring their work through the pre-draft, draft, revising, editing, and publishing stages. Through read aloud stories, classroom-wide shared novels and short stories, and smaller literature groups, students learn to discuss the motivations of characters in literature and the intentions of authors. Teacher-selected and student-selected texts represent diverse cultures and points of view, which students explore on both literal and interpretive levels. 

Math

Throughout the Grade 5 year, the CFS Mathematics program continues to build the mastery of skills in the three major areas of mathematics learning: concepts, procedures, and the language of mathematics. Through hands-on investigation and discussions on perimeter, area, and volume, students gain skills in two- and three-dimensional geometry. Students master several procedures for multiplying multi-digit numbers, and learn different algorithms for long division. Then students apply and practice skills in finding area and perimeter, scale and measurement, unit prices, and multiplication as part of a project to design a theme park. Students also work with fractions and decimals by learning computational strategies and exploring the relationships between fractions and decimals. They learn about charts and graphs, as well as perimeter, area, angles, and degrees. And, the students continue to learn to observe and discuss mathematics in the world, and to connect their in-class learning with the other subjects of study and with their own lives.

Social Studies

Fifth graders largely study United States history in the 1800s, and more specifically, ways that certain groups of people interacted and responded to oppression. The first unit focuses on the Western region of the continent of Africa. Through the use of several maps, students gain an appreciation of the range and diversity of West African climate, ecosystems, religions, and ethnolinguistic groups. We read about the kingdom of Ancient Ghana, the Asante nation, and the lingering effects of British colonialism of the 19th century. The next unit focuses on the history of African American resistance to oppression since the Civil War. We look at the many ways Africans and African Americans built community, preserved their culture and spirit, and resisted slavery. We examine connections between slavery in the New World and the growth of the United States in the 1700s and 1800s. Students learn about the Abolition Movement, and the African American community in Boston in the mid-1800s. And in the final unit, students study the Mexican-American experience within the current-day context of immigration laws and debates. We frame current immigration issues by examining the history of the changing US/Mexican border, Manifest Destiny, the political conflict over slavery, the Mexican-American War, the postwar relationship of Mexicans in the United States to white citizens, and several types of political resistance from the 1800s to the present. We connect this unit to students’ and families’ immigration experiences.

Science

The first science unit of the year focuses on sustainability and materials management, beginning with a look at trash and recycling. The students conduct a waste audit and identify ways to educate the community about how to reduce, reuse, and recycle, and identify one or two projects the group can do to translate their learning into stewardship and service learning action. In past years, projects have included are reducing food waste and supporting reuse by running a drive for donations to Cradles to Crayons. In life science, students learn about the structure and function of the various parts of plants and investigate factors affecting their growth and development, and then students design and build their own flower and pollinator models. In technology/engineering, students combine the skills they are learning in math to plan and build working amusement park rides. Simple machines, like levers, cams, and gears, are put to work in their models. And in physical science, students face a series of design and build challenges that explore propulsion, friction, and resistance in a number of different ways.

Spanish

In Grade 5, students begin their formal language instruction in Spanish. Using a variety of kinesthetic lessons, games, repetition, direct instruction, grammar lessons, and peer-to-peer practice, students focus on growing their speaking ability, comfort, and vocabulary in Spanish. Lessons begin by focusing on questions and answers that they might use in every day conversation. Children are encouraged to ask questions and make connections as they learn so they understand and build on concepts and words as they go. 

Arts

Arts in Grade 5 introduces the stage through Drama class! Starting with the concept of an “ensemble”, students learn about performance, public speaking, teamwork, stage presence, and co-authored creation. Students in Grade 5 focus on improvisation – “being in the moment” – and taking risks together. At the end of the year, they perform for the younger grades who look on in admiration. Visual arts continues to explore mediums and elements of design. Projects are often informed by the students’ interests, but commonly include paper sculptures, collaborative drawing, and sculptural work. Optional instrumental and ensemble offerings extend students’ musical creation and learning in fifth grade. 

Social Emotional Learning

Grade 5 is a time of significant change as the children approach the cusp of becoming young adults. They are increasingly independent and are developing their own sense of themselves as moral beings in community. Their bodies and minds are growing and changing as they enter puberty, each in their own time. So as part of social and emotional education in Grade 5, students will be supported in that growth and learning as part of the curriculum throughout the year, and through dedicated health instruction blocks. Our Quaker values continue to inform how they view challenges and solve problems, and opportunities arise where they can question and explore how they think about the world and their place in it.