The Lower School
Kindergarten – Fourth Grade
The Ellison Lower School curriculum is designed to challenge and stimulate children in an environment that fosters support, cooperation and infectious enthusiasm. In keeping with our steadfast commitment to small classes, we’re able to provide greater attention to the social, emotional and educational needs of each individual child.
All students are taught the importance of recognizing and appreciating their strengths and differences. Students become allies, collaborating on class projects while maintaining confidence in their own unique abilities. The “Buddies Program” pairs Lower School students with Upper School Students on a weekly basis. Buddies share a special bond as they work together on community service projects, sharpening reading skills, and much more.
The Lower School curriculum develops and strengthens language arts and Everyday Mathematics fundamentals – two skill sets essential to a student’s overall success. What is most notable about the Lower School students is their pure delight in mastering new things. They simply love learning at Ellison – and it shows.
Kindergarten
At the heart of Ellison’s Kindergarten curriculum is active learning and discovery- essential components of a program that lead to the dynamic academic and social development of every child. The class participates in morning exercises which include a class discussion of the “daily news,” numbers on the calendar, days of the week, months of the year, and weather. This time together gives our early learners a chance to focus their attention, practice speaking and listening skills, and feel comfortable speaking in front of a small group.
Reading is taught using the Houghton Mifflin: Nation’s Choice system, a multi-sensory approach in which each child learns to recognize letters and sounds by seeing, saying, hearing, and writing the letters of the alphabet. Children develop more advanced literacy fundamentals by understanding that letters combine to form words and words to form sentences. Students use this knowledge to begin independent writing using phrases and sentences, and later in the school year students look forward to producing original short stories. Literacy skills are continually reinforced within the science and social studies curricula. In both subjects, the topics covered are designed to stimulate a child’s natural curiosity.
Math concepts are strengthened though the regular use of visual aids and manipulatives. Students learn about numbers, addition, subtraction, time, and money through class activities and by engaging in real-life play. The kindergarten program is enriched with classroom visitors, field trips, cooking, and assemblies that serve to enhance the curriculum. Content area knowledge, practical skills, and enrichment lay the foundation and well prepare students to meet the challenges of the upcoming elementary grades with self-confidence and success.
First Grade
The formal reading process is highlighted in Ellison’s first grade. Using all aspects of language as teaching tools, young readers begin to develop their skills and steadily become independent readers -- the cornerstone of future success. Students use phonics and sight vocabulary, taught through the Houghton Mifflin: Nations Choice Reading series, to expand and strengthen their literacy skills.
The Everyday Mathematics program guides First Grade math work. This course of study helps each child develop concrete and logical ways of thinking about and using numbers. First graders develop a thorough understanding of early concepts following a sequential format using games, manipulatives, and a program of revisiting skills to ensure mastery.
Initial science concepts are introduced through investigation and class discussions- approaches used to develop early critical thinking skills. First graders at Ellison use the Discovery Works program.
The First Grade social studies curriculum further develops inquiry-based learning and engages students. Yearly topics include: Famous People, Holidays and Cultural Celebrations, Character Education, All about Me, and Maps. Within the program students develop a strong understanding of the benefits of diversity and tolerance.
Each student receives instruction three times a week in physical education. These classes help our young students to refine skills, agility, and coordination as well as develop the foundation of good nutrition and overall health. In addition to physical education class, our students partake in two periods each of art and music per week. Spanish class is also held twice weekly.
Ultimately, the First Grade program develops solid organizational skills, practical study habits, independence, and personal responsibility. The skills introduced and refined in grade one will serve as a strong foundation for upcoming years and encourage all students to become life-long learners.
Second Grade
The Second Grade curriculum is well rounded and builds upon skills learned in the First Grade.
Reading is focused on language arts – phonics and decoding skills, comprehension skills and strategies, information and study skills, spelling, vocabulary/sight words, grammar, and writing. Writing is a key focus. By year’s end, students will have a firm grasp on how to craft a well-developed paragraph.
In math, second graders use the Everyday Mathematics program. The key to its success is in its hands-on approach to learning abstract concepts.
Second Grade science encourages the exploration and investigation of topics including: Interaction of Living Things; What Makes Me Sick; Changes over Time; Energy & Motion, and more. Correct procedures for conducting science experiments are practiced and reinforced.
Social studies covers a broad range of topics. The year begins with the discussion of “community” and what makes each one different. It continues with a study of maps with leads into the Second Grade “Flat Stanley” project. After hearing the story of a boy who gets flattened and mailed across the country, the students create flat versions of themselves and do some “traveling” of their own. Along the way, the students learn about citizenship, the importance of caring for the environment and the role we all must play in keeping our communities strong.
Second Grade students also participate in physical education, art, music, computer technology, library, and Spanish.
For additional curriculum highlights, please click on Subject Areas or call us at (856) 691-1734.
Third Grade
The Houghton Mifflin Nation’s Choice reading series forms the basis of the Third Grade reading program. Reading skills emphasize goal setting, increased comprehension, critical thinking, vocabulary, and oral reading. The language arts curriculum includes the study of grammar, spelling and the creative writing process.
In math, skills are refined to include basics in subtraction, addition, multiplication and division including logical thinking in problem solving and everyday mathematical experiences.
Social studies enhance the reading and writing curriculum. Map skills are continually emphasized and developed. The focus of study is New Jersey, with concentration on geography, geology, the Lenape Indians, the early colonists in southern New Jersey, immigration, and government.
The Discovery Works science curriculum is divided into three components: Life Cycles of Plants and Animals, Matter, Energy and Forces, Earth’s Resources, and Sun, Moon and Earth.
Third Grade students also participate in physical education, art, music, computer technology, library, and Spanish.
For additional curriculum highlights, please click on Subject Areas or call us at (856) 691-1734.
Fourth Grade
The programs of study for Fourth Grade includes a variety of enriching activities focused on the academic, social, everyday needs of the students.
Fourth Grade is an important transition year in the lives of Ellison students. In addition to being their last year in the Lower School, it is a time when great developmental change takes place in the students’ lives. The program, therefore, reflects these changes by harnessing the curiosity, strong basic skills and desire to do well in school that come with this age and developmental stage. The students have a mixture of hands-on and traditional skill building experiences.
Spelling and vocabulary programs increase the students’ awareness of word structure and meaning. The reading program exposes students to a wide variety of quality children’s literature.
The English program focuses on creative writing, as well as the study of grammar and the mechanics and usage of language. Written reports on subjects of interest, as well as oral reports, are an important part of the Fourth Grade program.
In addition, math skills including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division are reviewed and expanded to larger numerals. Concepts such as fractions, geometry, decimals, measurement, and probability are developed through a variety of problem-solving exercises that show how mathematics is integrated into our daily lives. Everyday Mathematics is the primary source of instruction.
Social Studies enhance the reading and writing curriculum. The focus of study is on a "World Tour" of Africa, Europe, South America, Asia and Australia, and North America. Map and globe skills are continually emphasized and developed. Students are given the opportunity to do in depth studies of individual countries and prepare and present both written and oral reports.
Fourth Grade science features a rich balance of life, earth and space, and physical sciences. The program provides experiences that are aimed at developing and maintaining a wide range of critical thinking processes.
The students also participate in physical education, computer technology, library, Spanish, art, and music.
For additional curriculum highlights, please click on Subject Areas or call us at (856) 691-1734.
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