In kindergarten, young children learn through imitation, movement, and meaningful activity. At this stage, they need their life-force energy to support the healthy development of their bodies, organs, and brains. 

Children are closely observing the adults around them, exploring their world, and learning through imaginative play and imitation. 

The rhythm of the day is supported through songs, poems, stories, movement, and playful engagement. 

Fairy tales and simple stories are shared with warmth and imagination, often using simple props to bring the stories to life. 

As children become ready to move from the dreamy world of early childhood into more organized learning, they shift from learning primarily through doing to learning through feeling, imagination, and curiosity. 

In first grade, children begin to sense the interconnectedness of the world. New concepts are introduced through an experience of the whole before moving gradually into the details. This approach is known as teaching from the whole to the parts. 

Language Arts 

Learning is introduced playfully through bean bags, clapping, marching, singing, and movement. 

The alphabet is introduced through storytelling, often using fairy tales and folk tales. 

Nature stories support language development and deepen children’s connection to the natural world. 

Indigenous stories are included with care and respect as part of a rich storytelling curriculum. 

Students begin reading simple, developmentally appropriate texts. 

Writing 

Students practice uppercase and lowercase letters. 

Writing develops through stories, sentences, poems, and descriptive captions. 

Children learn to write by copying words, titles, and captions for illustrations, gradually building toward simple sentences. 

Students learn to read through writing first, creating main lesson books that integrate language, art, and imagination. 

Social Studies 

Seasonal festivals help children experience community, rhythm, and cultural traditions. 

Multicultural folk tales broaden students’ understanding of the world and nurture respect for diverse traditions. 

Science 

Science begins with nature walks, careful observation, and direct experience of the living world. 

Students develop nature journals through sketching, noticing patterns, and recording seasonal changes. 

Stories and nature study cultivate awe, wonder, and reverence for the natural world. 

Math 

Students explore the qualities of numbers through story, rhythm, movement, and hands-on experience. 

All four mathematical processes—addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division—are introduced in a lively and imaginative way. 

Mental math is practiced through rhythmic activities, oral work, and movement games. 

Sacred geometry and form drawing support spatial awareness, balance, and pattern recognition. 

Form drawing and early geometry help students experience line, shape, symmetry, and movement. 

Handwork 

Knitting supports focus, coordination, perseverance, and practical skill development. 

Sewing introduces fine-motor skills, care, patience, and purposeful handwork. 

Seasonal crafts connect students to the rhythms of the year and encourage creativity. 

Spanish Language 

Spanish is introduced through games, stories, songs, and playful repetition. 

Students learn vocabulary for colors, animals, numbers, and everyday classroom life. 

Basic greetings and simple phrases are practiced through speaking, singing, and movement. 

Latin American cultural traditions are shared through stories, songs, celebrations, and seasonal activities. 

Visual Arts 

Wet-on-wet watercolor painting encourages color exploration, imagination, and sensitivity to the artistic process. 

Beeswax modeling strengthens fine-motor development while inviting creative, tactile expression. 

Crayon drawing supports storytelling, observation, and artistic confidence. 

Our fourth grade program invites students into a lively rhythm of story, movement, observation, skill-building, and creative expression. Each class is designed to nurture curiosity, confidence, and a love of learning. 

Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday Class Rhythm 

5:00 –5:15 p.m. — Welcome students, check on completed work, and settle into the evening together. 

5:15–5:30 p.m. — Begin with journal writing inspired by thoughtful prompts that encourage reflection and imagination. 

5:30–6:00 p.m. — Explore literature through books, poems, and stories that spark conversation and wonder. 

6:00–6:15 p.m. — Respond to literature in journals, making personal connections and practicing clear expression. 

6:15–7:00 p.m. — Build math understanding through concepts, story-based learning, and meaningful practice. 

 Curriculum Highlights 

Language Arts 

• Journey into Norse mythology through rich stories, archetypes, and imagination 

• Strengthen writing skills with regular practice, including cursive work with fountain pens 

• Build confidence and presence through poetry recitation 

• Tenses and syntax and comparative adjectives 

• Handwriting  

• Punctuation 

• Paragraphing 

• Independent compositions  

• Research reports 

Social Studies 

• Celebrate festivals as meaningful markers of the seasons and community life 

• Explore Nordic culture through stories, traditions, and historical connections 

• Discover California geography and history with attention to place and people 

• Learn about Native American practical life with respect, observation, and hands-on context 

• Create maps that help students see relationships between land, culture, and movement 

Science 

• Study zoology through the relationship between human beings and animals 

• Take nature walks that invite careful observation and a sense of wonder 

• Develop nature journaling and sketching as tools for attention, memory, and expression 

• Explore herbs and aromatherapy through sensory experience and practical learning 

Math 

• Deepen understanding of fractions through visual, practical, and story-based work 

• Practice multi-digit long multiplication and division with steady skill-building and confidence 

• Work with mixed numbers 

 French/Spanish if we want Spanish 

• Practice Spanish through lively read-alouds and repeated listening 

• Build everyday vocabulary, including counting, time, seasons, and directions 

• Explore Spanish and Mexican influences through culture, language, and geography 

Sacred Geometry 

• Practice form drawing and additional geometry to strengthen focus, rhythm, and spatial awareness 

• Weaving patterns and Celtic knots into drawing 

• Observe plants through spatial drawing, connecting geometry with the living world 

Arts 

• Wet-on-wet watercolor painting 

• Clay modeling 

• Crayon and colored pencil drawing 

• Handwork 

• Cross-stitch and embroidery 

• Knitting 

• Sewing 

• Seasonal crafts 

Theatre 

• Reenact stories through movement, dialogue, and imaginative play 

• Prepare and perform a class play 

Music 

• Practice recorder skills through melody, rhythm, and breath 

• Sing rounds and choral music to build listening, harmony, and group confidence