Progressive Education @ Orchard SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING Orchard students thrive while developing character and personal responsibility.
PASSIONATE TEACHERS, JOYFUL CHILDREN
Teachers at The Orchard School are nationally known for their expertise, high standards and curricular innovations including team teaching, meaningful integration of disciplines, infusion of technology, and hands-on, experiential learning. Educators who are passionate about their students and the experiential curriculum are hallmarks of an Orchard education. What distinguishes The Orchard School from other schools is that the students are at the forefront of every decision made. In addition to developing an inspiring curriculum, teachers focus on students as individuals. When students are truly engaged by teachers who have the time and interest to focus on each student and engage their intellectual and creative curiosity, learning is endlessly interesting! Active, engaged, hands-on learning inspires students, which maximizes potential. In addition to the enthusiasm in the classroom, families tell us their students come home from school excited by what they did that day. One of the primary reasons an Orchard education is so effective is that school is so engaging.
THE ORCHARD SCHOOL’S MISSION IS TO DEVELOP AND EDUCATE THE WHOLE CHILD
Teachers and students joyfully build community by canoeing together to launch fifth grade.
Early Childhood students get the fun of individual and small-group attention with two teachers per class.
Middle School students and teachers rejoice at successful science projects.
The national flags hanging from the rafters at The Orchard School represent the faculty , staff , students , and families of our current school community. THE ORCHARD SCHOOL IS AN INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY DELIBERATELY RICH WITH DIVERSITY. We strive to maintain a safe and welcoming environment that encourages courageous conversations about differences in beliefs, identities, and perspectives.
Teachers and families are a cohesive team sharing insights in order to maximize and complement a student’s learning and growth. INVOLVED FAMILIES THRIVE AT THE ORCHARD SCHOOL “Let’s work on that together” is the attitude at The Orchard School. Whether a child needs more of a challenge or help to get back on track, teachers and families work together to find the best solutions. Open forums, e-blasts, meetings with the head of school to discuss substantive topics, traditions like pageants and the Fall Festival and numerous classroom activities mean that the most important people in the student’s life are connected.
DYNAMIC, MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION
Integral to Orchard’s academic excellence is a dynamic, multicultural education within a widely diverse community that is constantly evolving and growing.
We work to recruit and sustain families and staff from a wide array of backgrounds. We teach our students to consider other ways of thinking, to debate difficult questions in good faith, and to collaborate with people who may have different cultures, experiences, views, and talents. We recognize and value our similarities. We explore, learn from, and appreciate our differences.
Progressive Education @ Orchard DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION Orchard inspires students and faculty to learn from multiple perspectives and understand the world. Right: Orchard parents taught students about the meaning behind Diwali, The Festival of Lights. They shared information about the special clothing, Diyas (homemade clay candles made by one of our parents), Rangoli (mandalas), and more.
Watch a video on the Preschool project Shades of Brown to see an example of integrating discussions of diversity in Orchard’s curriculum. Visit orchard.org/ shadesofbrown.
LEADERS INSIDE & OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM
Leadership, critical thinking, confidence, strong communication skills, integrity,
character, and solid social skills, as well as proven high school and college
success, are recognizable attributes of students from The Orchard School.
Orchard students learn from the very beginning how to be leaders in the
classroom. Orchard graduates consistently make the honor roll and earn high
honors, including National Merit Scholarships, at their respective high schools.
PREPARING STUDENTS FOR THE FUTURE
Orchard’s facilities, campus, and technological features are designed to support
and enhance learning opportunities. The school’s diversity, multicultural
curriculum, and world-conscious perspective equip students with the kind of
insight and experience required in a global society.
At The Orchard School, form follows function with a physically beautiful campus
in which every indoor and outdoor space is rich with purpose. Every square foot
and acre have been designed or left to nature with student learning in mind.
And Orchard has always encouraged children to see beyond borders. We bring
the world to our students through the web, curriculum, and through diverse
teachers and community.
“ The curiosity-driven nature of an Orchard education is the gift that keeps on giving. It has taken me to places, and led me to successes, that neither me nor my parents could have imagined. Jacob Rooksby ’96 Dean of Gonzaga University School of Law, one of Pittsburgh Magazine’s 40 under 40, author, earned a doctorate
An Orchard Middle School student presents a research project to her peers.
Progressive Education @ Orchard SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES Orchard students thrive in high
school and beyond. They become entrepreneurs, artists, leaders, and changemakers worldwide.
A FOCUS ON THE OUTDOORS
“ I loved learning through doing rather than sitting. Whether that meant making a shelter with duct tape and trash bags during the survival unit or pacing out measurements of a building in Williamsburg, Virginia, to make a mock up when we returned from the 8 th grade trip. Annette Trierweiler ’00 Assistant professor at Baldwin Wallace University, former postdoctoral research associate at Notre Dame University, earned a doctorate in ecology and evolutionary biology from Princeton University
In an increasingly urban world, nature remains central to The Orchard School experience with more than 40 wooded acres where students can learn, play, be inspired, soothed, intrigued, and enlightened. Orchard students analyze how architecture, geometry, and design all draw from nature. Students learn how some systems survive by cooperation, how others take a more individual approach, and how nature cannot survive without these fundamental differences. Our diverse learning environments place special attention on how children learn and what their interests are. Ours is a fluid space that encourages children to interact with high quality, open-ended materials to engage them in active learning. Orchard’s 43 acres serve as an outdoor classroom to explore STEM and enhance curriculum. The campus consists of many intentional learning spaces, including:
Vegetable gardens
Two greenhouses and a large hoop house
Wooded nature trails
Multiple outdoor classrooms
Three age-appropriate playgrounds
Natural water feature
Outdoor science labs
Butterfly garden
27-element ropes course
Third-graders at The Orchard School use the Postman’s Walk to climb a 10-foot pole, traverse a 30-foot cable, and get lowered to the ground.
Progressive Education @ Orchard OUTDOOR EDUCATION Progressive education at The Orchard School is built on a foundation of dirt, leaves, and bugs. With nature as their teacher, students immerse themselves in learning how every academic subject is even more engaging when it is studied out of doors.
MORE THAN A CENTURY OF PROGRESSIVE EDUCATION
Since 1922, The Orchard School has been a magical
place for generations of students. Through our
Progressive education model, children are inspired,
challenged, engaged, and taught that their ideas
matter, that their voices count. They find out that
there is not just one way to be smart; that hard
work and intellectual challenge are energizing;
that character, citizenship, and integrity are as
important as reading, writing, and arithmetic.
And, perhaps most importantly, they learn that
the contribution of each, no matter how small, is
valuable and vital.
Learning at Orchard sometimes feels like the
best aspect of play; we do it with laughter and
passion and, because the students are motivated,
it doesn’t feel like work. For more than 100 years,
students have accomplished great things in our
classrooms, on our stage, and in our woods and
fields. We encourage young people to become
lifelong learners. In this process, they will figure out
who they are and how they can make an important
contribution to society.
Our school is a transformative place, one that truly
cultivates and shapes children into remarkable
young adults who will go on to create our future.
We aim to put graduates out into the world
who will create lives with purpose that they are
passionate about as they contribute to making the
world a better place.
PILLARS OF PROGRESSIVE EDUCATION AT THE ORCHARD SCHOOL
HANDS-ON, EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING Experiential learning, or “learning by doing,” has long been a hallmark of an education at The Orchard School. By engaging the learners in direct experiences designed to foster application of knowledge and problem-solving skills, Orchard teachers create real-life experiences that enable children to utilize social and academic skills and to make the connections for experiencing history, applying math and science, and understanding the concept of interdependence. OUTDOOR EDUCATION Outdoor education is education in, about, and for the out of doors. In an increasingly urban world, nature plays a central part in the education of the whole child. Direct experiences help students to gain a deeper understanding of life around them, to foster respect for an understanding of the interrelationships within the natural environment, and to develop an appreciation of people’s interdependence with the natural world. DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION We value the dignity, worth, and experiences of every person. Experiencing and learning about diversity helps people relate to each other and the world with greater respect, understanding, and kindness. To that end, Orchard educates the whole child by integrating social responsibility, moral character, respect, inclusivity, and equitable treatment of all people into our curriculum and policies, including admissions, hiring, financial assistance, and professional development. SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING Our focus is on the development of the whole child — socially, emotionally, cognitively, physically, artistically, and ethically within a supportive and challenging environment. During these formative years when children are curious and inquisitive, we provide them with opportunities to discover, explore, and experiment. Children learn best by doing, thinking, reasoning, creating, and collaborating through their active participation in the learning process.
Progressive Education @ Orchard THE ARTS Orchard encourages student creativity through an emphasis on visual arts, music, and theater from our youngest to our oldest students.
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
PRESCHOOL, PRE-KINDERGARTEN, & KINDERGARTEN
GRADES 1-4
The Elementary School faculty has a
Preschool, Pre-Kindergarten, and Kindergarten
passion for what they do. With a wide
offer a vital opportunity for families to
diversity of styles and approaches,
support their children in a critical period of
the faculty demonstrate personal and
academic and social-emotional development.
professional creativity in the classroom.
While developmental milestones are most
Commitment to a consistent and coherent
often listed in a linear format, the rate and
program that best serves the needs of all
sequence at which each child meets those
students is accomplished through a spirit
benchmarks can be different. Preschool,
of collaboration fostered by team-teaching
Pre-Kindergarten, and Kindergarten
and a high degree of collegiality.
classrooms tap into these differences and use
them to enhance a child’s learning experience.
Individual differences in children vary, and
Small group learning and peer groups remain
we have created a program that readily
flexible based on each child’s developmental
accommodates these differences. A broad
path, not on their chronological age. At The
range of activities and materials enables
Orchard School, our Early Childhood program
each child’s growth to proceed naturally.
leverages the benefits of a Preschool,
Pre-Kindergarten, and Kindergarten
The Elementary years at Orchard are
environment alongside the best practices of
designed to engage developing minds,
Progressive education. It’s that combination
build self-confidence, allow a child to see
that creates a truly exceptional experience
the world with multiple perspectives, teach
for each child and family who are part of our
students to work together cooperatively,
community.
and develop empathy for others.
Visit orchard.org/EC for more information about Early Childhood at Orchard LEARN MORE ONLINE
LEARN MORE ONLINE
Visit orchard.org/ES for more information about Elementary School at Orchard
Progressive Education @ Orchard Winterm During the two weeks of Winterm, Middle School students dive deep into an academic topic that also fuels a personal passion. They are excited to immerse themselves into the curriculum as a pure celebration of learning with those who share a similar interest.
During the Winterm course Come to Your Senses, Middle School students collaborate with Preschool students on a project.
MIDDLE SCHOOL
SIGNATURE MIDDLE SCHOOL FEATURES AT THE ORCHARD SCHOOL: Academic excellence: Highly trained, committed, exceptional teachers Winterm: Two-week intensive, elective course (like The Meaning of Life, Creative Illustrations, Fiber Arts, Birds of Indiana, Create and Perform a Musical, Law and Orchard, Classroom Makeover, etc.) No-cut athletics: Competitive programs all students can experience Grade-level trips: Exciting, annual, out-of-town trips for each grade Daily schedule: Bell-free school days include snack, recess, arts, and physical education Service days: Students travel throughout Indianapolis to serve our community State-of-the-art technology: 3-D printers, dedicated technology curriculum, one-to-one laptops, Makerspace Clubs: Student-driven clubs meet weekly during the school day (examples include Debate Team, Yoga, Model UN, Student Leadership Council, No Place for Hate, Ultimate Frisbee)
GRADES 5-8
Orchard’s Middle School is centered around the academic, social, and emotional needs of young adolescents. Teachers differentiate instruction by providing various levels of content, methods of delivery, and options for students to experience learning. Our small student-to-teacher ratio affords dedicated teachers the emotional space to create meaningful relationships with students, building an incredible sense of community. This safe and encouraging atmosphere allows students to build confidence and independence as they explore their interests and individuality. Our graduates move to high school and beyond demonstrating strong ethical character, academic excellence, and service to others.
Visit orchard.org/MS for more information about Middle School at Orchard LEARN MORE ONLINE
Culture of presence: Cellphone-free school days
“
Orchard is a unique school because it gives its students the freedom to explore who they are and what they want to become. Dave Wilkes Jr. ’03 Manager of Acoustics Engineering, Apple Fun Fact: Dave and his team helped build Apple’s HomePod mini.
Inclusive community: Accepting and welcoming environment
Outdoor education: Team building on the ropes course, canoeing, camping, water study, archaeological dig, and more
Visit orchard.org/middleschool to view a video of Orchard’s Middle School experience.
“
When I first stepped through Orchard’s doors, I knew as a former teacher and as a mom, that this school was incredible! There is such a sense of community, a hard work ethic, and appreciation for diversity, and a hands-on Progressive learning environment for children. My daughter loves her school and teachers! We are proud to be a new Orchard family. Orchard Parent
The Voyageur Shelter is used in many ways throughout The Orchard School’s curriculum but on this day it‘s a Kindergarten bakery.
CURRICULUM GUIDE preschool - grade 8
Curriculum Guide
MISSION AND PHILOSOPHY The Orchard School’s mission is to develop and educate the whole child.
As a progressive, non-sectarian, independent school. Orchard commits to advancing each student’s academic success, self-confidence, open-mindedness, ethical character, leadership, and love of learning. WHAT IS PROGRESSIVE EDUCATION?
Joyful Partners in Learning
• Joyful learning occurs when a connection is made between the developmental readiness of the learner and the complexity of the material guided by a teacher who knows each learner well.
Orchard Pillar SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL LEARNING • Responsive teaching is only possible when each student is known for their passions, interests, strengths, and challenges.
Orchard Pillar SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL LEARNING
• It is essential that the school ensures the emotional and physical safety of all members of the community in order to foster experimenting, risk taking and ownership of learning. Students gain confidence in their ability to advocate for themselves and others and in the power of their ideas when teachers honor their individual voices, solutions and, thinking. In this climate it’s ok to make mistakes.
• Parents are partners. Students flourish when parents understand and uphold the school’s mission, communicate closely with their children’s teachers and support the school philanthropically.
Courageous, Compassionate Citizens
Orchard Pillar DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION • We foster active citizenship and stewardship rooted in justice, integrity, character, ethics, and courageous compassion. Orchard Pillar DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION • Different voices and perspectives enrich us all, and we proactively embrace the rich diversity of the world. Orchard Pillar SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL LEARNING • Practicing skills such as collaboration, industry, creativity, flexibility, perseverance, and critical thinking prepare our students for a lifetime of learning and leadership.
Curriculum Guide
Curious Minds, Confident Scholars
Orchard Pillar HANDS-ON EDUCATION • The best pathway to deep understanding, skills and knowledge is through active , rigorous, hands-on learning that taps into students’ instinctive curiosity. Orchard Pillar HANDS-ON EDUCATION • Beyond traditional educational practices, knowledge is constructed through play, social interaction and direct experience, and this approach leads to academic achievement and success.
• Comfort with complex questions that have multiple possible solutions leads to open-minded exploration and sophisticated comprehension.
• Teachers lead by example, and model a willingness to grow, a deep knowledge of best practices reflecting current research and a passion for learning.
Orchard Pillar OUTDOOR EDUCATION • Nature is a profound teacher; therefore, lessons intentionally designed to invite students to interact with the natural world have tremendous potential.
RESOURCES Our core academic benchmarks are derived from research-based national and state standards.
In Literacy and Math, our Kindergarten through Eighth Grade curriculum is supported by Common Core Standards, Social Studies curriculum is sourced from the Indiana State Standards, and Science is based on the Next Generation Science Standards. The Kindergarten-Eighth Grade Spanish curriculum is based on the National Standards for Foreign Language Learning.
Early Childhood Curriculum Guide
Early Childhood Curriculum Guide
EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM preschool, pre-kindergarten, kindergarten
The Orchard School’s nationally recognized Early Childhood program includes classrooms for preschool (ages 3-4), pre-kindergarten (ages 4-5), and kindergarten (ages 5-6). All three grades have two highly qualified lead teachers in each class. Early Childhood grade-level teams also include specialist teachers for music, art (in kindergarten), science/outdoor education, Spanish, and physical education. Our programs utilize spaces in and around our 43-acre wooded campus as both outdoor classrooms and unstructured play areas every month of the year. The emphasis of a nature-based approach to Early Childhood supports our curricular and social-emotional goals for our students. Here, you can expect something unique for your child. An Orchard education stands out because of the partnerships that form between students and their teachers. Our preschool, pre-kindergarten, and kindergarten teachers understand that a student’s success depends greatly on their ability to connect with the adults around them. Feeling safe, understood, and challenged provides a foundation for students to be successful and contributing members of their community.
THE ORCHARD SCHOOL
Early Childhood Curriculum Guide
EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM EXTENSIONS
Learning Support
Our learning support program offers students time with a dedicated team of learning specialists to receive remediation in literacy and math across our divisions. We offer limited, in-house support services to qualified students in order to help support classroom accommodations, grade-level remediation, and progress monitoring toward benchmarks. We frequently partner with third-party private providers and Washington Township Schools to help determine evaluation needs for extended services like speech, occupational therapy, and educational and developmental assessments.
Extended Day Program
Orchard’s Extended Day Program offers numerous options before and after school hours. Kids Connect (preschool-kindergarten and 1st-4th grades) and Teen Connect (5th-8th grades) offer a full range of activities and provides the structure to connect students. These programs are available from 7 to 7:40 a.m. and from 3:20 to 6 p.m. and are billed on an as-used basis in addition to tuition.
Specialist Experiences
Our curriculum is enriched by our outstanding special classes. The Orchard School’s curriculum includes instruction in: • Art (K-8 th ) • Spanish (K-8 th ) • Music (preschool-8 th ) • Choir/Band/Orchestra (5 th -8 th ) • Physical Education (preschool-8 th ) • Wellness (5 th -8 th ) • Drama (4 th ) • Technology (5 th -8 th ) • Science/Outdoor Education (preschool - 8 th )
Clubs and Classes
Through our Kids Connect program, a robust selection of after-school clubs and classes are offered on campus each quarter. Orchard teachers and outside vendors instruct a variety of clubs and classes that appeal to all ages. Families are encouraged to review the list of classes each quarter to find the right fit for their student. Participation in clubs or classes is optional and available to all students in kindergarten through grade 8, and fees are charged in addition to tuition.
THE ORCHARD SCHOOL
Preschool Curriculum Guide
PRESCHOOL AT THE ORCHARD SCHOOL
For children ages 3 - 4
Five days per week or three days per week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday)
Class size: 18
Two lead teachers
Specialist instruction in library, music, physical education, and science/outdoor education
The preschool program at The Orchard School honors each child as a capable learner and emphasizes a nature-based learning approach. We strive to create learning environments that are flexible, organized, purposeful, and inspiring. Most of all, we recognize that preschool is a time when students get to practice being in new environments together and get to focus on developing their social- emotional connections with a new community. Teachers carefully listen, observe, and document children’s work and the growth of relationships that build a strong sense of community in their classrooms. We utilize an emergent curriculum of time- tested and modern techniques that are flexible and responsive to the needs of our students. The topics for study often develop from conversations, family events, and interests of both the children and their teachers. We utilize these interests to build upon developmental benchmarks in social skills, language and literacy, writing, math, and special classes.
THE ORCHARD SCHOOL
Preschool Curriculum Guide
PRESCHOOL AT THE ORCHARD SCHOOL
Social-Emotional Learning
The Orchard School’s preschool program is aimed at taking advantage of the developmental needs and strengths unique to 3- and 4-year-olds. While teaching children to direct their eagerness to learn in appropriate ways, we also help them experience their environment collaboratively. Applying gentle, yet routine, rhythms and identifying clear expectations through modeling and role playing help guide our youngest students into our school setting.
Introductory Writing
The ways in which children explore emergent writing skills are varied in order to encourage further exploration and play. They include painting, drawing, mark-making, and writing familiar words like their name. We often encourage students to explore being an author and/or illustrator by making their own books. We recognize, strengthen, and support the patterns and developmental growth over time of a child’s fine motor skills while also encouraging their confidence in expressing their ideas through writing and mark-making.
Language and Literacy
Preschool students at Orchard learn to use language and literacy to communicate their thoughts, opinions, and ideas with others. There is an emphasis on listening skills, asking appropriate questions, and making on-topic contributions to group discussions. Learning about books and listening to stories are the most common ways to scaffold explicit phonics and literacy instruction in preschool. We use a phonemic awareness forward approach to build a strong literacy foundation in Early Childhood.
Mathematics
In preschool math, we introduce numbers, shapes, and patterns. Through number exploration and play, students begin to make connections between mathematical numerals and quantities and math usage in their daily lives. Building toward one-to- one correspondence, quantity, manipulation (more vs. less), numeral recognition, and introductory and non-standard measurement are some of the skills we explore in preschool.
THE ORCHARD SCHOOL
Pre-Kindergarten Curriculum Guide
PRE-KINDERGARTEN AT THE ORCHARD SCHOOL
For children ages 4 - 5
Five days per week
Class size: 18
Two lead teachers
Specialist instruction in library, music, physical education, science/outdoor education
In pre-kindergarten, students at The Orchard School are encouraged to deepen their knowledge, curiosity, and wonder of the world around them. Building on our developmental approach to curriculum, our pre- kindergarten classrooms utilize a nature- and student-led learning environment to further support more explicit instruction in the academic and social-emotional domains. Small group work and attention to a child’s individual learning approach are trademarks of our class time exploring literacy, math, science, and social studies together as a community. In pre-kindergarten and beyond, we utilize an emergent curriculum that is flexible and responsive to the needs of our students. The topics for study often develop from conversations, family events, and interests of both the children and their teachers. We utilize these interests to build upon developmental benchmarks in social skills, language, literacy, math, science, and social studies.
THE ORCHARD SCHOOL
Pre-Kindergarten Curriculum Guide
PRE-KINDERGARTEN AT THE ORCHARD SCHOOL
Social-Emotional Learning
Each pre-kindergarten student at The Orchard School is valued as an individual member of their classroom and school community. Students learn to honor and celebrate one another with a focus on their own identity and building empathy and understanding of the perspective of others. There is a strong focus on nurturing and developing conflict resolution skills, independence, respect for others and self, and honoring differences.
Emergent Writing
Our pre-kindergarten students’ early writing skills are developed in many ways. Children exercise their fine-motor muscles through sensory play in the classroom and the outdoors, developing strength and control that will aid their ability to use writing tools. curricular materials help children learn about lines and curves for forming letters and numbers. Children are encouraged to express their ideas through drawings and add other forms of early writing to their work. Students know that even at their young age, they are doing the work of authors and illustrators.
Language and Literacy
Pre-kindergarten students and teachers engage in emergent literacy skill work to build the foundations of phonological and phonemic awareness, the alphabetic principle, and language/ vocabulary development. Throughout the school day, we play with the sounds of our language by rhyming, clapping syllables, and identifying beginning sounds of words. Students are exposed to a print-rich environment, practice naming uppercase letters, and begin to learn letter-sound relationships. Through daily Read Aloud times and conversations, we discuss the meaning of words and make connections to our own experiences. Nature provides us with many opportunities to expand our vocabulary skills as we identify and describe the world around us.
Mathematics
In Pre-Kindergarten math, students focus on expanding their knowledge of foundational skills. This shift from an exposure to math skills to a functional understanding of numbers, shapes, patterns is aimed to help students develop a love of math by integrating across their day. One important way to do this is to highlight how we use math in our daily life, to regularly encourage students to manipulate and count objects and build a strong relationship between the quantities and symbols we use. Strengthening a student’s ability to use these skills across several environments and contexts is important work in Pre-Kindergarten and helps prepare them for a robust math curriculum in the future.
THE ORCHARD SCHOOL
Kindergarten Curriculum Guide
KINDERGARTEN AT THE ORCHARD SCHOOL Kindergarten at The Orchard School is designed to honor the whole child by way of a developmentally appropriate approach. In kindergarten, we believe our students play, observe, explore, and learn best together as a cooperative community. Social-emotional and academic growth are nurtured through a variety of structured and unstructured activities. We utilize both intentional and emergent curriculum to support our grade-level studies, as well as a strong academic focus on literacy skills, writing, and math. Kindergartners also attend special classes in outdoor education/science, art, library, music, physical education, and Spanish.
THE ORCHARD SCHOOL
Kindergarten Curriculum Guide
KINDERGARTEN AT THE ORCHARD SCHOOL
Social-Emotional Learning
In kindergarten at The Orchard School, we focus on activities that nurture self-esteem, independence, group awareness, and cooperation. We emphasize problem-solving and help children examine how their behavior affects themselves, others, and their community. Through group discussions and community building, kindergarten students build bonds based on trust and companionship that nurture independent skills and social growth.
Writing
Students at The Orchard School are encouraged to embrace the writing process through a variety of literacy experiences. Students practice by writing letters to Orchard community members, making cards for neighbors, writing group and individual stories, and more. Students are empowered to embrace their role as writers. We honor the wide range of developmental skills typically present at this grade level and encourage exploration and experimentation. Proper letter formation skills are nurtured through guided lessons.
Kindergartners develop as writers by:
• Exploring fiction and nonfiction texts • Identifying rich expressive language in read alouds. • Writing and naming all upper and lowercase letters. • Writing their own name with the correct formation of most letters. • Using phonemic awareness and letter identification to independently experiment with the writing process using inventive spelling. • Writing for personal satisfaction and purpose. • Writing labels, signs, and captions for drawings and models. • Dictating and illustrating original stories.
THE ORCHARD SCHOOL
Kindergarten Curriculum Guide
KINDERGARTEN AT THE ORCHARD SCHOOL
Reading
Each child learns to read at their own developmental pace. Children are not expected to be fluent readers in kindergarten, but to engage in activities that help them develop a strong foundation of literacy skills. For our students who are more advanced, we continue to emphasize mastery of important foundational skills while challenging them with texts that appropriately match their skill. Attaching sounds to symbols and blending sounds are a primary aspect of our literacy curriculum.
Kindergarteners develop as readers by:
• Tracking text from left to right and top to bottom. • Developing phonemic awareness (using explicit, sequenced instruction). • Identifying upper-and lower-case letters with their sounds. • Recognizing initial and final consonants in words. • Developing a foundational, high- frequency word vocabulary. • Applying decoding strategies to decodable texts. • Understanding story sequence. • Identifying environmental print in the real world
Mathematics
Our math program is a comprehensive, sequential curriculum that includes hands- on, concrete experiences that help students explore and understand math concepts. Kindergartners learn about number sense, graphing, and time-related concepts. They participate in activities that encourage active learning to ensure they develop a well-rounded foundation of math skills.
Kindergartners will grow as mathematicians by exploring these areas:
• Numbers and operations • Counting strategies • Recognizing and creating patterns • Sorting by attributes • Shapes and symmetry • Measuring length and weight • Calendars as a time and graphing tool • Data analysis
THE ORCHARD SCHOOL
Kindergarten Curriculum Guide
KINDERGARTEN AT THE ORCHARD SCHOOL
Science/Outdoor Education
Kindergarten students at The Orchard School explore the world around them through a variety of activities and challenges. Opportunities and explorations occur by way of working alongside our Outdoor Education team and with their classroom teachers through in-class projects.
Students are challenged and encouraged to think of themselves as scientists and to look to the world around them to answer the question, ‘Why?’ about these concepts and more.
• Push vs. pull • Relationships in ecosystems • Weather and climates • Engineering design
Social Studies
In kindergarten, students are encouraged to build relationships with their peers, teachers, and the broader Orchard community. We take time to establish classroom agreements that all students help create and uphold throughout the school year. The kindergarten curriculum explores many similarities and differences as individuals. We read books and participate in a number of activities and projects that cover a variety of topics from skin tone to hair types, gender roles, name significance, family structure and make- up, talent/skills, jobs, abilities, disabilities, and more. As a kindergarten community, we work toward fostering a sense of belonging so that every child feels seen and valued.
Spanish
¡Hola!
Kindergartners engage in exploratory and introductory activities related to the Spanish language and cultures. Through developmentally appropriate investigations, kindergarten students practice vocabulary and Spanish concepts related to:
• Basic greetings and introductions • Colors and numbers • Body parts and feelings • Calendar practice in days and months • Seasons and weather • Family
THE ORCHARD SCHOOL
Elementary School Curriculum Guide
Elementary School Curriculum Guide
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AT THE ORCHARD SCHOOL Grades 1 - 4
At The Orchard School, our focus is on the development of the whole child — socially, emotionally, cognitively, physically, and artistically within a supportive and challenging environment. During these formative elementary years when children are curious and inquisitive, we provide them with opportunities to discover, explore, and experiment. Children learn best by doing. We encourage them to think, reason, create, and collaborate through active participation in the learning process. The Elementary School program at Orchard is designed to engage developing minds, build self- confidence, encourage seeing the world with multiple perspectives, teach working together cooperatively, and develop a concern for others.
THE ORCHARD SCHOOL
Elementary School Curriculum Guide
PROGRAM EXTENSIONS
Learning Support
Our learning support program offers students time with a dedicated team of learning specialists to receive remediation in literacy and math across our divisions. We offer limited, in-house support services to qualified students in order to help support classroom accommodations, grade-level remediation, and progress monitoring toward benchmarks. We frequently partner with third-party private providers and Washington Township Schools to help determine evaluation needs for extended services like speech, occupational therapy, and educational and developmental assessments.
Extended Day Program
Orchard’s Extended Day Program offers numerous options before and after school hours. Kids Connect (preschool-kindergarten and 1st-4th grades) and Teen Connect (5th-8th grades) offer a full range of developed activities and provide the structure to connect students with clubs and classes. These programs are available from 7 to 7:40 a.m. and from 3:20 to 6 p.m. and are billed on an as-used basis in addition to tuition.
Specialist Experiences
Our curriculum is made even deeper and richer through our outstanding special classes. The Orchard School’s curriculum includes instruction in: • Art (K-8 th ) • Spanish (K-8 th ) • Music (preschool-8 th ) • Choir/Band/Orchestra (5 th -8 th ) • Physical Education (preschool-8 th ) • Wellness (5 th -8 th ) • Drama (4 th ) • Technology (5 th -8 th ) • Outdoor Education (preschool-8 th )
Clubs and Classes
Through our Kids Connect program, a robust selection of after-school clubs and classes are offered on campus each quarter. Orchard teachers and outside vendors instruct a variety of clubs and classes that appeal to all ages. Families are encouraged to review the list of classes each quarter to find the right fit for their student. Participation in clubs or classes is optional, and fees are charged in addition to tuition.
THE ORCHARD SCHOOL
First Grade Curriculum Guide
FIRST GRADE AT THE ORCHARD SCHOOL In first grade at The Orchard School, curriculum and instruction are designed to develop children’s self- esteem, sense of competence, and positive feelings toward learning. Each child is viewed as a unique person with an individual pattern and timing of growth. Different levels of ability, development, and learning styles are expected and accepted, and curriculum is adapted with these variables in mind. Children are supported to move at their own pace to acquire the important skills they need to be successful. The curriculum is integrated: academic areas and our Progressive foundations are combined to explore specific concepts and themes. Learning occurs primarily through skill-focused lessons, projects, learning centers, and play-based activities that are concrete, real, and relevant to children’s lives.
THE ORCHARD SCHOOL
First Grade Curriculum Guide
FIRST GRADE AT THE ORCHARD SCHOOL
Social-Emotional Learning
Students in first grade focus on the core competencies of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. Drawing from a variety of nationally recognized resources, including Responsive Classroom, our approach at The Orchard School is to teach social-emotional skills directly through lessons and examples and reinforce these teachable moments as they arise when children learn and play in our community.
Language Arts and Literacy
Reading, writing, listening, and speaking are the four essential components of Orchard’s literacy program. The goal of our language and literacy program is to give students the tools and confidence to be self-motivated writers and readers.
First-Graders will grow as readers by:
• Reading “just right” books independently and with partners. • Learning and applying phonics through direct instruction. • Developing skills through small group instruction using decodable books and explicit phonological practice. • Participating in interactive read alouds that provide opportunities to think, discuss, and respond using comprehension strategies.
First-Graders will grow as writers by:
• Properly forming letters. • Learning about sentence structure, capitalization, grammar, and punctuation. • Exploring different genres, such as how-to, narrative, and informative writing. • Learning to model the pre-writing process using graphic organizers. • Reading mentor texts for guidance and inspiration.
THE ORCHARD SCHOOL
First Grade Curriculum Guide
FIRST GRADE AT THE ORCHARD SCHOOL
Mathematics
The goal of the daily first grade math routine at The Orchard School is to meet the needs of each student in the class through fluid math groupings. The math work occurs across the curriculum through whole and small group lessons, differentiated instruction, games, and individual practice. Developmentally, children begin to move from concrete materials to more symbolic work.
First-graders will grow as mathematicians by exploring:
• Number sense • Operations • Place value • Data and Measurement • Geometry • Time • Fractions • Money
Social Studies
First grade at The Orchard School focuses on self, families, and community. In our classrooms, children learn respect for individual differences, taking pride in themselves and their efforts, and care for their community and the environment.
First grade students will grow as community members by:
• Participating in morning meetings that set a positive, respectful, and safe tone for the classroom each day. • Thinking about themselves as individuals who practice self-care. • Recognizing that they are contributing members of the Orchard community. • Going on field trips to learn through hands-on, in-person experiences.
• Studying geography and learning map skills. • Identifying the wants and needs of living things.
THE ORCHARD SCHOOL
First Grade Curriculum Guide
FIRST GRADE AT THE ORCHARD SCHOOL
Science
First graders are uniquely poised at Orchard to experience the world as scientists. The curriculum is specifically designed to integrate their units to leverage their natural curiosity and growing ability to do more complex skill-based tasks. Using tools, conducting investigations and research are an important part of every science unit introduced, each becoming more complex as the year goes to also encourage a sense of independence.
First graders grow as scientists by:
• Planning and carrying out investigations. • Designing fair tests, which provide data to support explanations or design solutions. • Making observations (firsthand and from media) to collect data that can be used to make comparisons. • Leading the annual Maple Tree Tapping on campus.
Spanish
¡Hola!
First graders expand and continue to explore introductory activities related to the Spanish culture and language. Through developmentally appropriate investigations, first grade students practice vocabulary and Spanish concepts related to:
• Basic greetings and introductions • Colors & numbers • Body parts & feelings • Calendar practice with days and months • Seasons and weather • Family
THE ORCHARD SCHOOL
Second Grade Curriculum Guide
SECOND GRADE AT THE ORCHARD SCHOOL Second-graders at The Orchard School grow their competency in academic and social skills by setting goals and expectations that are based on an understanding of individual development and learning styles. Students are supported in taking steps to be responsible for organizing their own time and for the care of personal belongings and the group environment. Developing mutual respect, understanding and celebrating the diversity around us, and cooperation are explored throughout the year as foundational community skills. Orchard teachers use an integrated approach that connects academic areas with special classes when exploring specific concepts and units. Problem-solving, thinking skills, and practices to help build a sustainable future are interwoven into the curriculum.
THE ORCHARD SCHOOL
Second Grade Curriculum Guide
SECOND GRADE AT THE ORCHARD SCHOOL
Social-Emotional Learning
At The Orchard School, we believe that character development is just as important as academic achievement. Through our social-emotional learning curriculum, our students learn to grow beyond themselves and develop a greater capacity for compassion and empathy for members of our community and the world around them. Language Arts and Literacy Second-graders develop their reading and writing skills through a workshop model. Each child is encouraged to find their own voice as a writer and discover their own interests as a reader. Children are exposed to a variety of literature that reflects the diversity of our world today. Projects and class studies are designed to expand horizons and foster creativity and confidence in each student’s ability to communicate. Most importantly, we try to develop a lifelong love and curiosity for reading and writing. Second-graders will grow as readers by: • Developing phonemic awareness. • Expanding vocabulary development. • Engaging in sustained silent reading. • Participating in class read aloud of novels, author studies, and genre studies. • Focusing on reading comprehension strategies. • Making inferences using evidence from text. • Learning to use nonfiction books as research tools. • Explaining the problem, solution, or central idea of a piece of writing. Second-graders will grow as writers by: • Engaging in activities that introduce them to three text types: narrative, informational, and persuasive. • Learning about text structures and using graphic organizers to continue their understanding of the prewriting process. • Producing and publishing writing by planning, revising, editing, and rewriting. • Using technology, with guidance, to produce, publish, and collaborate on writing with others. • Researching to build and present knowledge based on essential questions. • Creating a range of writing, from shorter to longer pieces.
THE ORCHARD SCHOOL
Second Grade Curriculum Guide
SECOND GRADE AT THE ORCHARD SCHOOL
Mathematics
The second-grade math curriculum meets the needs of each student through fluid math groups. Orchard’s main math program uses manipulatives and pictorial models. Students engage in math through small group lessons, differentiated instruction, math stations, and project-based learning. Students learn to solve problems, reason logically, communicate ideas, make connections, and understand concepts and procedures. The use of a variety of strategies, estimation, and mental math is fostered.
Second-graders will grow as mathematicians by exploring:
• Place value to at least 1,000. • Addition and subtraction facts through 20. • Addition and subtraction of two- and three-digit numbers with regrouping. • Telling time to the hour, half-hour, and quarter-hour. • Linear measurement as an iteration of units and utilization of measurement tools. • Creating and interpreting a variety of graphs. • Recognition and description of attributes of geometric shapes. • Composition and decomposition of three dimensional and two dimensional shapes. • Division of shapes into equal parts.
Social Studies
Second-graders at The Orchard School begin to expand their horizons to the world beyond themselves by honoring the experiences and perspectives of various cultures. Students use technology to help them delve deeper into the subject matter and to create complementary projects.
Science
Second-graders will grow as scientists by studying:
• Structure and properties of matter/matter and its interactions. • Interdependent relationships in ecosystems. • Earth’s systems: Processes that shape the Earth. • Engineering design.
THE ORCHARD SCHOOL
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