Goals Across the Grades:

• Nurturing curiosity and discovery
• Celebrating language and communication: Stories * Poetry * Nonfiction
• Information Literacy
• Lateral and critical thinking skills
• Research skills: Defining and refining research questions

Kindergarten and First Grade:

• Students begin to develop a sense of “home” in the library as a place to explore, reflect and enjoy literature and information.
• Students develop an understanding about how and where information can be found in the library.
• Students develop a sense of taking care of books and honoring the library’s atmosphere of reflection and discovery.
• Students develop an expanding joy of literature through storytelling, hearing literature read aloud and participating in echo rhymes and poetry.
• Students continue to develop fluency in their own reading and discovering their own connection with literature.
• Students practice silent periods of browsing and exploring random materials that may lead to fresh discoveries and topics of interest.

Second Grade and Third Grade:

• Students continue to develop expanding strategies for finding information.
• Students begin developing an approach to phrasing questions that produce the most efficient answers and discoveries as they explore resources.
• Students develop a widening joy of literature through storytelling, heard literature read aloud, and participating in echo rhymes and poetry.
• Students begin developing lateral and critical thinking skills through story riddles and verbal puzzles.
• Students practice silent periods of browsing and exploring random materials that may lead to fresh discoveries and topics of interest.

Fourth Grade and Fifth Grade:

• Students demonstrate a refined use of keywords and strategies in doing research.
• Students continue to develop skills in Information Literacy including a. What is the author’s agenda? b. What is the author’s reason for writing? Informative, persuasive, entertainment or even distraction from the facts?
• Students demonstrate a growing discernment among fact, opinion, partial truth and whole truth.
• Students demonstrate a growing appreciation in reading for pleasure as well as reading for information.

Music at The Island School is fun, participatory, and designed to bring out the joy and musicality that is in each student. Through a myriad of musical activities, all students are exposed to the elements of music (such as beat, rhythm, pitch, tempo, melody, etc.). They sing, learn to play rhythm instruments, and experience and explore pitched instruments. As they mature, they are exposed to musical notation, composition, and improvisation. Skills related to being a good performer and a good audience member are also taught.

The music program exposes students to a variety of music from different genres, time periods, and cultures. Using age-appropriate selections, each grade level has the opportunity to respond to musical selections that engender different emotions, or are created for different purposes (for instance, an imperial march vs. a lullaby). Exposure to different instruments also gives students an understanding of a wide range of instrumental music.

A further goal of the music program is to have each student feel successful as a creative, contributing member of the class ensemble. Students have many opportunities to create their own music as an individual, with partners, as part of a small group, and as part of the larger class.

Kindergarten and First Grade:

Children learn through singing, playing simple rhythm instruments, listening to music, creating/composing group ensembles, and through gross and fine movement activities. A varied assortment of activities is chosen to develop each child’s:

• Understanding of beat vs. rhythm
• Recognition of simple note values
• Vocal exploration, including pitch matching
• Ability to join in musical games and activities
• Ability to compose short songs and rhythmic music
• Cooperation and creative sharing in the music environment

Second Grade and Third Grade:

The groundwork established in kindergarten and first grade lays the foundation for launching all the students’ creative ideas in music. Students will:

• Build their repertoire of songs through singing games
• Develop a wider range of pitch
• Work with rhythm and beat together, in small group ensembles using a variety of 
instruments
• Recognize sounds made from traditional western and ethnic instruments
• Explore making music as individuals, partners, and as part of the larger ensemble
• Combine rhythm and pitch
• Participate in structured activities to develop an appreciation for listening to music

Fourth Grade and Fifth Grade:

The focus is to build upon the foundation laid in previous years. Working together as a class and building ensemble skills are the top priorities for these grades. Students will:

• Continue to explore more complex rhythm patterns and pitch
• Learn music terminology (melody, harmony, tempo, pitch, etc.)
• Play pitched instruments and/or sing in a rock band setting
• Sing folk and popular songs with added instruments
• Explore music notation and composition
• Work together on larger musical compositions in small groups
• Perform prepared pieces in groups or alone, depending on the student’s comfort level

The goal of The Island School Physical Education program is to develop physically literate individuals who have the knowledge, skills and confidence to enjoy a lifetime of healthful physical activity. To pursue a lifetime of healthful physical activity, a physically literate individual:

• Has learned the skills necessary to participate in a variety of physical activities
• Knows the implications of and the benefits from involvement in various types of physical activities
• Participates regularly in physical activity
• Is physically fit
• Values physical activity and its contributions to a healthful lifestyle

Developmentally appropriate activities are taught to foster growth in a variety of motor skill and health-related fitness to enhance the physical, mental and social/emotional development of every child. Lessons promote sportsmanship, teamwork, cooperation, winning and losing gracefully, and the grit to persevere and try something new.

Learning targets for each grade follow (and build upon the previous year’s targets):

Kindergarten:

• Demonstrate basic locomotor and non-locomotor skills: hopping, skipping, jumping, galloping, running, walking, sliding and balancing
• Demonstrate self-control and the ability to follow directions
• Practice basic ball skills: rolling, kicking, bouncing, throwing and catching
• Express one’s feelings in a positive way
• Demonstrate respect and understanding for all students regardless of their appearance or physical abilities by displaying acceptance and cooperation

First Grade:

• Be willing to practice new physical activities
• Demonstrate increasing skill in basic body movements and basic ball skills
• Participate in games and activities that help students learn about cooperation and sportsmanship
• Understand the importance of physical activity in maintaining good health
• Demonstrate respect and understanding for all students regardless of their appearance of physical abilities by displaying acceptance and cooperation

Second Grade:

• Show a positive attitude toward physical activity
• Demonstrate a willingness to learn new skills and accept physical challenges such as basic body movements and basic ball skills
• Identify warm-ups and cool-downs, strengthening and aerobic exercises. Show a positive attitude while participating in activities and games from various cultures

Third Grade:

• Improve movement skills and basic ball skills while participating in games and physical activities
• Show pride in personal accomplishments and give positive feedback to classmates
• Demonstrate good sportsmanship and the ability to make good decisions
• Participate in cooperative games and activities

Fourth Grade:

• Use feedback from others and self-monitoring to improve movement in sequences, such as throwing, striking or rhythmic patterns
• Show enthusiasm for improving one’s physical performance and support others in improving theirs

Fifth Grade:

• Understand the basic concepts of fitness such as flexibility, endurance and strength
• Understand the importance of good decision-making skills and refusal skills to make healthy choices and good sportsmanship
• Demonstrate respect and understanding for all students regardless of their appearance or physical abilities by displaying acceptance and cooperation
• Participate in small-sided games to achieve tactical and strategic game sense

At The Island School we know how important it is to learn a world language at an early stage. We believe that the early study of a second language results in cognitive benefits, gains in overall academic achievement and positive attitudes toward other cultures. Scientific studies show that younger children learn languages faster and more easily than older children and adults. The Island School launched its Extended Day Spanish program in 2005 and its in-school Spanish program in the 2010-2011 school year. All students, kindergarten through fifth grade, receive 60 minutes of Spanish instruction per week.

The Spanish curriculum aims to develop a positive attitude and excitement toward learning new languages. The program focus is on meaningful communication rather than grammatical structure. Students are encouraged first to understand and then to utilize their knowledge of the Spanish language at a grade-appropriate level.

The curriculum also incorporates specific cultural activities from Mexico, Central/South America and the United States. We believe that learning about different Latinx cultures helps build an understanding of the diversity of the Spanish language, thereby increasing awareness of global communities. Simultaneously, learning a second language can also strengthen comprehension of one’s native language and appreciation of culture.

Program Goals:

• To enhance the development of listening, speaking, reading and writing skills in Spanish
• To promote global awareness and cross-cultural understanding
• To develop increased functional proficiency in all aspects of the language with each year of study

The Spanish program approaches vocabulary sets in various ways, with different expectations depending on grade level/individual aptitude. Each subsequent school year, the program builds on the previous year’s curriculum adding vocabulary in greater detail and scope. For the early grades, the program includes songs, rhymes, storytelling, games and other fun activities that help build basic vocabulary. In the older grades, the students are encouraged to listen, speak, read and write in Spanish through games, songs and other engaging activities. In addition to increasing vocabulary, students are introduced to basic Spanish grammar and conversation to support their linguistic developmental skills.

The following are some of the specific areas of vocabulary that are introduced and practiced:

Greetings, Colors, Numbers, Days/Months, Family, Animals, Nature, Food, Clothing, House, Classroom, Community, basic verbs and introductory conversation.