Lower K-5
Our Students
Overview
In the Lower Grades (Grades K–5), teachers encourage our children’s imagination and love of learning as they become confident students with a strong ability to articulate their ideas and use different strategies of inquiry to explore complex concepts. Our core curriculum includes Teachers College Reading and Writing Project, Singapore Math/Eureka Math, and Passport to Social Studies. NEST+m believes in supporting the whole child, and we have daily and weekly social/emotional learning lessons through Sanford Harmony curriculum.
In addition to our classroom curriculum, our Specials offerings include Art, Music, STEMscopes Science and Physical Education. K-2 students learn Chess, Grades 3-5 have dance residencies with Alvin Ailey and Dancing Classrooms. Grade 5 also studies Technology. Grades 1-5 visit our Library weekly for read aloud and selection of high-interest children’s literature.
We believe that New York City is the world’s greatest classroom, and the students embark on numerous field trips throughout the year, both in conjunction with their studies and to take advantage of the city’s cultural offerings. All Lower Grades families will be invited to participate in bi-monthly Family Fridays, a program in which parents/guardians are invited to begin the school day with their child in the classroom.
Our Faculty
| Principal | Assistant Principal | Assistant Principal, K-12 Special Education |
| Meaghan Lynch, Interim Acting |
Barbara Rossi | Tessa Derfner |
| Student Services | ||
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Sarah Liogys, Guidance Counselor/Admissions Officer Limor Yerushalmi: Occupational Therapy Amy Whitman: School Nurse |
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| Kindergarten | First Grade | Second Grade |
| Alicia Ludin Sara Ackerman Rachel Maller Cassi Park |
Jennifer Del Pinal Alysha Walker Mironda McRae Maysie Mills |
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| Third Grade | Fourth Grade | Fifth Grade |
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Elizabeth Dukaj |
Jenna McVicar Tracy Jacobs Zoe Russell Joan Christou Leslie Koch |
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| Lower School Specialty Faculty | ||
| Abena Amoh, Library Media Specialist K-12 Jeffrey Dupont, Music K-5 Samantha Hubball, Art K-5 Theresa Anderson, Physical Education K-2 April Barabash, Physical Education 3-5 Aurora Downer, Science K-2 Amy Gerstein, Science/Technology 3-5 |
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Curriculum Overview
Please see the Curriculum Summary below for each of our core academic subjects (Reading, Writing, Math and Social Studies) and Specials (Art, Physical Education, Music and Technology) listed by grade.
Summer Reading Assignment
Our summer reading theme is resilience. Resilience is what helps us get through challenges, problems, and difficult times. When we are resilient, we learn we can do hard things not only on our own, but with the love and support of others.
We want to honor the resilience we have all shown during distance learning and the resilience we will continue to show through the summer and in the fall. We also want to honor and celebrate the resilience shown by people in the past who have faced immense obstacles and challenges. We will be reading two books this summer.
For our first book, we will all read:
Let the Children March by Monica Clark Robinson and illustrated by Frank Morrison.
I couldn’t play on the same playground as the white kids.
I couldn’t go to their schools.
I couldn’t drink from their water fountains.
There were so many things I couldn’t do.
In 1963 Birmingham, Alabama, thousands of African American children volunteered to march for their civil rights after hearing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speak. They protested the laws that kept black people separate from white people. Facing fear, hate, and danger, these children showed resilience by using their voices to change the world.
For the second book, you can choose any book from the Summer Reading Padlet. All books are connected to our theme of resilience. Books (and padlets) are separated by grade level: Grades K-2 and Grades 3-5. However, you can pick from any level. If you have a sibling at home, maybe you will want to read the same book and have a book talk over the summer, or do a family read aloud.
The Summer Reading padlet will have activities you can do as you read each book, as well as writing activities, challenges, resources to deepen learning, and opportunities to leave comments. We would love for you to share your reviews of the books. Our hope is this padlet can be a place where we can still come together as a community through the summer months to read, write, and share.
**Check the padlets throughout the summer for new book updates and activities! And stay tuned for information about a Zoom Summer Book Club with the Summer Reading Team.
Thank you for supporting our summer reading plan. We encourage you to engage in conversations about these powerful books with your child. We can change the world by leaning into the lessons these books teach us.
Warmly,
Barbara Rossi, LG Assistant Principal
Abena Amoh, School Librarian
Ellen Sands, Culture Coach K-5
Jennifer Wilen, 4th grade Teacher
Kindergarten
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Reading |
We Are Readers Emergent Reading: Looking Closely at Familiar Texts Super Powers: Reading with Phonics and Sight Word Power Bigger Books, Bigger Reading Muscles Becoming Avid Readers Growing Expertise in Little Books: Reading for Information Readers are Resourceful: Tackling Hard Words and Tricky Parts in Books
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Writing |
Launching Writing Workshop Show & Tell: From Labels to Pattern Books How-To Books: Writing to Teach Others Persuasive Writing of All Kinds All About Books Crafting Stories |
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Math |
Numbers to 0 to 10 Number Bonds Addition within 10, Subtraction within 10 Ordinal Numbers Numbers to 20 Shapes, Length Comparing Numbers Graphs
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Social Studies |
My School and School Community Self and Others: Individual Development and Cultural Identity The Community Families, Change and Time
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First Grade
| Reading |
Building Good Reading Habits Reading Non-Fiction Fluency Phonics & Comprehension Meeting Characters and Learning Lessons: A Study of Story Elements [Along with the Teachers College Phonics Curriculum]
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| Writing |
Small Moments How-To Non-Fiction Chapter Books Opinion: Writing Reviews Realistic Fiction Chapter Books Poetry
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| Math |
Review: Numbers to 20 Addition and Subtraction to 40 Multiplication & Division Fractions: Making Halves and Fourths Time Addition and Subtraction to 120 Money
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| Social Studies |
Family & Community Families: Now and Long Ago The Community
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Second Grade
| Reading |
Second Grade Reading Growth Spurt Becoming Experts: Reading Nonfiction Bigger Books Means Ramping Up Reading Power Series Books Clubs Mystery: Foundational Skills in Disguise
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| Writing |
Lessons from the Masters: Narrative Writing The How-To Guide for Non-Fiction Writing Poetry: Big Thoughts in Small Packages Writing About Reading (Opinion) Gripping Fictional Stories (Realistic Fiction)
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| Math |
Numbers to 1,000 Addition and Subtraction Length Multiplication and Division Money Fractions Time Tables and Graphs Geometry
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| Social Studies |
Our Communities Geography NYC Overtime Urban Suburban and Rural Rights, Rules, and Responsibilities
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Third Grade
| Reading |
Building a Reading Life Series Book Clubs Reading to Grasp Main Idea Character Studies Test Prep Social Issues Book Clubs Research Clubs
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| Writing |
Crafting True Stories The Art of Information Change the World: Persuasive Writing Baby Literary Essay Test Prep Once Upon a Time Writing about Research
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| Math |
Place Value Number Patterns & Rounding Addition & Subtraction to 1,000 Multiplication & Division by 2 & 3 digit numbers Length, Weight, Capacity Money Time Fractions Interpreting data Geometry Area and Perimeter
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| Social Studies |
Geography Case study of China Case study of Egypt Case study of Peru
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Fourth Grade
| Reading |
Interpreting Characters: The Heart of the Story Reading the Weather, Reading the World Reading History: The American Revolution Book Clubs
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| Writing |
The Arc of Story Writing: Realistic Fiction Boxes and Bullets: Personal and Persuasive Essays Bringing History to Life The Literary Essay
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| Math |
Whole Numbers The Four Operations of Whole Numbers Fractions Measurement Decimals: The Four Operations of Decimals Geometry Area and Perimeter Bar Graphs Line Plots Volume
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| Social Studies |
Geography of New York State Colonial and Revolutionary Periods Freedom and the New Nation: Federal, State and Local Government
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Fifth Grade
| Reading |
Maintaining an Independent Reading Life Tackling Complexity: Moving Up Levels of Nonfiction Interpretation Book Clubs Argument and Advocacy: Researching Debatable Issues Fantasy Book Clubs: The Magic of Themes and Symbols Reading in the Content Area: The Civil Rights Movements
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| Writing |
Memoir Journalism Literary Essay The Research-Based Argument Essay Fantasy Writing/Narrative Craft The Lens of History: Research Reports/Civil Rights
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| Math |
Number Sense and Operations: Decimals, Fractions, Pattern Recognition Geometry: Angles, 2D shapes, 3D figures, and Related computations Measurement and Data: Graphing, Central Tendency Algebraic Thinking and Advanced Skill Development: Linear -Equations, Ratio/Rate/Percent Throughout all units: Logical reasoning, Out-of-the box thinking, Real world connections
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| Social Studies |
Geography and Early Societies of the Western Hemisphere European Exploration Canada, Mexico and Dominican Republic Case Studies Civics For All
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Specials
In Grades K-5, our Curriculum is enriched by several Specials classes: Art, Music, Science & Technology and Physical Education.
Art
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Kindergarten |
Unit 1- Explore Materials and Approaches to Artmaking Unit 2- Explore Color Unit 3- Explore Design Unit 4- Explore Line Printing Unit 5- Explore Found Materials Unit 6- Explore and Construct with Clay Unit 7- Explore Animals Unit 8- Explore Buildings and Communities
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Grade 1 |
Unit 1- Looking Around: Where do we find beauty in the world? Unit 2- People and Places: Who are we, and what do we care about? Unit 3- Colorful Stories: How do we tell stories? Unit 4- Art and Nature: What do we see in nature? Unit 5- Special Times: How do we remember special times? Unit 6- Change: Where do we see change in the world?
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Grade 2 |
Unit 1- Nature’s Beauty: Where do we find beauty in nature? Unit 2- We Belong Together: How do we share our lives? Unit 3- Back to Nature: How are we inspired by nature? Unit 4- Picture Stories: How do we tell stories? Unit 5- Work and Play: How do we work and play? Unit 6- Outside and Inside: How do we plan our places and spaces?
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Grade 3 |
Unit 1- Alone and Together: How do people share their lives with one another? Unit 2- Invented Worlds: Where can our imaginations take us? Unit 3- Where do we find stories in our lives? Unit 4- Places and Spaces: How do we connect with places and spaces in our lives? Unit 5- Forces of Nature: How are we connected with the natural world? Unit 6- Traditions: How do people participate in traditions?
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Grade 4 |
Unit 1- Appearances: How do we see our world? Unit 2- Sharing Ideas: How can we share ideas? Unit 3- Presenting Places: What makes a place special? Unit 4- Nature’s Gifts: What does nature give us? Unit 5 -Traditions: How do we honor and change traditions in our lives? Unit 6- Imagination -What can we imagine?
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Grade 5 |
Unit 1- We the People: Who are we and how do we live our lives? Unit 2- Our Artistic Heritage: What can the past teach us? Unit 3- Surprises: How can we explore the unexpected? Unit 4- Close to Nature: What can we learn by observing the natural world? Unit 5- Sharing: How can we communicate our ideas and feelings? Unit 6- A World of Wonder: What can we imagine |
Music
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Kindergarten |
Unit 1 - Getting to Know You Unit 2 - Music From Around the World Unit 3 - Music Making Unit 4 - Exploring Elements of Music
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Grade 1 |
Unit 1 - Getting to Know You Unit 2 - Music From Around the World Unit 3 - Music Making Unit 4 - Exploring Elements of Music |
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Grade 2 |
Unit 1 - Getting to Know You Unit 2 - Music From Around the World Unit 3 - Music Making Unit 4 - Exploring Elements of Music
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Grade 3 |
Unit 1 - Getting to Know You Unit 2 - Exploring Elements of Music Unit 3 - Music From Around the World Unit 4 - Music Making
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Grade 4 |
Unit 1 - Getting to Know You Unit 2 - Exploring Elements of Music Unit 3 - Music From Around the World Unit 4 - Music Making
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Grade 5 |
Unit 1 - Getting to Know You Unit 2 - Exploring Elements of Music Unit 3 - Music From Around the World: Exploring songs and music from culturally-relevant sources Unit 4 - Music Making: Creating and sharing music with the community and peers
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Science & Technology
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Kindergarten |
Humans and the Needs of Organisms
Dealing With Weather
Living Things and Their Habitats
Using Force to Change Motion
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Grade 1 |
Design From Nature
Parents and Their Offspring
Patterns in the Sky
Communicating With Light and Sound
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Grade 2 |
Organisms Needs and Interactions
Dealing With Changes to the Earth
Mapping Land and Water
Selecting and Using Materials in the Design Process
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Grade 3 |
Animal Development and Survival
Environments and the Traits of Organisms
Organisms Change over Time
Weather
Using Magnetic Force
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Grade 4 |
Organism Structures and Behavior
Changes Over Time to Earth’s Surface and Resources
Using Energy Transformations
Wave Energy
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Grade 5 |
Digital Citizenship Coding with Scratch Engineering Units
Creating Presentations in PowerPoint and Google Slides Computer-Aided 3D Design |
Library
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Grade 1 |
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Grade 2 |
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Grade 3 |
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Grade 4 |
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Grade 5 |
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Physical Education
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K-2 Lessons modified and adapted for each grade |
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Grades 3 - 5 Lessons modified and adapted for each grade
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