Academics
Lower School
Lower School: Grades 1-4
Country School celebrates the exuberant curiosity of children. We believe true understanding is acquired when children have time to experiment, converse and create.
Engagement, Curiosity, Motivation and Hard Work
In Lower School, our students are developing focus and self-control. They are capable of a higher level of academic challenge while still experiencing the joy and wonder of learning. Our curriculum builds upon the foundational skills of literacy and computation through the exploration of literature, math, science, social studies and Spanish.
Just as important, through the use of class discussion, teachable moments and individual attention, our faculty helps students negotiate their budding social, emotional and behavioral growth.
Introduction, Practice, Mastery
Teachers intentionally design hands-on experiences and direct lessons to provoke thinking, engage conversations, foster relationships and connect ideas and concepts.
In Lower School, students continue to practice and master foundational skills while tackling more difficult concepts in deeper, more advanced levels of the same subject or in different situations in new subject matter.
Our subject-specific curricular objectives in the Lower School include:
- Language Arts: Learn to read effectively and write skillfully through a balanced approach that combines literature and phonics instruction.
- Mathematics: Learn math concepts using hands-on materials before being introduced to the corresponding abstract algorithms. Students use geometry, surveys, graphing, games and everyday problem-solving to make mathematics relevant to them.
- Science: Explore a variety of scientific fields, learning to observe and investigate the world around them.
- History and World Culture: Study cultural traditions, history, celebrations and stories which are integrated to complement social studies curriculum.
- Art/Music: Engage in movement, song and instrument play and begin to lay the groundwork for music literacy and aural skills. Older children play recorders and Orff instruments , sing in weekly chorus and are introduced to traditional band instruments.
- Foreign Language: Continue the study of Spanish, which is integrated into stories, songs, games and skits.
List of 1 members.
Mrs. Mallin's Corner
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Hopes and Dreams in Lower School
Read MoreWhat a wonderful beginning we have shared! It has been a pleasure to welcome your children into our spaces and to have our classrooms and hallways properly buzzing with the joyful laughter and excited chatter of children. -
The Starfish Story: Making a Difference
Read MoreAt a recent assembly, I shared The Starfish Story with your children. For anyone unfamiliar, the story (adapted from The Star Thrower by Loren Eiseley), goes like this: -
The Gift is in the Giving
I wanted to share our latest Lower School community project with you, as we will be carrying it out in these weeks before break. If you have been to LS assembly, you have likely noticed that we always open our gathering with important messaging of community. We talk overtly about what it means to be kind, how we can practice gratitude, and what it means to be our best selves.Read More -
Only One You Project Rocks Lower School
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Lower School has engaged in an inspiring and dynamic community-building project that quite literally rocks. This project, stemmed from the book Only One You, by Linda Kranz, has culminated with the creation of a meaningful and child-centered Lower School rock garden, which has our mission at its heart. -
Grade 1 Immersions – Beginning with Mindfulness
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Immersions is a new curricular initiative for our Grade 1 students designed to offer enrichment learning experiences and a deeper-dive into aspects of our program. -
Making Maker Comes Alive in Grade 1
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Innovative, hands-on, challenging, and engaging. These are just a few of the words that can be used to describe the Grade 1 Maker Program.
Lower School News
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First Graders Celebrate Lunar New Year at Country School
New Canaan Country School first graders have been studying China throughout the year, so they were brimming with excitement Feb. 7 at a special Lunar New Year assembly, complete with a traditional dragon parade, handmade noisemakers, and the banging of a gong, to celebrate the arrival of the Year of the Rat. View photos.Read More -
Fourth Graders Celebrate American Indian Culture & History
Read MoreFourth graders spent the first half of their year immersed in the rich culture of the many local American Indian* tribes and shared a small sample of their learning experience through a land acknowledgment, dance, and storytelling at an assembly earlier this week. View photos. View video. -
Challenge and Cheers at Math Morning
Welles Commons was buzzing before school Wednesday morning as Lower School students challenged family members in a fun math competition. View photos.Read More
Every day, students in Kindergarten through Grade 5 practice math skills and strategies in interactive, hands-on ways, often through Workplace Station games, as a key component of our Bridges in Mathematics curriculum. -
Lower School Halloween Parade - a Beloved NCCS Tradition
The rain held off for our beloved Halloween Parade! Our Lower Schoolers were delighted when Parade Grand Marshals Head of Lower School Mrs. Mallin and Head of School Mr. Cooper appeared as Gerald and Piggie, the lead characters from the popular Mo Willems children’s book series, to lead the parade around campus. VIEW PHOTOS.Read More -
Author Janet Wong Shares Love of Poetry at Country School
On Friday, April 26, author and poet Janet Wong visited Country School, presenting to all students in Grades 1 through 6. Ms. Wong is best known for her books Pet Crazy: a Poetry Friday Anthology, The Dumpster Diver, Alex and the Wednesday Chess Club.Read More
