In all divisions at The Saklan School students engage in deep, authentic, and sustained inquiry through rigorous project learning. Different from a thematic unit where learning may all revolve around the same topic, at The Saklan School students gain proficiency in grade level standards while answering questions and solving problems that matter to them. Often this means connecting with experts and addressing issues that exist beyond the walls of our school.
The lower school math curriculum connects mental math and logical reasoning skills to mathematical concepts and applications. Curriculum standards are set for each grade level to align and surpass California state and national standards. The curriculum developmentally spirals and teachers create meaningful learning opportunities through manipulative, cooperative learning, problem-solving, and real-life applications.
Our classroom teachers provide many opportunities and experiences for students to learn language in all its varied forms: reading, writing, presenting and listening. Built around the strong connections between reading and writing through core literature pieces, the language arts curriculum provides students with the language abilities needed to communicate effectively. Literacy is also integrated into many other aspects of the school day including meetings, art, science, math and social studies.
An integrated approach is used to connect with other academic areas that are being taught, and is often woven into the Project Based Learning units. In each grade, students develop a respect and understanding for individual differences and commonalities.
Incorporating Next Generation Science Standards, teachers implement science lessons that provide rich content and hands-on experiences. Additionally, Saklan students also learn in the science lab and go in depth into the scientific method with the science specialist. Students in the Lower School have many meaningful activities to build on their love of science and its real-world applications through classwork, labs, and Project Based Learning.
In addition to core subjects, we also offer Spanish, Music, Art, Physical Education, and Library. Specialists may collaborate with other teachers on Project Based Learning units and all enhance your elementary student’s ability to discover more about themselves and the world around them.
The lower school Spanish program makes foreign language learning a cultural adventure. Through cultural-awareness activities we focus on the gradual development of listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in each level to foster a positive attitude toward language learning. Students in the classroom are exposed to a variety of activities in which they engage to access the content. When possible, tiered activities are provided to allow students to work at the same content but with different level of support. We also leverage technology to allow students to experience the concepts and content of the program to provide opportunities for students to work independently to practice and reinforce their emerging skills.
The lower school Music program is a living and active curriculum based on real performance experiences. Using voices, percussion, and pitched instruments such as ukuleles, Orff xylophones, drums, piano, and guitar, students explore and discover the different elements of music theory, history, and performance.
The Visual Arts department at Saklan offers a truly unique, challenging and contemporary arts curriculum. We believe that the arts are best expressed through each child’s own voice and imagination, and that an understanding of art tools, techniques, and theories can and must be applied across all disciplines. This is evident in the use of the Studio Habits of Mind and arts-integrated Project Based Learning units. The goal of the art classes is to help develop creative, confident and independent learners.
Our Physical Education program allows our elementary students to explore the relationship between practice (routine, repetition, and intensity), and motor skill acquisition. Students practice how to organize and cooperate for healthy competition. If conflict arises, students experience how to resolve issues in a constructive manner. To promote student movement, time for recess is provided daily, and physical education classes meet three times a week.
First Grade
First grade is an important time in a child’s life. They are evolving in important ways, intellectually, emotionally, and physically. At The Saklan School, we look to support our first graders in their growth, and develop a strong sense of community within the classroom.
Math is integrated throughout the day from morning calendar activities to various projects that require counting, measuring, estimating and other skills. First grade focuses on place value, graphing, algebra, geometry, addition and subtraction facts through double digits up to 99 and problem solving using various strategies.
First graders read and write a variety of texts. Emphasis is placed on phonemic awareness, sight words and spelling patterns in reading and writing. Editing for grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure in informational and creative writing increases throughout the year. Students present oral reports and memorize, recite, and perform poetry frequently.
Students develop an understanding of Social Studies by studying their own place in space and time. Students learn about their place in the community and compare rural, urban and suburban communities. Global emphasis is placed on multicultural folktales and homes around the world through a cross-content, art-integrated Project Based Learning unit.
Science units are taught through labs, thematic units, and Project Based Learning units. Topics include space, simple machines, plants, human bodies and life stages, weather, earth materials and animal habitats. Students sort, classify, compare, investigate and observe as they use the scientific method in many hands-on experiments.
Second Grade
Second graders are at an age where they are striving to understand the curious world around them and, in the right environment, have an amazing capacity to learn and thirst for information. At The Saklan School, we provide an abundance of learning opportunities in a safe, personal environment to help each second grade student blossom.
Math is integrated into all subjects. Students learn place value, fact families, computation and regrouping (+/-) up through four digits, graphing, fractions, money, time, geometry, estimation, algebra and measurements. Single digit multiplication and division (up through at least 5) is also taught. Special attention is given to critical thinking and problem solving.
Students learn reliable spelling and editing strategies that they can apply to both familiar and unfamiliar words, and are expected to be accurate and precise in spelling and grammar. Nouns, pronouns, adjectives and verbs are emphasized. The students learn to read and write a variety of texts, and write and publish many multiple page stories, book reports, and books. Public speaking is a major emphasis, with many oral reports and poetry recitals being a feature of this year. Cursive is also introduced in second grade.
Students progress in Social Studies, from learning about where they live to where they are from while researching their family and heritage. In class the students become immigrants, passports included, and write stories about coming to America. Other units include continents/maps, Native Americans and pilgrims, presidents, and people who made a difference (biographies).
Our integrated Science curriculum develops students’ ability to understand scientific concepts through various forms of learning which include creative writing and mathematical equations. They learn about dinosaurs and fossils, mammal and animal classification, inherited characteristics, natural resources, plant growth, pollination and land forms. In the Science/Stem lab, students focus on observing rocks and minerals and investigating forces and work.
Third Grade
Third grade students often have an enthusiastic, energetic approach to learning. They’re building skills and gaining confidence. At The Saklan School, we leverage that enthusiasm to fuel a lifelong love of learning.
Third grade math focuses on problem solving approaches emphasizing strategies, applications and problem formulation. Students learn computation & regrouping, double digit multiplication and division up to 12, decimals and fractions, geometry, fractions, statistics & probability, graphing, estimation and algebraic applications. Students use hands-on activities, mathematical projects & manipulatives that make math fun and memorable.
Through a variety of literature, students learn to read for comprehension, explore word meanings, write using correct grammar and mechanics, and use their listening and speaking skills. Students learn to use resources such as dictionaries, thesauruses, and the internet. Well organized, appropriately structured paragraph writing is emphasized. Students practice and master cursive handwriting.
Students study the geography of the United States and the world with a focus on the experiences of people in the Bay Area through time. These units are enriched through various arts, crafts, writing, literature and drama. Each year third graders explore the driving question, “How can we show respect to the people whose ancestral land our school is on?” This unit culminates in a way that is authentic and relevant to each class and ranges from writing a land acknowledgment to designing and painting murals on campus.
In third grade, emphasis is also placed on hands-on activities including numerous experiments using the scientific method. Plants, animal life, solar system, and rainforests are some of the concepts explored in Science. Students are involved in various research projects during each unit of study, where they choose the subject that they wish to research, thereby promoting interest and encouraging responsibility. Science studies focus on investigations into elements and compounds; observing physical changes and investigating changes in our atmosphere.
Fourth Grade
Fourth grade students often show rapid emotional and social growth during this phase of their life. At Saklan, we create a nurturing, comfortable, and safe environment, allowing your child to feel secure so they can continue to flourish intellectually and academically.
Students study Math through work on numeration, computation, and regrouping numbers through the millions. They multiply and divide multiple digits, add and subtract fractions and decimals. Fourth grade math gives students a greater understanding of measurement techniques, geometry, and algebraic thinking. Students learn the standard and metric measurement units, learn to graph and interpret data using a wide variety of tools.
Students expand their skill of reading to learn. Students read non-fiction texts to collect information. Content related literature is integrated into the social studies and science curriculum. The focus is on reading comprehension. Students are exposed to various kinds of literature and continue to write letters, responses, essays, fictional pieces, poems, and several research reports.
Students expand on their Social Studies by learning about California’s geography and history often through research, and in the field. They study geographic regions and resources, Indigenous nations, the mission and rancho periods, and the lasting social and environmental impact of the CA gold rush.
In Science, students use the scientific method and learn to formulate predictions and justify them based on cause and effect relationships. Topics covered are: changing earth (weathering), electromagnetism, magnetism, and plant and animal adaptations. With the Science Specialist, students focus on investigations into electricity and exploring energy.
Students learn keyboarding, working on Chromebooks in the classroom. They integrate technology with every subject, specifically learning to create Google Docs and Slides, and use technology as a research tool.
Fifth Grade
Fifth graders are growing leaps and bounds in their social-emotional, cognitive, and language development. At The Saklan School, we leverage these common characteristics to promote community, leadership, and problem-solving to teach to your whole child.
Fifth grade is a huge transitional year for students. They are getting prepared to move seamlessly into Middle School and are academically and emotionally ready to take on that challenge. Fifth graders are given many opportunities to build on their skills used for group and independent projects. Fifth graders are taught the importance of organizational skills, time management, and study skills throughout the year.
Fifth graders go on many exciting field experiences, including a two-night outdoor education experience at the Marin Headlands. This program encourages an understanding of the basic principles of ecology and builds on their sense of community at this seaside location.
Math learning emphasizes problem solving strategies, where students work independently, as partners, and in groups to develop critical thinking skills. Fifth grade math curriculum incorporates analytical thinking and applying concepts in real-world applications through numerous project-based opportunities.
Writing emphasizes the succinct development of multi paragraph essays. Students use a variety of writing elements in order to enrich their writing and become proficient with utilizing enhanced vocabulary, sensory words, creating exciting leads and adding effective dialogue. Students develop their writing skills through: self editing, peer editing and writing groups. Reading comprehension through fiction and non-fiction works emphasizes plot recognition, character development, inferences, main ideas, theme and text dependent answers.
Fifth grade Social Studies focuses on the early history of the United States. Instruction closely examines our cultural and ethnic diversity and how this “great experiment” has created a country of one national identity while valuing the uniqueness of each individual. Main topics covered are: Early Colonization; American Revolution (Causes and Effects); Constitution (Branches of Government); Westward Expansion; Civil War (Causes and Effects).
Science instruction incorporates the ability for students to analyze, interpret, evaluate, and comprehend the world around them in meaningful ways. Instruction is presented by the classroom teacher and the science specialist, focusing on the following topics: weather, plants and animals, solar system, water, and the scientific method. The classes are inquiry based and thematically focused.
