Lower School Curriculum

• Homeroom teachers and literacy specialists design lessons based on structured literacy.
• A structured literacy program begins with an emphasis on oral language, phonemic awareness, and phonics.
• Students learn strong early literacy skills by engaging in read-aloud, sharing stories, making connections to real-life experiences, and fostering passions and interests.
• The literature-based reading program develops comprehension, stamina, research skills, and the ability to support ideas with evidence from texts.
• Students also become confident writers who can express their feelings, experiences, and ideas. There is a focus on generating ideas, developing word choice, organization, writing mechanics/grammar, and developing voice.

Our Lower School math program is designed to give every student a firm grasp on fundamental concepts through interactive and strategic activities. Students are taught to approach math with an open mind, exploring various solutions to problems.

• Discourse: We encourage our students to discuss and debate their problem-solving methods, connecting back to the importance of inquiry.
• Engagement: In our math classes, you won't find students simply doing busy work. Instead, they're engaged with manipulatives, discussing concepts, and tackling problems together.
• Differentiation: Lessons are not one-size-fits-all. Our Math Instructional Coach collaborates with teachers to craft and execute lessons tailored to the diverse learning needs of our students.

Our science classes are divided into three trimester-long segments which explore the realms of physical science, Earth science, and biological science. This approach allows us to continually build on ideas and concepts with each passing year, gradually increasing their complexity.

• Students work with specialists to learn the scientific process by conducting experiments.
• Our students investigate physical sciences, life sciences, engineering, and tech, and construct explanations based on their findings.
• We teach outside as much as possible in our outdoor classroom which includes a fruit and vegetable garden and 102 acres to explore and analyze.
• Part of the Bullis STEM Signature Program enrichment, all students take Design class, a cross-curricular program in which students build and create in a variety of formats, ranging from hands-on construction to robotics and coding.
• Students learn to use technology for creative purposes and to reinforce skills, enhancing their classroom learning experiences.
• We incorporate programs tailored for young learners, like Hopscotch and Scratch, along with block-based robots to make coding and robotics approachable for all of our students.

Going beyond traditional educational subjects, our students also participate in an array of specialized courses.

• Students have regular classes in art, music, movement, physical education, science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), design and coding, library and media, social-emotional learning, and Spanish.
• Our academic offerings are further enhanced by our commitment to Experiential Education, leveraging the unique opportunities for learning and community engagement throughout the Washington, D.C. area.
  • For example, Farm School is a year-round program that immerses students in interdisciplinary concepts in a farm setting. Here, students explore different kinds of rhythms, how to take care of animals, how a farm works, explore and write poetry, and more.
• Fifth grade students are introduced to the fundamentals of economics and the principles of entrepreneurship. They engage in hands-on exercises and group activities, where they brainstorm innovative ideas for start-up businesses and then present their concepts in a format reminiscent of a "Shark Tank" pitch.

Lower School focuses on developing physically literate individuals who have the knowledge, skills, and confidence to enjoy a lifetime of healthful physical activity through a variety of activities, games, and movements.

• All students participate in physical education classes where physical well-being and sportsmanship are emphasized.
• Physical education is a structured play time focused on learning sports and healthy habits.
• Students have the option to participate in one of several after-school sports.

In our community, even the youngest members walk through campus with a sense of belonging and confidence, fully integrated and feeling as valued as our oldest students.

• In Lower School, students are paired with buddies from both the Lower and Upper Schools, fostering a sense of unity and friendship.
• Each morning, fifth graders welcome the younger students at drop-off, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
• Every student participates in community events including assemblies, Homecoming, and more.

Community service is a fundamental aspect of our educational philosophy.

• We learn self-awareness, become better individuals, and make a positive impact on others and the wider community.
• Acts of service are seamlessly integrated into our curriculum across all grades, emphasizing that service and education are interconnected.