• Why a K-8 School?
• How we Teach – the Socratic Method
• Curriculum Overview K-5
• Curriculum Overview 6-8
• Specialist Curriculum Overview
• Professional Development
• Field Studies/Outdoor Education
• Our Library Program
• Learning Specialist
• School Psychologist
• Extended Day Program and Clubs
• Community Service Program

CURRICULUM OVERVIEW – LOWER SCHOOL

Kindergarten through Fifth Grade

Kindergarten

Social skills are an important part of Kindergarten. We believe that the learning of social skills is the foundation for social and academic success. Young children have an intrinsic desire to show kindness and to be helpful to others. We nurture this by modeling and praising acts of kindness. The students learn to take care of and be considerate of each other. They become part of a warm, loving environment where they can feel safe and wholly accepted. We practice peaceful ways to solve conflicts and learn about the importance of respect and kindness in a community.

Academic Focus

Our goal in Kindergarten is to provide students a strong foundation from which they can grow to become active participants in lifelong learning. In Kindergarten your child will be involved in learning activities that stimulate thinking and foster independence and initiative. Many of the activities and daily routines that the students take part in encourage them to experience how exciting it is to solve problems and make discoveries and to take pride in doing their best. Students participate in directed lessons and projects and are also given opportunities to choose their own activities.

Language Arts, Math, Social Studies, Science, Spanish, and Art are the main components of the Kindergarten curriculum. Language Arts activities, which build oral language, active listening, reading, and writing skills, are woven throughout the day in addition to being the focus of lessons. Math is based on hands-on experiences with manipulatives and guided student interaction. Science is studied in conjunction with many of the themes we cover. In addition, students help to conduct a science experiment or participate in a hands-on science demonstration with our Science Specialist once a week. Social Studies, like Science, is a basis for many of the themes studied throughout the year. Art is primarily taught in small groups. The students use art to tell stories and to express their own individuality. We use a large variety of art mediums and incorporate concepts such as warm versus cool colors into projects.

Integrated Studies

Our Apple Unit is an example of how one theme is integrated into each area of the curriculum. We study apples in September. The Kindergarteners learn science concepts related to apples such as different varieties of apples, different shapes of apples, products made from apples, the parts of an apple and the seasons of the apple. We read different books about apples. We read and write stories about apples. The students learn about the legend of Johnny Appleseed. We sing apple songs and learn apple poems. The students also practice their critical thinking skills by comparing and contrasting the different varieties of apples. We practice math skills by guessing and counting how many seeds are inside an apple and graphing the students’ favorite apple.

View a slideshow of our Kindergarten in the classroom.

Specialist/Enrichment Classes

To read about our specialist classes, please visit the Specialist Curriculum

Kindergarten Sample Daily Schedule

Kindergarten Units

First Grade

First Graders continue to build on the skills they learned in Kindergarten. We create a positive environment where children feel comfortable expressing themselves and enjoy the process of learning. In keeping with the philosophy of the Socratic Method, children are taught the critical thinking skills that lead to self-discovery in the educational process. By encouraging the development of discussion skills, students learn to feel confident in expressing themselves and in respecting the ideas of others. The children are given opportunities to enhance and strengthen their skills by working with different groupings, including small groups, partner work, and whole class activities.

Academic Focus

First Grade focuses on enhancing the reading skills acquired in Kindergarten, as well as developing new skills to make students strong, independent readers. In First Grade children expand their sight-word vocabulary and knowledge of phonetic sounds. They learn to recognize and understand elements of a story, such as setting, plot, characters, and point of view, and use this information to predict what will happen in a story. This learning is then transferred to their writing where they are able to express themselves through creative writing and poetry as well as display their knowledge of facts through expository writing. These reading skills carry over to all areas of academic study. In Math, the children work on problem solving, and reading and using graphs to obtain information. The Math program also emphasizes hands-on activities in order to help the students better understand new concepts. Whenever possible these skills are applied to real life scenarios that allow the children to recognize the importance of the skills they are learning.  Science and Social Studies are highly integrated; the study of the Earth’s continents introduces varied animal populations, habitats, land, and climates, but also the diverse human population. Global awareness and cultural diversity are emphasized through the study of customs, art, food, music, holidays, traditions, and life styles of various cultures around the world. In Science, the interconnectedness of all ecosystems is stressed, as well as a sense of good stewardship of the earth. In addition, students also have opportunities to express themselves and their knowledge through music, dance, and special art projects that reflect the current unit of study.

Integrated Studies

Our science and social studies topics are month long themes that are easily integrated with reading, writing, math, music and art. For example, our first units are Earth in Space and North America. Using a graph of concentric circles, students are introduced to the math concept of inclusive sets. Using circles, they might map a city (Berkeley), inside a state (California), inside a country (U.S.), inside a continent (N. America). The students use concentric circles again to learn the make-up of the Earth: inner core, outer core, mantle, and crust. They use patterning to note these areas are solid, liquid, solid, with a break in the pattern, (crust being a solid with pockets of liquid). The children work with colored clay to make models of the inside of the Earth. They learn a song to help them remember the countries in North America, discuss the symbolism of countries’ flags, and make their own personal flags to represent their own strengths and personality traits.

Specialist/Enrichment Classes

To read about our specialist classes, please visit the Specialist Curriculum

First Grade Sample Daily Schedule

First Grade Units

Second Grade

In Second Grade, students continue to develop self-reliance, forge friendships, and work cooperatively with their peers. As their communication skills increase, they learn to give voice to their feelings. They also learn to listen and empathize with the feelings of others. They learn to give positive support to their peers. They practice constructive ways of dealing with conflict. They are developing the skills to resolve these conflicts independently and to reach compromises that are acceptable to all.

Academic Focus

The academic focus in the Second Grade is on the development of students’ skills, competence, and self-assurance as learners, while maintaining their interest and enthusiasm for learning. In Language Arts, the students learn to become fluent readers.  With greater vocabulary skills and comprehension, students advance to reading independently both for learning and for pleasure, pursuing their own interests. They also develop fluency in writing, so they have the ability to express their ideas clearly and creatively. Mathematics furthers the students’ abilities to order and interpret their world. Looking for patterns, making generalizations, logic and reasoning, and problem solving are emphasized as well as the mastery of number concept, place value, various units of measure, basic geometry, and methods of computation.

Integrated Studies

The Second Grade curriculum is designed to integrate Language Arts and Mathematics with units of study in Science, Social Studies and Art. In this manner, students will be able to better apply what they have learned and therefore achieve a greater depth of understanding. Units in Science and Social Studies are chosen for interest and accessibility to a Second Grader’s world.

For example, our first unit of study in the fall is autobiography and family. Students begin with activities that focus on their unique personalities and lives.  They write riddles about themselves.  They write about important events in their lives, and then put them in sequence on a timeline. They create pictorial autobiographies, differentiating between physical traits and character traits. They survey their classmates and make graphs to indicate favorite animals. Gradually our focus widens to include family. The students make a book about family members, which includes a family tree. The unit culminates with a research and art project that traces a family member’s journey to the United States, incorporating a study of history as well.

Specialist/Enrichment Classes

To read about our specialist classes, please visit the Specialist Curriculum

First Grade Sample Daily Schedule

First Grade Units

Third Grade

Academic Focus

In Reading, the students work together as a whole class, as well as in small groups and individually, to complete assignments and enrich each other’s reading experiences.  Students encounter a variety of genres as they work through the reading program. The students read for specific information as well as for enjoyment. The students develop the ability to infer, compare and draw conclusions based on the reading material. The students will also study the mechanics of writing using a text called GUM: Grammar, Usage and Mechanics. The writing program explores a variety of genres and styles, as students learn the five steps of the writing process.  They pre-write using various graphic organizers and organizational tools, write with an emphasis on ideas, revise and edit for proper grammar and mechanics, and they “publish” their work with correct formatting. The subjects of their writing are connected to topics being studied in Reading, Social Studies, and Science.

In Math, all students engage in mathematical thinking, through whole class lessons, group problem-solving activities and games, and individual skills practice. Students develop number sense, learn logical and creative problem solving strategies, solidify their understanding of algorithms, and engage in mathematical communication. The mathematics curriculum allows for a varied learning experience as students engage in Socratic reasoning lessons and hands-on exploration. Students engage in independent task time each day to practice concepts being taught and to provide them opportunities for differentiation.

Integrated Studies

Third Grade students study community and government by exploring various civilizations, including the Native Americans of the Great Plains, the ancient Japanese, and the ancient Egyptians. The curriculum focuses on the ways in which environment impacts the development of a society. Students learn perspective taking and develop critical thinking skills through Socratic discussions, the reading of various texts, and in dramatic performances that relate to the unit of study. Students read stories based on traditional folklore to understand the customs and religious beliefs of each culture. They explore how physical geography and climate influence one’s way of life, and how people depend on their surroundings for survival. By studying the food, clothing and shelter of these various groups, students develop an appreciation for these rich cultures. Field trips to museums that feature artifacts from these cultures enrich the classroom curriculum.  In our study of ancient Egypt, for example, students learn the importance of mummification as they mummify fish in science, build tombs for other mummies, and research the mythology for oral reports for which they dress up as a god or goddess. Students also learn through a dramatic performance of the creation myth of Osiris and Isis. They employ math skills as they learn the Egyptian number system and study the building of the pyramids. This unit of study culminates in a guided tour of the Rosicrucian Museum in San Jose.

Specialist/Enrichment Classes

To read about our specialist classes, please visit the Specialist Curriculum

Third Grade Sample Daily Schedule

Third Grade Units

Fourth Grade

In Fourth Grade, students begin their transition to independence in learning. Students become more confident about their ideas and are increasingly able to contribute to discussions in a way that builds on others’ contributions. They learn to be objective about their work so that they can critique it themselves and accept suggestions from teachers and peers positively. They begin to reflect on their own learning and advocate for their needs, both in school and at home. They begin to practice important long-term planning skills. They are now able to take their conflict resolution skills to a higher level as they begin to understand the roots of conflict, and to respect the needs and views of others.

Academic Focus

Fourth Grade emphasizes the application of previously learned skills. Students transition from learning to read, to reading to learn. They consult references for information, but also evaluate and critique their usefulness. They use a greater variety of resources and begin to research independently. Students begin to analyze historical motivation and use critical judgment about the needs and contexts of other cultures and times. Fourth graders also learn to generate ideas for their own creative and expository writing, select and narrow their topics, and then develop them with related and interesting details.

Cooperative learning skills and critical thinking play an important role in Science, where students develop hypotheses and record the results of their experiments. In Mathematics, our focus is on problem solving and developing concepts. They learn to value the process of solving problems along with their results, and they can articulate their reasoning and evaluate their mistakes.

Integrated Studies

The Fourth Grade Reading and Social Studies Curriculum are highly integrated. California’s history provides the context for many types of lessons, helping students understand how to apply thinking skills from different disciplines to the same subject of study. Through reading both historical fiction and non-fiction research materials, we investigate Native Californian cultures and follow their transformation during successive periods of Spanish, Mexican, and American governance. We study California geography to determine environmental reasons for the patterns of mission settlement, and simultaneously discuss religious and political motivations for exploration and settlement. In their first introduction to primary source research, students explore the perspectives of different immigrant groups and their reasons for coming to California. When we visit nearby Mission Dolores and tour contemporary murals in the Mission District, we consider the lasting cultural impact of the Spanish missionaries and the present-day cultural diversity of our Bay Area communities. Other field trips to the Marin Headlands, Petaluma Adobe, and the Oakland Museum, further reinforce topics from plate tectonics, to life on a Mexican Rancho, to the cultural, environmental, and political effects of the Gold Rush. In the largest hands-on project of the year, students use skills developed in Art, Social Studies, writing and technology classes to research, build and present a whole-class model of a composite Spanish Mission.

Specialist/Enrichment Classes

To read about our specialist classes, please visit the Specialist Curriculum

Fourth Grade Sample Daily Schedule

Fourth Grade Units

Fifth Grade

Fifth Grade is an important transition year for the students. This is the last year that they will have a self-contained classroom setting and one teacher for their core subjects. Looking forward to middle school, it is an important year for taking responsibility for their own learning, organizing themselves, and using time wisely. They must begin to rely less on their teacher and parents, and more on themselves to take advantage of educational opportunities that are offered. As well as working independently, students have the opportunity in small-group learning experiences, to collaborate and contribute to a common effort.

Academic Focus

Fifth Grade is also an important year for review and mastery of skills introduced in earlier grades. BPC students are expected to be able to read and write with fluency, to have mastered all major math functions, and to listen and participate thoughtfully in discussions. Fifth Grade offers the opportunity to master these skills under the guidance of a teacher who works with them in many different subject areas.

Integrated Studies

As much as possible, we try to take a multidisciplinary approach to the material. For example, our measurements unit is integrated with science. When we read Julie of the Wolves, we study the ecology of Alaska, and Inuit history and culture. Many historical subjects, such as the American fur trade or the Civil War, are approached through creative writing and drama.

In the same spirit, we try to coordinate with specialists so that their curriculum overlaps with and supports the core subjects. We use computer class to do research, publish poetry, and take virtual historical tours on the Internet. During our reading and writing unit on Dragons, we make dragon sculptures in Art. The haiku we write in class are painted in Art and displayed in the garden. During the Science Fair, we use our Writer’s Workshop time to work on the written parts of our projects and learn the characteristics of good scientific writing.

Specialist/Enrichment Classes

To read about our specialist classes, please visit the Specialist Curriculum

Fifth Grade Sample Daily Schedule

Fifth Grade Units

Reports and Conferences

Reports

There are two written reports each year, one for each semester. The student’s head teacher will include a summary of the material covered during the term, a paragraph that describes the student’s achievement and progress, and suggestions on how to help the student improve in a particular area. In addition, most specialists write a one page report that also summarizes the term’s curriculum, and the child’s progress is conveyed both with a rubric of desired skills and behaviors and a short written evaluation.

Teacher-Parent Conferences

There are also two half-hour conferences each year for parents to meet with their child’s classroom teacher. This will be an opportunity for both teacher and parents to express the successes, concerns and needs for the child. The conferences will focus on both the academic and social accomplishments of the child. Recommendations may include additional support from home, an observation from either the Learning Specialist or the School Psychologist, tutoring assistance for remedial work or outside testing, if needed.

Teachers are also available via phone conferencing and email for any concerns parents may have.

2010-2011 Lower School Curriculum Guide

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Kindergarten
First Grade
Second Grade
Third Grade
Fourth Grade
Fifth Grade