Curriculum Map

For more information and grade by grade details, please view the school's Curriculum Map document.

Lower School

As students read for comprehension, joy and critical thinking are emphasized. Exposure to a variety of genres takes place in a context of an interdisciplinary curriculum. Both reading and writing are taught in all disciplines across the curriculum. Individual and group instruction are used to teach basic skills in decoding (picture, context and syntax cues and phonics). The skills of predicting, making inferences, identifying main and supporting ideas, recognizing character, plot and setting, and identifying author’s perspective are included. Students read to gather information for history, science and other projects.

The writing program emphasizes the process of writing. Students use the stages of the writing process – collecting, drafting, revising, editing and publishing – to develop pieces of writing over time. Students write every day and Writer’s Workshop takes place almost daily. In Writer’s Workshop, students participate in age-appropriate mini-lessons. Here they learn strategies specific to the genre they are writing and the stage of the writing process they are using. These mini-lessons include collecting strategies (brainstorming, webbing, mapping), ways to develop drafts, methods for revising content and strategies for editing spelling, punctuation, grammar and sentence structure. Students share writing regularly and have conferences with peers and teachers frequently. Students read and write in a variety of genres. Vocabulary is emphasized. High-frequency, priority spelling words are learned. Speaking and listening opportunities occur regularly as students share work with a partner, the class, or the whole school. Handwriting is emphasized in the lower grades and shifts to word processing as students mature.

Middle School

The Middle School humanities program is an amalgamation of history and English. Much of the content is driven by the social studies program as a variety of genres and ideas are explored. Writing and critical thinking skills are emphasized in both written work and dialogue; students are required to articulate their ideas and lead class discussions at various times throughout the year.

Lower School

Problem solving and communication are at the core of the Lower School math program. Developing a variety of problem-solving strategies is emphasized by developing solid number sense, making connections, finding patterns, using logic skills and estimating. Using geometry, measurement, data collection and analysis students solve context-based problems with real-world connections. Through the mathematical language, students are able to share, discuss and question ideas, skills and concepts as well as examine and explore the ideas and strategies of others. Students also collect and process information and represent findings in graphs, numbers, pictures and words.

Middle School

In the Middle School, students will be exposed to a balanced mathematics program that uses their emerging abilities to find structure, make conjectures, test ideas, build understanding, think hypothetically and engage in abstraction and generalization. Algebra is the language in which most of mathematics is communicated. It also provides a means of operating with concepts at the abstract level and then applying them, which is a process that fosters generalizations and insights beyond the original context.   The three-year program of mathematics instruction offers students continuous opportunities to make essential mathematical connections that will enable them to advance to the high school curriculum with a solid foundation.

Lower School

The focus of social studies/history is creating enduring habits of mind that are integrated to all subject studies. Students, through studies of various cultures and communities, learn to appreciate community and different perspectives and learn to respect individual, social and cultural diversity. Students gather and share information and, in that process, learn to distinguish fact from opinion. Students identify cause and effect relationships as they analyze and question historical reports in the course of research. Through these relationships, they learn how freedom and responsibility are related. The students learn the art of reading and making maps as they study various aspects of world and local geography each year.

Middle School

At the Middle School, the study of social studies and history are integrated into the Humanities curriculum.

Lower School

The science program encourages students to observe, question, hypothesize and communicate. Students develop research or experimentation techniques as they attempt to answer questions as outlined above in the scientific method. Using appropriate measuring, mathematical, operational or observational tools in a given situation, students record data and analyze results. Students learn that seeing themselves as part of a greater ecosystem involves respect, protection and stewardship. Students develop scientific habits of mind with a focus toward honoring different strategies and possibilities, integrity in reporting, effective communication and understanding the process rather than the product of scientific work.

Middle School

The Middle School science program is an inquiry-based science program that provides students with opportunities to develop their skills and knowledge through hands-on experiments and explorations in a variety of topics. They are actively involved in exploring phenomena that interest them both in and out of the classroom. Students are exposed to a broad definition of science and recognize the role of science in all disciplines. Critical thinking skills are emphasized as well as an understanding of the civic responsibility that comes with scientific knowledge.

Lower School

In the Lower School Spanish program, homeroom thematic units are woven into the curriculum through Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling (TPRS) – a natural approach to language acquisition. Through TPRS, students apply movement to language in order to convey meaning as they speak. Active engagement with classroom activities allows students to explore language and culture through music, art and community events.

Middle School

The philosophy of the Middle School Spanish program centers on communication, cultures and connections as they sophisticate the students' level of communication. The goal of the program is to present Spanish as a mode of communication, emphasizing understanding, creativity and confidence with the skills acquired. The program continues to emphasize Total Physical Response Storytelling.  Through contextualized exposure to grammatical concepts, active engagement with relevant texts, original compositions and dynamic conversation, students absorb and own the nuances of the Spanish language, while increasing their appreciation for Spanish-speaking cultures.

Lower School

Arts

The Arts program is process-oriented and helps children to develop a passion for works of art created by  nature, others and themselves. Students develop sensitivity and awareness of the way art touches our everyday lives and an acceptance and openness to the diversity of artistic expression. Students are challenged to explore, risk and invite new ideas to ultimately develop the skills to find their own creative voice.

Music

The Orff Schulwerk approach is used in music instruction. Students experience music through song, movement, dance, improvisation, instrumental work, listening and critiquing, which leads to the development of increasingly sophisticated skills and the understanding of musical concepts.

Drama

The Drama program in the Lower School is designed to foster creative self-expression through the engagement of voice, body and imagination in a safe, process-oriented environment. Students begin to explore the many facets of rehearsal and performance through theatrical improvisation games focusing on building trust, confidence, public speaking and the ability to work well in a group and connect with others.  At every grade level there is an integration of core curriculum and reading comprehension which allows the student to have a kinesthetic response to written language in a nurturing, collaborative atmosphere.

Middle School

Arts

Creative expression through the visual arts is important and nurtured throughout the middle school years. Students create increasingly complex original works of art reflecting personal choices and increased technical skills. Additionally, students study the development of the visual arts and how they reflect values in past and present cultures throughout the world.

Music

The Orff Schulwerk approach is used in music instruction. Students experience music through song, movement, dance, improvisation, instrumental work, listening and critiquing, which leads to the development of increasingly sophisticated skills and the understanding of musical concepts.

Drama

Drama in the Middle School becomes more refined and focuses on developing skills through an intensive study of voice, movement and theatrical terminology.  Specific theatre techniques created and mined in the American Theatre are used to sharpen and enhance the student’s imagination, creativity and self-expression.  Students are encouraged to take risks, think critically and create freely in ensemble and solo work without judgment of self or others.

Lower School

The main goals of the Lower School Physical Education program are to help children become skillful movers and to develop positive attitudes towards themselves and towards physical activity. To accomplish these goals, our primary focus is on skill themes and movement/fitness concepts that fall into five Physical Education Standards aligned with USA National Standards for Physical Education, Health, and Physical Fitness. Sample Performance Outcomes or Benchmarks for each of these standards is grade specific and includes benchmark indicators.

Middle School

The goal of the Blue Oak School Physical Education program is to present meaningful opportunities for students to learn behaviors, concepts, knolwedge and skills that will help them make appropriate decisions in terms of social, emotional, intellectual and physical health.  The Middle School Physical Education curriculum emphasizes four key areas:  New Games; Individual and Team Sports; Adventure-Education; and Wellness.  This curricular design provides opportunities for students to explore a variety of movement skills and concepts, develop appropriate social skills, think critically and reflect on their experiences.  Throughout the curriculum, students are encouraged to accept new challenges, delve deeper into personal interests and explore their role within the group dynamic.

The goal of the technology program is to integrate developmentally appropriate technology skills into all areas of the curriculum. Students learn to be skillful producers of information, using various technology tools to communicate, illustrate and solve problems and develop as thoughtful and responsible consumers of information by learning to access, evaluate and use information from online sources. All skills are meant to be cumulative; that is, the skills learned in one grade level will be used again as students progress through higher grades.