Lower School Sequence 2025-2026

POLYACADEMICS

Lower School PROGRAM SEQUENCE | ACADEMIC YEAR 2025–26

EARLY CHILDHOOD SEQUENCE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING

PRE-LITERACY (N, PK) LITERACY (K)

NURSERY

PRE-KINDERGARTEN

KINDERGARTEN

Developing one-to-one correspondence

Accepting others’ ideas for play

Expressing feelings and identifying those of others

Expressing feelings

Taking a leadership role in play at times

Celebrating what makes each student unique

Expressing feelings and identifying those of others

Demonstrating kindness and fairness to everyone in our community

Celebrating what makes each student unique

Recognizing one’s own name and the letters in it Beginning to recognize others’ names

Demonstrating kindness and fairness to everyone in our community

Writing one’s name Identifying all uppercase letters, most lowercase letters, and some initial sounds

Identifying all capital letters

PRE-NUMERACY (N, PK) NUMERACY (K)

Counting to 10 and recognizing quantities through 10 Patterns Geometry (basic shapes)

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

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

DANCE

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

MUSIC

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)

PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND MOVEMENT

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

SCIENCE

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 8:15–8:30 AM

Arrival

8:30–8:50 AM

Soft Start

8:50–9:25 AM

Morning Meeting

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

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Community or Buddy Time

Spanish

Dance

12:10 PM

PE

Music

1/2 Day Pickup

12:10–12:40 PM

Lunch

12:40–1:40 PM

Rest

1:40–1:55 PM

Choice

2:00–2:30 PM

Recess

2:35–3:05 PM

Social Emotional Learning (SEL)

Genius Hour

Choice

3:05–3:20 PM

Pack Up & Dismissal

KINDERGARTEN SAMPLE SCHEDULE MONDAY

TUESDAY

8:15–8:30 AM

Arrival & Soft Start

8:30–8:45 AM

Morning Meeting

8:45–9:55 AM

Literacy

9:55–10:05 AM

Snack

10:05–10:15 AM

Handwriting or Student Activity Choice

10:15–10:55 AM

Math

WEDNESDAY

Genius Hour = Student-led inquiry learning

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Community or Buddy Time

Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Prospect Park

11:00–11:30 AM

Recess

11:35 AM–12:05 PM

Lunch

12:10–12:45PM

Spanish (1/2 Group)

PE

Writing (1/2 Group) 12:50–1:25 PM

Spanish (1/2 Group)

Dance

Writing (1/2 Group) 1:30–2:05 PM

Library

Anti-Racist Read-Aloud (ARRA)

2:10–2:45 PM

Student Activity Choice

Art (1/2 Group)

Science (1/2 Group)

Writing (1/2 Group)

Genius Hour (1/2 Group)

Art (1/2 Group)

Science (1/2 Group)

Writing (1/2 Group)

Genius Hour (1/2 Group)

Music

Mindfulness

Music

PE

Student Activity Choice

PE

2:50–3:05 PM

Closing Circle

3:05–3:20 PM

Pack Up & Dismissal

Literacy

Math Games

Genius Hour = Student-led inquiry learning

GRADE 4 SAMPLE SCHEDULE MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Dance

Spanish

Community or Buddy Time

Science

Library

Science

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)

Drama (1/2 Group)

Music (1/2 Group)

Art (1/2 Group)

Art (1/2 Group)

Drama (1/2 Group)

Music (1/2 Group)

9:30–10:05 AM

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

1:55–2:30 PM

PE

PE

Spanish

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

Prospect Park

Pack Up & Dismissal

Music Clubs (2:10–2:45 PM)

GRADES 1–4 SEQUENCE GRADE 1

GRADE 2

GRADE 3

GRADE 4

READING

Reading with accuracy and understanding

Becoming a fluent and thoughtful reader

Developing confidence and analytical skills

Leading literature discussions

WRITING

Using writing to convey meaning in a structured way

Becoming a more descriptive writer

Honing paragraphs and developing an author’s voice

Crafting essays and longer, more sophisticated pieces

MATH

Solidifying the abstract by leveraging the concrete

Applying abstract thinking to solve real-world problems

Extending abstract thinking while attending to precision

Refining mathematical understandings to reason abstractly and quantitatively

SOCIAL STUDIES

What makes a community?

How did our city take its shape?

How does environment impact culture?

Neighborhood study

NYC study, historic and cultural landmarks, immigration

Geographic features, map skills, indigenous communities, New York State history

Why do people move?

What are the impacts of those choices?

Emphasis on observation, classification, comparison of characteristics, recording qualitative data, and communicating ideas

Emphasis on predictions, measurements, experimental design, research, and presentation

Emphasis on interdisciplinary Further development studies, measurements, of the scientific method evidence-based discourse, engineering design, data Energy forms, energy collection, and scientific transfer, meteorology, communication human impact on climate, human body systems Sustainability, properties of water, the water cycle, and choice-based topics

SCIENCE

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

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

Lower School Sustainability Ambassadors program

Developing technical ability, problem-solving skills, self-direction, and artistic voice, while exploring personal interests

Exploring autonomy through mixed-media artworks involving ceramics, felting, and painting

Mesopotamia, Great African cultures, Native Americans and Colonists, Enslavement

Independence as artists through open-ended exploration and focused projects Culminating project: recreation of selected paintings on studio stools

GRADES 1–4 SEQUENCE 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

Affirming a sense of self and community

Diversity: group membership and individuality

Cultivating empathy and recognizing responsibility

SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING

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

DRAMA

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

TECHNOLOGY

Healthy and appropriate technology use, responsible digital citizenship and leadership, sequential thinking, logic and coding, augmented reality, and robotics

HEALTH AND SEX EDUCATION

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.

BUS ROUTES

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