Grades 1-4

Two first graders read a book together in the library

Our first through fourth grade programs focus on student purpose, responsibility, and spirit.

In first through fourth grade our students learn to ask questions, make discoveries, and discover answers for themselves. Students are empowered to engage, participate in rich discussions, and speak in front of others. Woven into a mastery of core and specialty curriculum is a concentration on problem-solving, critical thinking skills, and creative expression.

At Episcopal Day, the social curriculum is as important as the academic curriculum. To build a close-knit student community, each classroom starts its day with a Morning Meeting, as part of our Responsive Classroom approach to creating a caring, supportive student body. Morning Meeting is a time for students to greet each other, express themselves, and set the tone for the day.

Small class sizes enable our exceptional faculty to understand each student’s learning method. Teachers collaborate as a team across classes and grades to support our students' growth and build dynamic, creative curriculum. After all, we care for our children's development, and cultivating their love of learning brings us great joy.

KATIE MCDOUGALL
Lower School Director

School Day Schedule

	Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri:		Wed (late start):
Grades 1-2	Arrival	8:05 a.m.	8:50 a.m.
Grades 1-2	Dismissal	3:00 p.m.	3:00 p.m.
Grades 3-4	Arrival	8:05 a.m.	8:50 a.m.
Grades 3-4	Dismissal	3:20 p.m.	3:20 p.m.

Mustang Afterschool Program (MAP)

We provide after-school activities Monday through Friday.

Core Curriculum
Specialty Curriculum

Core Curriculum

**Writing Workshops allow students to express themselves creatively through storytelling.**

Reading and Language Arts

Reading for joy is foundational to flourishing learners. Students arrive at school excited to learn, and it is our goal to build upon their love of reading and the natural inclination for storytelling.

Teachers provide students the opportunity to explore their passions and creative selves. Comprehension, critical thinking skills, and phonetic strategies are developed using myriad strategies.

Writing instruction is an effective blend of curriculum such as the “Lucy Calkins Reading and Writing Workshop” from Columbia Teachers College, a word study approach to spelling and phonics through “Fundations, Fountas and Pinnell Guided Reading” and “Handwriting Without Tears.” Teachers enhance students’ understanding with supplemental materials that allow for further differentiation.

**Pre-K students build habitats for arctic animals including a seal, snowy owl, and an arctic fox.**

Science

Investigate. Observe. Compare. Classify. Wonder.

When you visit a science class in the lower school, you will see students doing just this. The hands-on program emphasizes the scientific method and process which encompass skills that are essential in investigating the natural world. Students complete units of study in the areas of life, earth, and physical science incorporating exploration, experimentation, and cooperative group work.

Math

Our primary mathematics curriculum in first through fifth grade is “Bridges in Mathematics,” published by the Math Learning Center and developed by math teachers with the support of the National Science Foundation. The study of math focuses on developing students’ understanding of mathematical concepts, their proficiency with key skills, and the ability to solve complex and novel problems. Critical thinking skills are vastly important when building a mathematical foundation for students, who at Episcopal Day grow equipped with a variety of problem-solving tools.

**3rd grade geographers explore local and global lands.**

Social Studies

Community is an important value at Episcopal Day, and one that extends beyond the hallways of our school. In Social Studies students are taught to look beyond to the greater communities, both local and global, in which we belong. Cooperative group work and extensive field study units support the learning objectives of the social studies program. Map and geography skills are integrated in all lessons as students learn the importance of place in the context of history.

Specialty Curriculum

**Students are building a paper model of the James Webb Space Telescope, recently launched to replace the Hubble Telescope.**

MAker Lab

Engaging in innovative projects and STEAM — Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics — technology tools and materials open up possibilities for our makers to design, iterate, and bring their ideas to life. Art and engineering go hand-in-hand as students engage with meaningful projects. We integrate technology and making into student life in ways that support active, student-centered learning to promote creativity, collaboration, and invention.

To prepare students to be lifelong learners they:

Engage with real-world problems
Foster their growth mindset
Develop and articulate ideas
Use technology to design and build

Computers, tablets, and other assistive devices are a pervasive part of the innovative teaching and learning culture at Episcopal Day. All Episcopal Day classrooms use a combination of iPads, Chromebooks, and Mac notebook computers to support teachers and students and drive student-centered learning environments. Students use such tools to help them become creators of content, not just consumers of it.

**Hike! Students practice hand-eye coordination as they pass footballs and navigate through an obstacle course.**

Physical Education

Everyone plays at Episcopal Day! Children need an opportunity to succeed in PE without emphasis placed on competition. A healthy, active child is more likely to be academically motivated, alert, and successful. Our PE program provides instruction and reinforces positive student social interactions, general gross motor skill development, and sport-specific skill building. Games and lessons are adjusted to the appropriate developmental level of the children at each grade.

**Students become immersed in new lands, cultures, and experiences as they read stories with librarian Mr. Paulson.**

Library

The library is an exciting space, inviting students to develop an appreciation for literature and stretch their imaginations. As students grow as readers, they are introduced to a variety of topics, including story creation, dictionaries and thesauruses, poetry and creating fables. Our librarian collaborates with classroom teachers and works to build a high-interest collection that will develop life-long readers and users of the library.

World Languages

Students develop a foundational level of language through stories, songs, games, role-play, repetition, and art projects. As a result, students acquire the vocabulary and context for real language use well beyond the memorization of vocabulary.

Spanish for Native/Heritage Speakers: For native speakers, we provide an evaluation of each of their individual needs so that the curriculum is centered on instructional goals focusing on grammar, reading, writing, vocabulary development, speaking and culture. Many students are partially bilingual and there is a range in their language skills. Native/heritage students will develop strategic Spanish reading skills, while investigating short stories and poetry. Students will produce writing in various formats and genres including well-developed sentences, paragraphs, literary responses, and short stories, while continuing to develop skills in the correct use of grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization.

View the 2022 Lower School Art Show here.

**Students explore stories and sing songs with Reverend Jay as they explore the meanings of love, compassion, and service.**

Religion

Our rich, wonder-based curriculum invites students to learn foundational religious concepts, archetypal stories, and spiritual language to grow in self-awareness, inclusiveness, life purpose and meaning. Above all, religion class is a way to explore and develop our core values of compassion and service. Bible stories and spiritual narratives from popular culture are taught in ways that foster personal reflection and respect for religious diversity.

Our first and second grade curriculum introduces students to understand symbolism and grow in their ability to think abstractly as they connect sacred stories to their personal lives. The curriculum is supplemented with storybooks that further invite conversations about service, community, and living into love.

Our third grade explores world religions and the diverse ways human beings have come to connect with the holy and divine, including: buddhism, hinduism, taoism, judaism, islam and indigenous faiths. In fourth grade we study Christian spirituality and action through the lives of saints and faithful people from the past and present. In addition, we study prayer, songs, social justice, and meditation to enrich our consciousness to see and be the goodness in the world.

Visual Arts

Teachers present opportunities for students in first to fourth grade to express themselves with a wide variety of art materials. We explore painting, drawing, sculpture and clay, printmaking and fiber arts, and a variety of diverse artists who work with these mediums. In first and second grade there is more of an emphasis on learning about different cultures and artists and creating art inspired by them, while in third and fourth grade we branch into more techniques of drawing and painting and focus on their own self expression with the tools at their disposal.

View the latest Art Show here.

Music

As a vibrant component of our educational program, we inspire a love of music in daily life. Students are exposed to music from different geographic and ethnic regions, thus gaining a better understanding of various musical styles, languages, and cultures. Music theory is introduced in an age-appropriate manner, and students learn and create rhythmic patterns by playing a variety of instruments, such as rhythm sticks, maracas, shakers, bells, triangles, tonal bells, and keyboards.

In addition to music classes, students have the opportunity to participate in school choirs. Junior Choir is a chorus of third and fourth grade students who rehearse once per week before school and lead weekly lower school chapel services. Junior Choir performs at the annual Spring Concert and special holiday Chapels, and other occasions throughout the school year. Sometimes students are able to participate in special collaborations with the Adult Church Choir and adults in our school community who sing.

**4th grade students participate in the annual Christmas Pageant.**

Drama

An exciting outcome of students participating in drama class is amazingly confident young people who are willing to take risks in class and in front of an audience. Drama class provides a creative outlet for self-expression and role playing. Beginning in third and fourth grades, the students become comfortable onstage experimenting through improvisation, performing scenes, and learning how to be a team through dramatic and silly games and exercises.

Latest Happenings

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Second Grade Crafts Chemotherapy Care Packages

Jun 6 2022

Second Grade students were very excited about their service learning project this year as they were eager to help our neighbors at the Dorothy Schneider Cancer Center, which is located right next door to our school.

Join 1st Grade at Episcopal Day

Apr 25 2022

Calling all 1st graders! Explore rolling admission opportunities at Episcopal Day School in the heart of San Mateo.

Head of School Ralph Wales plays guitar as 4th grade students sing along.

Fourth Grade Blues

Feb 17 2022

Mr. Wales, Mrs. Samta, and 4th grade students surprise their teacher Mrs. Yu with an original song.

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