Lower and Upper Elementary

“Who am I in my community""

From ages six through twelve years (the Elementary school years) the child is driven by a natural curiosity and tendency to explore the expansive interconnectedness within and across disciplines. The child is exploring and learning “Who am I in my community”. The Elementary rooms are therefore a community in and of themselves and children work continually to build strong middos of chesed, caring, understanding and thoughtfulness along with the inner desire to learn and grow. Below please find a summary of some of the materials covered in each area of the classroom.

Language Arts

The Language Area is a fully equipped area of the room built to develop the oral and written language of the child. The language area includes a comprehensive spelling curriculum, word study (including antonyms, synonyms, homonyms, and compounds, as well as the parts of speech), creative writing, and research skills.

Reading of every kind is highly encouraged, as children are introduced to poetry, folk tales, non-fiction, and classic literature. Children are also given many opportunities to read out loud – giving a presentation they have written, or dramatizing the work of another author.

Mathematics

Our concrete math area develops the skills and tools necessary for current and future mathematical study. Children continue their sensorial experience from Primary as they research and develop mathematical equations.

As the child progresses through the materials they move through more abstract math concepts including problem solving, fractions, borrowing, carrying, charting and graphing, measurement, long division and algebraic equations.

Sciences

Using ששת ימי הבראשית as the root of the development of our planet, children will further their studies throughout the Science area of the room. Children will work on life science lessons; botany, zoology, biology, physical science and earth science. Reasoning, hypothesizing and researching skills are further developed throughout the children’s explorations.

חומש

Working with the start of the 303 most common words found in  ספר בראשית, children will develop mastery in order to best be able to open their first Chumash and learn successfully.

Beginning with פ’ בראשית children will learn through פרשת ויחי  with focus on Midos Tovos throughout. Children will begin מפרשים with  רש”י script and then move to a deeper exploration of  רש”י.  Children will practice פסוקים to gain a more broad knowledge of the words of Torah.

קריאה

As a continuation of our work in the Primary Division, children will master the 303 words that are most common throughout ספר בראשית.

Children will work toward reviewing the פרשת  השבוע twice weekly in practicing קריאה as well as work on completion of ספר תהילים.  Prefixes and suffixes as well as past, present and future will be studied in depth with concrete materials to best work towards mastery.

דרך ארץ

At this developmental stage; from six to nine years, children are in a sensitive period for socialization and social awareness. Working with this, the Morah and Rebbe create ongoing situations for children to develop their self-respect and respect of others in the room. A strong and positive focus on middos tovos run straight throughout the day; in learning, davening, playing and working.

Classroom meetings help to build these skills and leave space for children to share and explore about their experiences and feelings.

Children will use their ‘avodas hayom’ books to create a personal schedule each day. They will use this list at the end of each day to ensure they are keeping to their personal goals as well as their Morah’s and Rebbe’s goals.

פשרת השבוע

Children will work through the timeline materials to best understand the development of themselves within their place in Hashem’s world. Understanding the פרשיות through learning the History of the Jewish Nation offers the children a strong and clear understanding of our development throughout the years.

Children will learn the פרשת השבוע weekly and work to build a d’var Torah to present both at school and at home. These presentations will include skills on comprehension, note-taking, translating, and public speaking. Using this children will further develop their inner-motivation, self-discipline and desire to learn with confidence.