Lower School Curriculum (K–4)
At Krieger Schechter Day School, we emphasize teaching the whole child by using various methods and modalities and working with “multiple intelligences.” We know that some children learn best visually, others orally and others still through hands-on engagement. Our philosophy is to integrate content in age appropriate and meaningful ways, including through the arts and physical activities, to enhance learning. Additional teaching personnel are available in the content areas at each grade level to maximize small group instruction and meet individual needs. Our program is designed to meet the learning needs of each child in the class.
Language Arts
Kindergarteners learn the ABCs through sight, sound, touch and movement as teachers take a proven multi-sensory approach to reading. Throughout the year, children build sight vocabulary, understand stories from everyday life and the Jewish tradition, and begin to tell stories about daily classroom routines. Children are encouraged to speak in complete sentences when appropriate and to use inventive spelling as they write. They also keep journals to creatively express their thoughts in words and pictures.
Math
A hands-on approach to math helps make abstract concepts concrete for kindergarteners. Children deepen their understanding through meaningful classroom experiences, from counting attendance to working with the calendar. Dialogue, discussion, experimentation and play all provide opportunities for children to build number sense.
Social Studies
Social studies covers history, geography, holidays, map skills and current events. Specific units include: Native American Way of Life, Health and Safety, Family Life and Community.
Science
Science in the Lower School is taught with a hands-on approach, incorporating the scientific method. Students go to the Lower School science lab with the science specialist weekly. Kindergarten units include: Weather, Health, Seasons and Planets.
Judaics and Hebrew
Our Judaic Studies and Hebrew classroom surrounds children with Hebrew language and Judaic culture. In Kindergarten, we introduce Hebrew through both conscious and subconscious language. Examples of conscious language include useful vocabulary for talking about the classroom and family life at home; holidays and the days of the week; numbers, colors, and shapes; clothing and the weather; and Israel. Teachers introduce subconscious vocabulary as they repeat language to give instructions and describe everyday routines. Children also learn to recognize the letters of the aleph-bet and block print our own names. The subject of Judaism is woven into the curriculum through teaching Bible stories in English and learning about Shabbat, the Jewish holidays, charity (tzedakah), caring for other people (derekh eretz) and repairing the world (tikkun olam).
Art
Kindergarten teachers in general studies and Judaics use the visual arts to bring learning to life. Children use various mediums to illustrate ideas and concepts. Work is continually displayed on the bulletin boards outside each classroom.
Music
Children in Kindergarten and 1st Grade learn music basics, such as keeping a steady beat on our bodies and on rhythm instruments and differentiating loud from soft and fast from slow. Children understand that music can express certain moods and feelings and use music as an inspiration for creative movement activities.
Physical Education
PE includes cardiovascular exercise, strength training, and skills building through drills, games and sports contests. Our goal is to discover the joy of athletic participation and to provide an introduction to teamwork, cooperation and good sportsmanship.
Language Arts
The language arts curriculum incorporates listening, oral participation, reading, comprehension skills, spelling and writing. Classes are instructed in the steps of the writing process from pre-writing to editing, with formal instruction in mechanics and word choice.
In reading groups, students in 1st Grade begin discussing story elements, including cause-and-effect and main idea. The process leads to a one-paragraph composition.
Math
The math curriculum uses a spiraled approach, which means classes return to previously covered topics each year to build knowledge and understanding. Teachers present math problems using real world situations and emphasize the strategies and methods of solving math problems.
First graders explore the relationship between numbers and number families and use problem solving strategies as children move from using concrete manipulatives to showing knowledge in correct mathematical expressions. Units cover numeration, place value, addition and subtraction, geometry and measurement, time, money, fractions, logical reasoning and probability.
Social Studies
First graders are introduced to various cultures, exploring common factors as well as differences. Units include: Self and Family; Wants and Needs: Clothing, Food, and Shelter; Newspapers; Continents; and Countries Around the World. Students perform an original musical production about children around the world and enjoy a food tasting party with food samples from different cultures.
Science
Science in the Lower School is taught with a hands-on approach, incorporating the scientific method. Students go to the Lower School science lab with the science specialist weekly. Units in 1st Grade include: plants and trees; layers of Earth; the human body; insects; and bears.
Judaics and Hebrew
Surrounded by Hebrew language and Judaic culture, children in 1st Grade focus on understanding the Hebrew language through an emphasis on listening, speaking, reading, writing and building vocabulary. Children work on speaking in complete sentences as they learn more about Jewish holidays and Israel. Children also learn to read in Hebrew and to write in cursive. In every grade there is an inculcation of values and an exploration of how we as Jewish people live in the world. First graders study Bible stories in English.
Art
Art classes challenge children to make decisions and develop fine motor skills as they build knowledge of materials and techniques. In 1st grade, young artists work with facial expressions to show moods. Every student has a chance to display work in the halls during the year.
Music
Children in 1st Grade continue to learn basic musical concepts and enjoy special units. They include a series of lessons on Saint Saens' Carnival of the Animals and Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf. Rehearsals for three presentations – Martin Luther King, Siyyum Hasefer, and Around the World – are also part of the music program.
Physical Education
PE includes cardiovascular exercise, strength training, and skills building through drills, games and sports contests. Our goal is to discover the joy of athletic participation and to provide an introduction to teamwork, cooperation and good sportsmanship.
Language Arts
The language arts curriculum incorporates listening, oral participation, reading, comprehension skills, spelling and writing. Classes are instructed in the steps of the writing process from pre-writing to editing, with formal instruction in mechanics and word choice.
Second graders build on their skills in reading, writing and spelling and continue to build vocabulary. Reading expands to include chapter books in various genres. Works of nonfiction and biographies often tie in with what we are learning in social studies and science. Students continue journaling, learn to write letters and specific types of poems and apply cursive writing. Second graders also begin keyboarding instruction.
Math
The math curriculum uses a spiraled approach, which means classes return to previously covered topics each year to build knowledge and understanding. Teachers present math problems using real world situations and emphasize the strategies and methods of solving math problems.
Students in 2nd Grade review basic addition and subtraction facts, and they begin double- and triple-digit addition and subtraction with and without regrouping. Teachers also introduce fractions, basic multiplication and division, and geometry. Other topics covered include: place value through 1,000; measurement; and money.
Social Studies
In 2nd Grade, we study the concepts of neighborhood and community. Units and projects include: creating an original community; generating maps on the computer; conducting state research to locate capital cities; state flowers and flags; and the study of basic concepts of U.S. government. We learn about the Indians of North America and compare their festivals, customs, and rituals to those of the Jewish religion. Highlights of 2nd Grade social studies include visits to The Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C., the U.S. Capitol, and our state senator's office.
Science
Science in the Lower School is taught with a hands-on approach, incorporating the scientific method. Students go to the Lower School science lab with the science specialist weekly. Units in 2nd Grade include: magnetic attraction; liquids, solids and gases; drugs and alcohol; the solar system; and invertebrates versus vertebrates. Highlights include Whale and Dolphin Day and visit the Maryland Science Center or National Aquarium.
Judaics and Hebrew
Second graders continue to study the Hebrew language through listening, speaking, reading, writing and building vocabulary. Students learn to recognize Hebrew word roots and teachers introduce the study of Torah and Torah language, which is different from Modern Hebrew. The children's Hebrew language skills and an understanding of Judaics continue to grow and widen.
Art
Art classes challenge children to make decisions and develop fine motor skills as they build knowledge of materials and techniques. Second grade artists express their creativity through painting, drawing, collage and simple additive sculptures. Every student has a chance to display work in the halls during the school year.
Music
The curriculum for 2nd Grade music concentrates on expanding the students' music vocabulary. Students learn American patriotic music. A unit on instrument families focuses on identifying the sound and proper names of the various instruments of the orchestra. The entire grade rehearses several songs that are performed onstage as part of the annual 2nd Grade Fairy Tale Play.
Physical Education
PE includes cardiovascular exercise, strength training, and skills building through drills, games and sports contests. Our goal is to discover the joy of athletic participation and to provide an introduction to teamwork, cooperation and good sportsmanship.
Language Arts
The language arts curriculum incorporates listening, oral participation, reading, comprehension skills, spelling and writing. Classes are instructed in the steps of the writing process from pre-writing to editing, with formal instruction in mechanics and word choice.
Third graders focus on developing higher level thinking skills including analysis and synthesis of the reading materials. Students identify cause and effect, make inferences, explore character development, determine main idea and summarize texts. Reading expands to a broader range of genres, including historical fiction. Students in 3rd Grade write multi-paragraph compositions, business letters, and reports, learning the steps of writing a research paper from note taking through bibliography creation. Students also learn how to use dictionaries and other reference materials.
Math
The math curriculum uses a spiraled approach, which means classes return to previously covered topics each year to build knowledge and understanding. Teachers present math problems using real world situations and emphasize the strategies and methods of solving math problems.
Third graders master addition and subtraction facts and practice multiplication and division facts. Multiplication of a single digit times a multi-digit number is emphasized as is division by a single digit divisor into a two digit dividend. Other units include metric and standard measurement; geometry; fractions; time; money; place value to the millions; and coordinate geometry/graphing. Decimal notation is introduced as well as problem solving in all of the units listed above.
Social Studies
In 3rd Grade we focus on the higher level thinking skills, which include main idea, cause and effect, fact and opinion, and inference. All units have an engaging, hands-on activity to enrich each student's learning experience. Units include: ancient Egypt; colonial America; westward expansion; and famous women. Highlights include the 3rd Grade Patriotic Play and a visit to the Walters Art Gallery's Ancient Egypt collection. During a weeklong reenactment of colonial life, students construct a life-size covered wagon, walk the Oregon Trail at Oregon Ridge Park, and experience a simulation of a one-room schoolhouse.
Science
Science in the Lower School is taught with a hands-on approach, incorporating the scientific method. Students go to the Lower School science lab with the science specialist weekly. Topics in 3rd Grade include the study of storms; the classification of foods; endangered species; forensic studies; towers and bridges; and historical science experiments where we make soap, ink, paper and candles. Beginning in 3rd Grade, enrichment opportunities such as a science club are provided outside of instructional time.
Judaics and Hebrew
In a classroom that surrounds children with Hebrew language and Judaic culture, students in 3rd Grade strengthen their understanding of the Hebrew language through listening, speaking, reading, writing and building vocabulary. Students learn principles of Hebrew grammar, including past tense and the correct use of the infinitive, as well as prepositions, adjectives and pronouns. Third graders complete their study of the Book of Genesis in a Hebrew primer and deepen their study of Jewish holidays and Israel.
Art
Art classes call on children to make decisions as well as they develop fine motor skills and knowledge of materials and techniques. In 3rd Grade, young artists focus on painting. Projects may include life painting from realistic animal models. Every student has a chance to display work in the halls during the school year.
Music
In 3rd Grade, students learn how different durations are expressed as note values and learn to read rhythms involving half, quarter and eighth notes. Students practice their skills using classroom instruments such as drums, xylophones and boomwhackers. Third graders prepare two major music programs – the Patriots play and the Chumash play – and rehearse Purim songs for a performance at the Jewish Convalescent Center.
Physical Education
PE includes cardiovascular exercise, strength training, and skills building through drills, games and sports contests. Our goal is to discover the joy of athletic participation and to provide an introduction to teamwork, cooperation and good sportsmanship.
Language Arts
The language arts curriculum incorporates listening, oral participation, reading, comprehension skills, spelling and writing. Classes are instructed in the steps of the writing process from pre-writing to editing, with formal instruction in mechanics and word choice.
Fourth graders continue to focus on developing higher level thinking skills including analysis, synthesis and application of the reading materials. Students continue to identify cause and effect, make inferences, explore character development, determine the main idea, and summarize texts. In addition, students in 4th Grade concentrate on the practice of locating details in the text to support an answer. Readings expand to include the genres of fantasy, mystery and Greek mythology. Students apply the writing process to produce narrative and expository writing, with a focus on paragraph development, organization of ideas, and language usage. Students use a variety of resources in order to complete a research paper. Skills include note taking, outlining, and compiling a bibliography.
Math
The math curriculum uses a spiraled approach, which means classes return to previously covered topics each year to build knowledge and understanding. Teachers present math problems using real world situations and emphasize the strategies and methods of solving math problems.
Fourth graders apply their skills to solve a wide range of mathematical problems. Mastery of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division math facts is expected. Students explore the meaning of fractions and decimals, using knowledge to compute sums, differences and products. Fourth graders further explore numerical relationships as they develop an understanding of a variable in an algebraic equation.
Social Studies
Fourth Grade social studies focuses on the history, government, geography, and ecology of our state, a focus that gives rise to making many cross-curricular connections. A study of history from the arrival of the first colonists through the Civil War culminates in a grade-wide play. An exciting unit on the Chesapeake Bay takes students on a boat trip on the Bay with the Living Classrooms Foundation. Students experience this major geographic site and see all the organisms studied in science class. Additional highlights include a visit to Annapolis that includes a tour of the historic city and a mock legislative session in the State House with our delegate.
Science
Science in the Lower School is taught with a hands-on approach, incorporating the scientific method. In 4th Grade, students are scheduled in the science lab twice per week. This enables students to spend more time applying the scientific method with experiments. Units include: ecology; flight; detective Skills; alcohol and tobacco; and waterways. Enrichment opportunities such as a science club are provided outside of instructional time.
Judaics and Hebrew
Students in 4th Grade continue to strengthen their understanding of the Hebrew language through listening, speaking, reading, writing and building vocabulary. Students continue to learn principles of Hebrew grammar, strengthening their grasp of the past tense as they are introduced to the future tense. Fourth graders begin Bible study of the Book of Exodus in the original. This leads students to connect to a deeper understanding of Passover. Other topics include the Holocaust and Israel.
Art
Art classes call on children to make decisions as well as they develop fine motor skills and knowledge of materials and techniques. In 4th Grade, students focus on additive sculpture using materials such as papier-mâché. Every student has a chance to display work in the halls during the school year.
Music
The 4th Grade music curriculum includes a unit on jazz in which students learn about 12-bar blues form, instrumental improvisation, and scat singing. Students continue lessons in musical notation, and they practice reading the notes using games and instrument activities. Fourth Grade programs include the Middot show in the fall and the Maryland Day Play in the spring. The year ends with a multi-week unit on world music drumming.
Physical Education
PE includes cardiovascular exercise, strength training, and skills building through drills, games and sports contests. Our goal is to discover the joy of athletic participation and to provide an introduction to teamwork, cooperation and good sportsmanship.
