Lower School
Lower School
Lower School Academics
Kindergarten - Grade 4
A Rich and Advanced Curriculum
The Sage School’s Lower School academic program is filled with advanced content that encourages critical thinking and problem-solving through in-depth study. True to our mission and educational philosophy, students are given ample opportunities to make connections across disciplines. Learning is enriched through interactions with professionals, including scientists, engineers, authors, and artists, via guest speakers, field studies, and field trips. From an early age, students participate in community civic engagement, such as creating food bags for local shelters or baking treats for animal shelters. By the end of fourth grade, students are confident, articulate learners with a broad understanding of diverse concepts and ideas.
Explore Our Curriculum
For more information on specific subject areas, please refer to our curriculum details below.
Hands-On, Real-World Projects
Starting in Grade 2, students participate in long-term projects centered on topics such as sustainability. They work individually or in teams to solve global problems using scientific, engineering, and design processes. Solutions are built in the science lab, arts studio, or Makerspace, and students present their innovative solutions to parents and professionals, fostering communication and collaboration skills.
Humanities in Kindergarten through Grade 4 is a spiraling curriculum; at each grade level, students participate in Reader’s and Writer’s Workshops and build on concepts learned the year prior, applying these lessons to their daily work. Classes build a strong reading culture to foster a love of reading and develop the skill to choose “just right” books for themselves.
For writing, our youngest students use the Handwriting Without Tears curriculum to help them master their penmanship. As students progress through the grades, they strengthen their writing skills through a variety of written pieces, from “How to Books” and narrative fiction to opinion pieces, research papers, and lab reports.
In Kindergarten through Grade 2, students study integrated social studies themes (i.e. All About Me and My Community with a unit on Kenya and a Kenyan community). Social studies morphs into humanities when students enter third grade in order to focus on how history, literature, art, etc., all tie together to form the complete human experience.
Students in Kindergarten and Grade 1 move on to more advanced math topics such as money and measurement. By Grade 2, students are multiplying, dividing, and working with fractions. By Grade 4, students are studying Algebra and responding in writing to open-ended prompts about grade-level concepts using associated math vocabulary and applying their skills to real-world applied math problems.
Students also work with artificial intelligence web-based learning systems to supplement, inform, and support the traditional instruction; these programs enable each student to move at an individualized pace. Redbirds (Grades K-3) and ALEKS (Grade 4), both from McGraw-Hill Education, provide data for each child through online work. In Grades 2-4, the data determines student groupings and topics for small-group instruction.
Projects such as the creation of geometric solids, mathematical modeling, and science-related math allow students to connect mathematics to other disciplines. Contest-based learning includes the Noetic Learning Math Contest (Grades 2-4), New England Math League (Grade 4), and Math Olympiad (Grades 3 and 4 after school).
Students study and apply the scientific, engineering, and design processes throughout all of their Sage science classes. However, each grade level has its own benchmark skills that students are expected to master, from making observations in Kindergarten to designing and drafting a scientific experiment in Grade 4.
Though content is updated yearly to ensure relevant and timely topics, we implement a spiraling science curriculum to ensure that our students master and excel in foundational areas of life science, chemistry, physics, earth science, and engineering (material and mechanical). Each unit is presented to the students through a driving question or a big idea that often intersects with other science disciplines, or across disciplines such as arts, social studies/humanities, Spanish, and math. From a very young age, students interact with professionals (scientists, engineers, designers) through field trips, field studies, and guest speakers.
Starting in third grade, the students are exposed to an advanced computer science and programming curriculum. For many of them, the skills and concepts taught in computer science are implemented in their projects during the Project Fair or research projects.
The focus of Spanish in Kindergarten through Grade 4 incorporates fun, age-appropriate Spanish lessons into each class. Students learn basic expressions and vocabulary and are introduced to age-appropriate grammar. Lessons and themes may reinforce curriculum content in other areas.
Students become familiar with world geography and where Spanish is spoken, while also embracing the culture through holiday celebrations and exploring the customs of different regions. Some classes may incorporate community connections and/or service learning. Spanish classes meet twice a week for 40 minutes.
Through individual and group activities, students continue to build upon their integrated foundation of artistic skills while focusing on developing a personal voice and process as artists. Students explore various artistic periods, styles, and influential artists as a means of personal growth. Sage’s arts program provides three dedicated studios—music, performing arts, and visual arts—where students can fully lean into their chosen creative outlet, a best practice in gifted education. Through these studios and our arts curriculum, young students experience the agency they have in their individual choices, collaborative communities, and the larger context of society. Sage’s integrated arts classes provide activities and lessons aimed at increasing students’ confidence in risk-taking, self-expression, and artistic growth.
Lower School library meets once a week, offering students a space to explore books, enjoy quiet time, and decompress. Students have time for personal choice in selecting books and opportunities to get to know our librarian through story time, learning research methods, or checking out their next great read.
In Kindergarten through Grade 4, our health and physical education program aims to foster a lifelong appreciation for physical activity and its vital role in overall well-being. Students are introduced to fundamental sports concepts and learn how to apply them through a variety of fun, skill-building games.
As they advance through the grades, students progressively refine their athletic skills and gain confidence by practicing in both small- and large-sided games. Through teamwork, sportsmanship, and active play, they develop coordination, endurance, and a positive attitude toward staying healthy and active.
Humanities in Kindergarten through Grade 4 is a spiraling curriculum; at each grade level, students participate in Reader’s and Writer’s Workshops and build on concepts learned the year prior, applying these lessons to their daily work. Classes build a strong reading culture in order to foster a love of reading and develop the skill to choose “just right” books for themselves.
For writing, our youngest students use the Handwriting Without Tears curriculum to help students master their penmanship. As students progress through the grades, they strengthen their writing skills through a variety of written pieces, from “How to Books” and narrative fiction to opinion pieces, research papers, and lab reports.
In Kindergarten though Grade 2, students study integrated social studies themes (i.e. All About Me and My Community with a unit on Kenya and a Kenyan community). Social studies morphs into humanities when students enter third grade in order to focus on how history, literature, art, etc. all tie together to form the complete human experience.
Students in Kindergarten and Grade 1 move on to more advanced math topics such as money and measurement. By Grade 2, students are multiplying, dividing, and working with fractions. By Grade 4, students are studying Algebra and responding in writing to open-ended prompts about grade-level concepts using associated math vocabulary and applying their skills to real-world applied math problems.
Students also work with artificial intelligence web-based learning systems to supplement, inform, and support the traditional instruction; these programs enable each student to move at an individualized pace. Redbirds (Grades K-3) and ALEKS (Grade 4), both from McGraw-Hill Education, provide data for each child through online work. In Grades 2-4, the data determines student groupings and topics for small-group instruction.
Projects such as the creation of geometric solids, mathematical modeling, and science related math, allow students to connect mathematics to other disciplines. Contest-based learning includes Noetic Learning Math Contest (Grades 2-4), New England Math League (Grade 4), and Math Olympiad (Grades 3 and 4 after school).
Students study and apply the scientific, engineering, and design processes throughout all of their Sage science classes. However, each grade level has its own benchmark skills that students are expected to master, from making observations in Kindergarten to designing and drafting a scientific experiment in Grade 4.
Though content is updated yearly to ensure relevant and timely topics, we implement a spiraling science curriculum to ensure that our students master and excel in foundational areas of life science, chemistry, physics, earth science and engineering (material, mechanical). Each unit is presented to the students through a driving question or a big idea that often intersects with other science disciplines, or across disciplines such as arts, social studies/humanities, Spanish, and math. From a very young age, students interact with professionals (scientists, engineers, designers) through field trips, field studies and guest speakers).
Starting in third grade, the students are exposed to an advanced computer science and programming curriculum. For many of them, the skills and concepts taught in computer science are implemented in their projects during the Project Fair or the STEAM Expo.
The focus of Spanish in Kindergarten through Grade 4 is incorporating fun, age-appropriate Spanish lessons into each class. Students learn basic expressions and vocabulary, and are introduced to age-appropriate grammar. Lessons and themes may reinforce curriculum content in other areas.
Students will become familiar with world geography and where Spanish is spoken in the world, as well as with cultural elements, etc. Some classes may incorporate community connections and/or service learning. Spanish classes meet twice a week for 40 minutes.
Through individual and group activities, students continue to build upon their integrated foundation of artistic skills while focusing on developing a personal voice and process as artists. Students explore various artistic periods, styles, and influential artists as a means of personal growth. Through our integrated arts program, young students are able to see the agency they have in their individual choices, collaborative communities, and the larger context of society. Sage’s integrated arts classes provide activities and lessons, aimed at increasing students’ confidence in risk taking, self-expression and artistic growth.
Lower School library meets once a week, offering students a space to explore books, enjoy quiet time, and decompress. Students have time for personal choice in selecting books and opportunities to get to know our librarian through story time, learning research methods, or checking out their next great read.
In Kindergarten through Grade 4, our health and physical education program aims to foster a lifelong appreciation for physical activity and its vital role in overall well-being. Students are introduced to fundamental sports concepts and learn how to apply them through a variety of fun, skill-building games.
As they advance through the grades, students progressively refine their athletic skills and gain confidence by practicing in both small- and large-sided games. Through teamwork, sportsmanship, and active play, they develop coordination, endurance, and a positive attitude toward staying healthy and active.