Benjamin Lower School Curriculum Guide

LOWER SCHOOL CURRICULUM GUIDE Dr. Kristen Sheehan, Head of Lower School LeeAnne Sampson, Lower School Dean of Academics

THE BENJAMIN SCHOOL Since 1960, The Benjamin School has educated and celebrated the whole child. As visionary educators, Nancy and Marshall Benjamin developed a school where young people were educated by the tenets of good citizenship, scholarship, athletics, and the arts. The Lower School has remained true to our founders’ goals and places great emphasis on helping each student become, as one alum expressed, “the best version of themselves.”

High standards of achievement in academics, the arts, and athletics are underscored by high expectations of student behavior. The learning environment at The Benjamin School stresses active exploration through direct instruction, playbased activities, independent learning centers, small group work, and individualized instruction.

As a School, we value and recognize each child as a unique individual, with diverse abilities, gifts, and talents. Students at Benjamin are guided by teachers who respond to individual learning styles and who inspire good character, self-esteem, respect for others, and a love of learning. A combination of character development and curricula that reflect current brain research, fosters communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION Benjamin’s Early Childhood program begins with Worlds of Wonder, a three-yearold program, and continues with Pre-Kindergarten for four-year-old students. The faculty of both programs work together to create a positive learning environment that develops the whole child while recognizing each student as a unique individual. As children transition from WOW to PK4, they develop a solid foundation of academic readiness and social-emotional development that will prepare them for their future at The Benjamin School.

In our WOW and PK4 programs, children explore new concepts through hands-on discovery, teacher-guided investigations, and project-based learning. Students are nurtured and supported in their attempts to learn new concepts and try out new skills. Curiosity is sparked through imaginative play, creative movement, scientific wondering, and mathematical speculation. Students and teachers explore the world together through song, movement, art, dramatic play, storytelling, world languages, and technology. Developing character, self-esteem, and a sense of values is an integral part of the curriculum, as well as acquiring knowledge of the place they occupy in their family, school, community, and world.

LANGUAGE ARTS The Benjamin Language Arts program prepares students to be powerful, independent readers and writers through a comprehensive science-based literacy program. Our program incorporates whole group and individualized instruction in reading, vocabulary development, grammar and mechanics, composition, spelling, and literature. The Benjamin Language Arts program awakens in each child the desire to learn and equips them with a solid foundation of skills and knowledge that enables them to reach logical conclusions and proceed with confidence throughout a lifetime of learning.

Young learners in PK4 through Grade 2 are taught literacy skills through the Florida Wonders program. Students learn text comprehension, speaking and listening skills, phonological awareness, phonics, word recognition, fluency, vocabulary, grammar, writing, and social-emotional skills.

The primary focus of the reading and writing program in Grades 3-5 is on teaching students strategies and habits of proficient readers and writers through explicit instruction and the exploration of high-quality classic and contemporary literature.

Through the use of effective instructional methods, students learn to read and write with more complexity and with more precision so that they master the skills essential for academic success in the future.

Benjamin K-5 students develop higher-order thinking skills through oral discussions and written responses to selections from Junior Great Books anthologies. Students learn to ask questions, reflect, and develop interpretations about meaningful literature.

At Benjamin, we integrate conventions and usage instruction throughout the entire language arts curriculum. Grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and paragraphing are all included. It is Benjamin's goal to have students develop fluency in all subjects and to be confident speakers and writers.

MATHEMATICS The Benjamin Lower School Mathematics program shows students that math is a critical "real-life" skill. The program teaches students to think independently and creatively about mathematics.

Teachers weave carefully chosen strategies and techniques into a smooth and cohesive curriculum for our diverse community of learners.

At the core of our curriculum is Big Ideas Math by National Geographic. Big Ideas is a research-based program that incorporates literacy strategies, encouraging students to read, write, and talk about math. The Lower School curriculum flows seamlessly into our Middle School where students also take Big Ideas math courses.

Our students acquire strong number sense and basic fact mastery through handson activities, games, and digital work. Basic facts are the building blocks of greater mathematical understanding.

In grades 2-5, Benjamin students eagerly participate in our Challenge Program.

Challenge activities encourage our learners to develop critical thinking skills. Such thinking requires students to identify a problem or goal, diagnose the problem, explore possible solutions, take action to solve the problem, and reflect on their work to determine if the solution was successful or how it can be fixed.

In grades 3-5, students have the opportunity to be placed in Advanced Math. Placement is based on a set of criteria that is predictive of success for advanced mathematical work.

SCIENCE The Lower School Science program is designed to immerse students in the nature of science and inquiry, to unlock the big ideas in science, and to build scientific and content literacy for all learners. We encourage students’ scientific literacy through a variety of techniques including a close reading of well-crafted science texts.

Textbooks are based on national science standards with an emphasis on handson experimentation. Three in-depth units that align with Next Generation Science Standards are taught at each grade level, including earth science, biological science, and physical science.

WOW and Pre-Kindergarten classes incorporate lessons from AIMS, Carolina Biological, and FOSS. Grades Kindergarten through 5 utilize the National Geographic Exploring Science curriculum. Lessons are hands-on and student-driven, and students work cooperatively to gather information using a wide variety of sources.

Students in WOW through grade 5 also visit the Maglio Family STEM Center weekly.

Students learn how to use an array of scientific tools to support their investigations in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in the STEM lab. By using an interdisciplinary approach, students can tie academic concepts to real-world lessons in contexts that link school, community, work, and global enterprise.

SOCIAL STUDIES In Benjamin’s Social Studies curriculum, students explore history, geography, economics, and civics. Students also learn about diversity and citizenship in every grade level. In early childhood classes, students learn about their community as well as geography and multicultural studies to gradually broaden their horizons and gain a better understanding of how they fit into the world. The TCI Social Studies Alive! textbook series is used in grades 1-5. At various benchmarks in the program, students learn about the geography and culture of Florida, the regions of the United States, and, ultimately, other countries. As well as studying ancient cultures and life today, students study historical figures, especially famous Americans, and simple economic concepts including the concept of wants and needs and the process of buying and selling goods.

One distinctive and beloved feature of social studies at The Benjamin School is the annual Lower School Olympics. Since 1990, every first through fifth-grade homeroom adopts a country to explore its unique customs and culture. Each homeroom hosts a delicious luncheon featuring foods from its country on the eve of Olympic day. The culmination of this month-long multicultural study is a spirited day of athletic competition among the nations. The Benjamin Lower School Olympic experience is a perfect illustration of the friendship, diversity, solidarity, and community spirit found in the international Olympics.

WORLD LANGUAGE Our World Language program at the Lower School begins in WOW with the introduction of three world languages. Each week we offer our youngest students the opportunity to interact with Chinese, French, and Spanish teachers as they share their passion for world languages. World Language teachers instill an awareness and appreciation of different languages and cultures, laying the foundation for world language study throughout students’ education at Benjamin.

At this early age, students are exposed to different languages, cultures, and basic vocabulary. Students continue to enjoy all three languages throughout PK4 and Kindergarten, studying each language one time per week. Upon entering first grade, students choose one language for in-depth study through the fifth grade.

Meaningful communication in another language is the goal of our World Language program. Students are encouraged to speak as active participants in the classroom with the use of props, visual aids, and technology to build vocabulary, enhance comprehension, and promote conversational skills. They communicate in the target language by engaging in conversations, role-playing, asking and answering questions, and singing songs. Students also enjoy taking part in a variety of cultural activities including holiday celebrations, games, and traditions. In later grades, grammatical concepts in context and age-appropriate reading and writing activities are incorporated. By using multi-sensory instruction, the careful sequencing and structuring of skills, and consistent review of previously introduced concepts, Benjamin students are empowered to communicate in their adopted language.

COMPUTER SCIENCE The Lower School Computer Science curriculum provides students with a broad range of hands-on experiences. Computer classes familiarize students with keyboarding, coding, various applications, and information gathering techniques.

Cooperative learning is encouraged, and students are provided with guidelines for telecommunication safety and etiquette. Students in grades 3-5 participate in a one-to-one iPad program that affords unique, engaging, and age-appropriate instructional experiences. Students utilize their personal iPads throughout the curriculum to become adept at using technology to promote creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving skills, collaboration, and responsible digital citizenship.

CHARACTER EDUCATION & SKILLS The Lower School Character Education program is based upon The Benjamin School Honor Code and the vital importance of community service. Our twelve character traits constitute the core values to which we subscribe both on- and offcampus: Respect, Courage, Morality, Kindness, Fairness, Integrity, Compassion, Acceptance, Forgiveness, Gratitude, Perseverance, and Responsibility.

In-class guidance in the Lower School is presented weekly from PK4 through grade 5 and on a bi-monthly basis for WOW students. Our program engages students, families, and the School in creating a learning environment that is based on caring relationships, high expectations, and meaningful involvement. We provide opportunities for children to learn the emotional and social skills needed to lead healthy and productive lives and for them to practice good citizenship through cooperation and service to others. We strive to promote a safe, healthy approach to life, free from the harm of tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use. We also emphasize celebrating diversity and respect for others.

Benjamin’s Learning Specialist works closely and collaboratively with other Student Services personnel, faculty, and outside professionals to identify and support students with a variety of learning challenges and needs.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION The goal of the Physical Education Department is to help students develop healthrelated fitness, physical competence, cognitive understanding, and positive attitudes about physical activity. Ultimately, we seek to ensure that students adopt healthy and physically active lifestyles. Students learn what the body can do and how to manage their bodies effectively. Development of skills progresses from basic movements to fundamental, more specialized skills, and eventually to higher-level skills required to participate in sports clubs and other activities such as intramural sports. Skills are taught both individually and in groups and are included in fitness activities that promote self-expression, self-confidence, cooperation, leadership, and respect. Benjamin’s physical education program is progressive, instructional, and developmental. Aside from being great fun, it provides positive learning experiences that meet the developmental needs of each child and increase self-esteem, mental alertness, academic performance, readiness for school, and enthusiasm for learning.

Diverse units ensure total development and meet the interests and needs of individuals. Lower School students participate in the Lower School Olympics. The Olympic Games emphasize team and individual sports, positive personal and social behavior, and academic integration. Our PE department strives to include all students and build high levels of integrity into our programs by demonstrating a commitment to good character.

VISUAL ARTS The Visual Arts curriculum begins with an exploratory approach, focusing on the process of creating, writing, and thinking about art. Our youngest artists are introduced to a rich variety of media that appeal to the five senses and allow for discovery and critical thinking as students decide how to apply and manipulate new media. In the upper grades, our visual arts curriculum continues with a strong focus on the process of creating. We delve into the elements of art as the foundation for our artistic experiences. Our students are exposed to a variety of media, both two and three-dimensional. Basic applications of media are learned by students. Through creative problem-solving and applying new techniques to each art project, students develop creativity, imagination, pride, and selfconfidence.

We encourage students to work both independently and cooperatively.

Interdisciplinary projects tap the creative mind and foster connections to the real world. Student projects are celebrated and exhibited on campus and throughout the local community to foster pride and self-expression in our young artists.

MUSIC Benjamin believes music education plays an important part in childhood development. We approach the early music experience with traditional ageappropriate children’s songs, dances, and basic body movements. Activities are auditory, visual, and kinesthetic, to appeal to all learning styles. Music class introduces our children to the five elements of music using developmentally appropriate practice, materials, and simplified vocabulary.

Students also learn about the instruments of the orchestra and experience the classics of music literature. Learning an abundance of new and traditional songs with corresponding listening activities, students engage in accentuating melodic, rhythmic, instrumental, and modal points of interest. Students are also introduced to the formal aspects of reading and writing the notes of the treble clef staff as well as note values.

In addition to learning many new songs, students learn music appreciation selections that transport them to different times and cultures. Through the study of solfege tones, part-singing, and singing in other languages, students improve their skills. Throughout the year, students participate in a variety of programs that showcase their musical talents.

BAND & STRINGS Students have the opportunity to participate in either a Strings program or an instrumental program at The Benjamin School. Participation in our Strings or instrumental program not only prepares students for performing in an elementary and secondary ensemble, but also develops skills in self-discipline, flexible ways of thinking, concentration, decision making, physical coordination, and aural perception. Additionally, participants in the program have found the experience builds self-esteem and self-confidence and nurtures a sense of responsibility and accomplishment.

At the beginning level, students learn how to produce a quality tone and sound, read notes, practice good habits, and play together. As students progress through the program, key signatures, time signatures other than 4/4, articulations, dynamics, and different arrangements are weekly topics. Each grade level's experience is showcased through various musical performances throughout the year.

GOLD STAR LEARNING LAB We challenge our students to do their very best while providing the structure and support they need to succeed. The curriculum is cohesive, robust, and thorough.

Our teachers differentiate instruction so that all students are fully engaged in their learning. As a community, we teach students to value their voice and learn how to make informed choices as we give them the tools to become self-directed learners. The Benjamin School program is rigorously designed. Those who need support to meet the challenges of our program may receive academic assistance through the Gold Star Learning Lab. The Gold Star Learning Lab offers students support beyond the classroom to encourage their academic success. Utilizing various strategies and methodologies, experienced faculty assist students with their learning needs either individually or in small group sessions. Computer-assisted instruction, project-based learning, manipulatives, and other developmentally appropriate activities are designed to meet each child’s needs. The Gold Star Learning Lab offers enrichment, remediation, and maintenance services before and after school, as well as during the school day, as needed.

AFTER-CARE & AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT A fee-based After-Care Enrichment (ACE) program is available for all students enrolled in WOW through grade 5. Students registered in ACE participate in planned activities that include arts and crafts, board games, puzzles, computers, movies, outdoor play, snack time, reading, and supervised homework and study time. ACE operates from dismissal to 5:45 p.m. on full school days.

Various after-school enrichment classes are also offered each quarter where students have the opportunity to explore and develop new interests. A few examples of enrichment classes offered include chess, drama, Art Club, Lego Robotics, and an array of intramural sports.