First Grade
Lower School students embark on many “firsts," and these “firsts” can be some of the most exciting. Immersed in our family school lifestyle, the students experience Opening Exercises, have some fun with field trips, and participate in our annual traditions during their initial year in the Lower School.
The journey has just begun!
List of 7 items.
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Language Arts
- Reading and writing workshops
- Comprehension, accuracy, and fluency in vocabulary
- Creating personal narratives, friendly letters, and crafting responses to poetry
- Hands-on phonics lessons
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Mathematics
- Explore a variety of strategies for solving computation problems
- Begin to master the skills of addition and subtraction
- Find patterns, make generalizations and develop mathematical creativity
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Science
- Experiment with the laws of attraction by observing the properties of magnets
- Infer patterns of electric currents as their first glimpse of technology
- Explore solids, liquids and gases
- Tackle botany with units on seeds and seed germination
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Social Studies
- Discover the values of community and country by studying aspects of families starting with their own and branching out to families around the world
- Learn about communities, neighborhoods, and their needs and wants
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Arts
- Emphasize fine motor skill development and visual manipulation with creative projects
- Craft works of art using nature, found objects, familiar places, art history, and family and friends as sources of inspiration
- Spearhead art projects by learning the fundamentals of planning and executing
- Develop kinesthetic (muscle sense) awareness through dance, step, march, and tap
- Gather inspiration from a variety of cultures to hone in on the assortment of musical range
- Study the process of interpreting symbols as a representation of pitch and rhythm
- Improvise with their voices and create music of their own on instruments of their choosing
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Physical Education
- Mature motor skills, body management, rhythmic awareness, and movement patterns
- Foster locomotor movements through games of tag and gymnastics
- Develop coordination and spatial awareness with beanbag tosses, hula-hoops, and jump ropes
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Library/Tech
- Become familiar with library procedures
- Encounter many authors and illustrators
- Explore and compare fiction and nonfiction, fact and opinion
- Complete two project-based research projects
- Coding and Robotics
- 1:1 iPads
- 3D Printing Projects
- STEAM Projects
Second Grade
Our second graders spend the year becoming fluent readers, tackling mathematical algorithms and learning about the world’s cultures. Second graders “travel” to a variety of countries including Kenya, Mexico, and China, and experience the culture, food, geography, and way of life. Second graders are often found cooking customary dishes in our kitchen, playing a traditional game or acting out folk tales. Second graders also work to develop their writing skills as they write, edit, and revise small moment stories and longer anthologies.
List of 7 items.
-
Language Arts
- Reading and writing workshops
- Write personal narratives, fiction, nonfiction and poetry
- Word study to explore phonetic patterns and introduction to cursive
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Mathematics
- Learn addition and subtraction with regrouping
- Addition and subtraction word problem
- Explore concepts of time and money
- Apply adding and subtracting within 1,000 using a variety of strategies
- Begin learning multiplication concepts
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Science
- Explore the concept of chemical reactions by testing different variables
- Learn more about colored solutions
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Social Studies
- Immersion in the study of a variety of countries
- Compare and contrast traditions and customs
- Learn and identify continents and oceans
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Arts
- Learn to make specific decisions in their own artwork regarding line, color, and other visual elements
- Discover the origin and function of various types of art in terms of everyday life
- Gain a better understanding of artists’ purposeful use of subject matter, mood and visual elements
- Continue to focus on movement, singing on pitch, critical listening and playing instruments
- Become conscious of pitch relationships in solfege and staff notation, while learning dance in a more complex manner
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Physical Education
- Develop individual athletic skills
- Fine tune coordination and motor development
- Collaborate with partners and small groups
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Library/Tech
- Learn alphabetic order
- Complete the “Nokemon Challenge” (nocturnal animal research)
- Learn how to use OPAC, the school’s online card catalog system
- 1:1 iPads
- Coding and Robotics
- STEAM Projects
Third Grade
Third grade calls for increased independence and expectations as students expand their skills and abilities. Third graders conduct long-term research projects, immerse themselves in Native American studies, explore complicated math concepts, read longer and write more!
List of 7 items.
-
Language Arts
- Reading and Writing Workshop
- Narratives, informational pieces, nonfiction, poetry, and note-taking through writing workshops
- Concentration on writing mechanics featuring the conventions of text layout, grammar, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling
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Mathematics
- Apply computation strategies when solving addition and subtraction problems
- Understand multiplication and division
- Multiply and divide with fluency to 100
- Introduction to fractional concepts
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Science
- Study the concept of living and nonliving things
- Perform activities and projects based on the unit of “Identifying Materials”
- Continue botany studies by diving into the study of plant nutrition
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Social Studies
- Study Native Americans
- Understand why Europeans immigrated to the United States
- Conduct a regional study of the United States
- Know and label USA’s geographic landforms, states, and capitals
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Arts
- Identify themes within visual art and appreciate the various types and styles
- Understand the process of art as a means to express an idea, feeling or nonverbal message
- Become familiar with the concept of living with art in everyday life and develop the vocabulary necessary for describing, analyzing and interpreting works of art
- Vocally develop proper tone quality, pitch, breathing, diction, and ability to sing easy parts
- Handle recorder instrumental work and more structured and intricate dance
- Learn to sight-sing melodies, as well as sing solos or harmonize in groups
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Physical Education
- Participate in lessons that incorporate both team and individual skills
- Appreciate the basics of soccer, football, volleyball, basketball, and floor hockey
- Engage in a fitness-training program in both the fall and spring for a two-week time period
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Library/Tech
- Begin learning the Dewey Decimal System
- Famous Persons research and iMovies
- Woodworking
- Mini-Society
- Coding and Robotics
- Google Drive
- Typing Club
- 1:1 Chromebooks
Enrichment
Enrichment opportunities offered within the school day foster an ever-growing learning environment that inspires creativity and confidence. Teachers enhance these opportunities with their passions and talents. From arts to technology to yoga and meditation to socially meaningful activities, we always offer something different and unique. Some of our programs are tied to certain subject areas, such as math fact practice or literacy clubs, while others aim to provide skills and strategies that translate to classroom learning. Encouraging our students to master their passions or create new ones, we designed our enrichment programs with our Daisy Values in mind.
Technology
Full STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, math) ahead! The Tatnall Tinker Lab provides the inspiration and physical space to create, to design, and to problem-solve. Teachers guide students through projects from inception to completion, encouraging them to work independently and form their own conclusions.
Service Learning
Our service learning programs provide our students opportunities to explore the power they have to make a difference. Partnering with various organizations, students perform services that fulfill needs within our community, and experience the satisfaction of giving back.
Academic
Our academic programs extend curricular learning beyond the classroom. Students meet in small groups to learn, practice, and explore a variety of topics and skills. This inspires new ways of learning and additional practice that meet the needs of individual students.
Outdoor Learning
Outdoor learning experiences provide opportunities for students to enjoy Tatnall’s 110-acre bucolic campus and learn new skills. Students may find themselves running, bird-watching, sledding, or following animal tracks. At Tatnall, “No child is left inside”!
Mindfulness Learning
Being mindful and employing techniques to control the body, thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are lifelong skills. Practicing mindfulness decreases stress, improves attention, increases compassion and empathy, and improves sleep habits. The skills our Lower School students learn through our mindfulness practice will help them self-regulate and give them the confidence to take advantage of opportunities that are available during their time here at Tatnall.
List of 7 items.
-
Language Arts
- Vocabulary and grammar instruction
- Reading Workshop
- Writing Workshop
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Mathematics
- Number Sense, addition, subtraction, and rounding
- Relationship between multiplication and division
- Two-digit multiplication
- Division by two-digit numbers and with remainders
- Geometry, fractions, and decimals
- Area, perimeter, and measurement
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Science
- Create and design motorized Legos vehicles and model rockets
- Discover the science behind motion detectors
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Social Studies
- Explore people, places, and history, with a heavy focus on imperialism and the study of explorers and colonization
- The study of African-American history and Greek mythology in the form of research projects, poetry, and performances
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Arts
- Use elements and principles of design to create a mood or visual rhythm
- Invent different applications of materials and media, observational skills and art history
- Perform using percussion and pitched instruments
- Learn to use singing voice correctly through proper breathing and tone production
- Sing musical pieces in unison and two-part music, alone and together
- Develop music reading skills and discuss material elements such as melody, harmony, tempo, rhythm, dynamics, and texture
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Physical Education
- Participate in modified team activities in greater depth and contribute to teams by performing to best ability
- Practice leadership and cooperation skills
- Engage in a two-week fitness training program in the fall and spring
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Library/Tech
- Stock Market Game
- Website building
- Integrated research project with social studies classes
- 1:1 Chromebooks
- Coding and Robotics
- Google Drive
- Typing Club
- Zine Creation
- STEAM project
Fifth Grade
Fifth graders are the "seniors" of the Lower School and enjoy the earned privilege of greater autonomy. Students engage in in-depth analysis of text, write with greater complexity, and work on STEM projects with their peers. Fifth graders explore the roots of language and learn to play an instrument of their choosing. As leaders of the Lower School, the students are considered mentors to our younger students and are often called upon to lend a hand.
List of 8 items.
-
Language Arts
- Reader's and Writer's Workshop
- Analysis of literature
- Annotation Strategies
- Advanced phonics, spelling, and vocabulary development
- Socratic Discussions
- Literary essay writing
- Newspaper reporting, writing, and production
- Collaboration with MS classes
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Mathematics
- Explore place value concepts and strategies to solve a variety of math word problems
- Bakeshop project - a cooperative activity involving actual bake sales and applying newly learned concepts involving adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing decimals
- Learn to add and subtract fractions with unlike denominators
- Multiply, divide and simplify fractions
- Geometry project creating a prototype of a mini-golf hole involves classifying shapes and angles and calculating area and volume.
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Science
- Design experiments with only one independent variable
- Observe and construct detailed written observations, draw logical conclusions and communicate results of an experiment
- Illustrate and describe how water moves through the water cycle
- Use weather instruments to measure and record different weather conditions accurately
- Compare planetary feature observations from realistic space probes and defend probable probe location in space
- Compare different types of circuits and construct an electrical question and answer box.
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Global Studies
The climate and environmental changes that shaped the earth, which led to the growth of human life
Ancient civilizations with a focus on geography, religion, leaders and their contributions to our society today
Note-taking
Study skills
Project-based Activities -
World Language
- Preparatory linguistics course
- Enables students to look for patterns that exist in language structures
- Develops an understanding of the history of language groups
- Teaches key linguistic terms
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STEAM
- 90-minute block
- Engineer's Notebooks
- Collaborative Projects
- All students compete in Delaware LEGO League competition
- Problem-based learning
- Connection with science and math curricula
- 1:1 Chromebooks
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Art
- Investigate the fundamentals of art while learning the importance of art history.
- Study influential artists and styles from all over the world
- Learn how to look, analyze, and interpret art in and out of the classroom.
- Students will discover their own artistic techniques by experimenting with new mediums and techniques
- Have work showcased at various art museums and exhibitions in the community
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World Peace Game
- Geo-political strategy simulation
- Negotiation strategies
- Economic, social, military, and environmental crises
- Global connectedness
- Creativity and problem-solving
The Tatnall School
The Tatnall School is an independent, coeducational, college preparatory day school for students in PK3 through Grade 12 located in Wilmington, Delaware.