POLYACADEMICS
Lower School
PROGRAM SEQUENCE | ACADEMIC YEAR 2025–26
EARLY CHILDHOOD SEQUENCE
NURSERY
SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING
Developing one-to-one correspondence
Expressing feelings
Celebrating what makes each student unique
Demonstrating kindness and fairness to everyone in our community
PRE-LITERACY (N, PK) LITERACY (K)
Recognizing one’s own name and the letters in it
Beginning to recognize others’ names
Identifying all capital letters
PRE-NUMERACY (N, PK) NUMERACY (K)
Counting to 10 and recognizing quantities through 10
Patterns
Geometry (basic shapes)
PRE-KINDERGARTEN KINDERGARTEN
Accepting others’ ideas for play
Taking a leadership role in play at times
Expressing feelings and identifying those of others
Celebrating what makes each student unique
Demonstrating kindness and fairness to everyone in our community
Writing one’s name
Identifying all uppercase letters, most lowercase letters, and some initial sounds
Expressing feelings and identifying those of others
Self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision making, and social awareness
Using appropriate vocabulary to describe how people are similar and different from each other in their identity groups
Using appropriate vocabulary to describe and affirm membership in multiple identity groups
Writing simple stories through detailed drawings and labels
Matching letters and sounds and reading predictable texts
Demonstrating comprehension of texts read independently
Counting rote to 20 and counting-on from a given number within 10
Recognizing numerals and quantities
Composing and decomposing numbers through 5 and understanding the concept of 0
Subitization
Counting to 100 by ones, fives, and tens
Making sense of problems and persevering
Subitization
Writing addition and subtraction sentences to represent stories
EARLY CHILDHOOD SEQUENCE
NURSERY
SPANISH
DANCE
MUSIC
PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND MOVEMENT
SCIENCE
PRE-KINDERGARTEN KINDERGARTEN
Introduction to the language through songs, stories, movement, and play
Building vocabulary, developing listening skills, and fostering an early appreciation for Spanish-speaking cultures
Focus on themes relevant to young children’s lives: colors, animals, greetings, and family
Exploration of various forms of motion through arms, legs, hands, feet, fingers, toes, head, and torso
Learning collaborative movement through dance games and short movement projects
Exposure to a variety of music from all over the world
Hearing tonal patterns and beginning to move to the music
Maracas, djembes (N, PK) and ukuleles (Kindergarten)
Development of gross motor skills, coordination, balance, and teamwork through games, movement activities, and imaginative play
Following directions, taking turns, and moving safely in shared spaces
Incorporated into homeroom Incorporated into homeroom Building foundational scientific skills: curiosity, observation, use of scientific tools, and classification
The five senses, forces and motion, classification and needs of living organisms
ART Incorporated into homeroom Incorporated into homeroom Choice-based environment allowing young learners to explore painting, drawing, ceramics, block construction, sewing, and printmaking
Observation, curiosity, creative decision making, and strengthening of fine motor skills
NURSERY
SAMPLE SCHEDULE
MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY
8:15–8:30 AM Arrival
8:30–8:50 AM Soft Start
8:50–9:25 AM Morning Meeting Community or Buddy Time
9:30–10:00 AM Recess
10:05–10:15 AM Snack 10:15–11:25 AM Thematic Studies
11:40 AM–12:00 PM Library Spanish Dance PE Music
12:10 PM 1/2 Day Pickup
12:10–12:40 PM Lunch
12:40–1:40 PM Rest
1:40–1:55 PM Choice Genius Hour
2:00–2:30 PM Recess
2:35–3:05 PM Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Choice
3:05–3:20 PM Pack Up & Dismissal Genius Hour = Student-led inquiry learning
KINDERGARTEN SAMPLE SCHEDULE
8:15–8:30 AM Arrival & Soft Start
8:30–8:45 AM Morning Meeting
8:45–9:55 AM Literacy Community or Buddy Time
9:55–10:05 AM Snack
10:05–10:15 AM Handwriting or Student Activity Choice Social Emotional Learning (SEL)
10:15–10:55 AM Math Prospect Park
11:00–11:30 AM Recess
11:35 AM–12:05 PM Lunch
12:10–12:45PM Spanish (1/2 Group) PE
(1/2 Group)
12:50–1:25 PM Spanish (1/2 Group) Dance
(1/2 Group)
1:30–2:05 PM Library Anti-Racist Read-Aloud (ARRA)
(1/2 Group)
(1/2 Group)
(1/2 Group) Literacy
Hour (1/2 Group)
(1/2 Group) Math Games
2:10–2:45 PM Student Activity Choice PE Student Activity Choice PE
2:50–3:05 PM Closing Circle
3:05–3:20 PM Pack Up & Dismissal Genius Hour = Student-led inquiry learning
GRADE 4 SAMPLE SCHEDULE
MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY
8:15–8:30 AM Arrival & Soft Start
8:30–8:45 AM Morning Meeting
8:50–9:25 AM Art (1/2 Group) Art (1/2 Group) Dance Spanish Community or Buddy Time Drama (1/2 Group) Music (1/2 Group)
9:30–10:05 AM Art (1/2 Group) Art (1/2 Group) Science Library Science Drama (1/2 Group) Music (1/2 Group)
10:10–10:20 AM Snack
10:20–11:00 AM Math
11:05–11:45 AM Social Studies
11:50 AM–12:45 PM Literacy (reading, writing, and grammar)
12:50–1:20 PM Lunch
1:20–1:50 PM Recess Prospect Park
1:55–2:30 PM PE PE Spanish Music Clubs (2:10–2:45 PM)
2 :35–3:05 PM Anti-Racist Read Aloud (ARRA) Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Flex: individual projects, collaboration, or extended learning
3:05–3:20 PM Pack Up & Dismissal
GRADES 1–4 SEQUENCE
GRADE 1
READING Reading with accuracy and understanding
WRITING Using writing to convey meaning in a structured way
MATH Solidifying the abstract by leveraging the concrete
SOCIAL STUDIES What makes a community?
Neighborhood study
GRADE 2
Becoming a fluent and thoughtful reader
Becoming a more descriptive writer
Applying abstract thinking to solve real-world problems
How did our city take its shape?
NYC study, historic and cultural landmarks, immigration
GRADE 3
Developing confidence and analytical skills
Honing paragraphs and developing an author’s voice
Extending abstract thinking while attending to precision
How does environment impact culture?
Geographic features, map skills, indigenous communities, New York State history
GRADE 4
Leading literature discussions
Crafting essays and longer, more sophisticated pieces
Refining mathematical understandings to reason abstractly and quantitatively
Why do people move? What are the impacts of those choices?
Mesopotamia, Great African cultures, Native Americans and Colonists, Enslavement
SCIENCE
Emphasis on observation, classification, comparison of characteristics, recording qualitative data, and communicating ideas
The animal kingdom, relationship between structure/function, light, and sound
ART Developing a deeper sense of personal expression, independence, and reflection as part of the choice-based artistic process
Materials: needle-felting, painting, sculpture, and cardboard construction
Emphasis on predictions, measurements, experimental design, research, and presentation
States of matter, earth’s movement through space, phases of the moon, gravity, ecosystems, and biodiversity
Interdisciplinary connections to social studies: using geology and engineering to explore the NYC subway system
Developing technical ability, problem-solving skills, self-direction, and artistic voice, while exploring personal interests
Emphasis on interdisciplinary studies, measurements, evidence-based discourse, engineering design, data collection, and scientific communication
Sustainability, properties of water, the water cycle, and choice-based topics
Lower School Sustainability Ambassadors program
Further development of the scientific method
Energy forms, energy transfer, meteorology, human impact on climate, human body systems
Exploring autonomy through mixed-media artworks involving ceramics, felting, and painting
Independence as artists through open-ended exploration and focused projects
Culminating project: recreation of selected paintings on studio stools
GRADES 1–4
GRADE 1
GRADE 2
GRADE 3
GRADE 4
DANCE Acquiring an increasingly sophisticated dance vocabulary to choreograph their own pieces and perform a dance at the end of each school year
MUSIC Skill building through an array of games, various music genres, and exploring a repertoire of choral and instrumental pieces
Singing in tune, harmonizing together, and playing basic orchestral instruments, such as xylophone, recorder, and drum
We encourage students to take individual music lessons through our Lower School Conservatory Program
ANTI-RACISM AND CHARACTER
SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING
DRAMA
Affirming a sense of self and community
TECHNOLOGY
HEALTH AND SEX EDUCATION
Diversity: group membership and individuality
Cultivating empathy and recognizing responsibility
Self-awareness: recognizing one’s emotions, strengths, and challenges
Agency and advocacy
Navigating obstacles: managing emotions, controlling impulses, handling stress, and staying motivated
Interpersonal skills: recognizing and respecting diverse perspectives, empathizing with others, communicating effectively, and healthy relationship building
Responsible decision-making and ethical behavior: evaluating situations, considering consequences, and making thoughtful, values-driven choices
Concentration on performance (improvisation, role-play, and scripted) and the creative theatrical process
Emphasis on communication, collaboration, enunciation, expression, empathy, creativity, and imagination
Culminating project: a specially commissioned play for an audience of peers, friends, and family
Healthy and appropriate technology use, responsible digital citizenship and leadership, sequential thinking, logic and coding, augmented reality, and robotics
Anatomy, caring for our bodies, healthy relationships, consent
Anatomy, keeping our minds and bodies safe, adolescent development, tailored content
CURRICULAR TRIPS
Each year, teachers of all grade levels plan trips to extend curricular studies, inspire new learning, build community, and spark curiosity. Nursery and Pre-K botanists observe plants and animals utilizing their five senses at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. Kindergarten entomologists interact with butterflies in the vivarium of the American Museum of Natural History. First grade explores jobs in our local community, while a trip to The Liberty Science Center allows for interactive learning about honeybees and pollination. Second grade walks across the Brooklyn Bridge to connect their history lessons to the current day. In Spanish, Grade 2 students tour Sunset Park and utilize their growing neighborhood vocabulary at a local panadería. Grade 3 visits Waterloo Village and the American Museum of Natural History to study Indigenous communities and cultures. Grade 3 also builds upon their studies in Spanish by using their growing vocabulary to order lunch in Spanish at a local, family-run restaurant. Grade 4 visits the United Nations and The Brooklyn Museum, and their curricular trips culminate in an excursion to Philadelphia, where students explore The Franklin Institute. Classes in each grade also connect service learning trips with local organizations such as Grandma's Love and CHiPS.
BUDDY
SYSTEM AND COMMUNITY TIME
Our school's buddy system is a cherished tradition that fosters meaningful connections across grade levels. Older Lower School students are paired with younger buddies, building friendships, mentorship, and a sense of responsibility throughout the year. These relationships strengthen our school community and create joyful, lasting memories for students of all ages. Community Time is a special tradition at Poly Prep that brings students and faculty together to reflect, learn, and celebrate the rich diversity of our school. As we honor heritage months, these gatherings create space for connection, storytelling, and shared experiences— helping students build empathy, pride, and a deeper understanding of one another’s cultures and identities.
ARRA AND HERITAGE MONTHS
Every child deserves to feel seen, heard, and celebrated. To that end, our students explore and commemorate heritage and history months all year long, including Hispanic Heritage Month, Native American Heritage Month, Jewish Heritage Month, Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Arab Heritage Month, Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and Pride Month. These celebrations come to life through vibrant assemblies, creative hallway displays, engaging family projects, powerful literature, and meaningful weekly activities. We are also proud to offer two affinity spaces for students of color and children from divorced families to connect, share, and find support in safe and empowering environments.
A cornerstone of our community-building is our Anti-Racist Read-Aloud (ARRA) program. Students engage with carefully selected books and guided discussions to cultivate a strong, positive self-concept and identity development, to consider multiple perspectives, to develop a shared vocabulary, and to stand up for what is just and fair. These lessons nurture empathy, curiosity, and a sense of belonging as our students grow to be thoughtful and compassionate citizens.
ACTIVITY HIGHLIGHTS
Club and enrichment activities change annually according to student interest. Past clubs have included the following:
GRADES 3 AND 4 CLUBS
Banana Splits
Broadway Club
GeQ (gee-que) Gender Equity Club Girl Up!
Gluten-Free Club
Leadership Club
LIT Club (Librarians in Training)
Media Club
Read under a Tree Club
STEM Girls Club
Students of Color Affinity Group Worm Club (composting)
AFTERSCHOOL ENRICHMENT
Students may choose multiple afterschool activities each season.
Robotics
Puppetry
Little Hands Crafting
Earth Science
Math Team
Spy Kids
Coding
Filmmaking
Musical Theater
Chess
Mini LEGO City
Choice-based Art
Dances of the African Diaspora
Ballet
Blue Devils: Lower School Newspaper
STEM
The Mindful Zone
Harry Potter: Poly Prep School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Mini Movers
Strategy Games
Movement
Basketball
BSNY Soccer and Flag Football
Junior Varsity Sports
Sports Smorgasbord
Varsity Sports