At Notre Dame Elementary, the Lower School years (Kindergarten through 5th grade) are a time of joyful discovery, academic growth, and meaningful formation. Each grade builds upon the last with age-appropriate challenges, nurturing the whole child as a confident learner and caring community member.
Kindergarten – Foundations of Wonder
Kindergarten is filled with hands-on learning and discovery, where students experience their first structured classroom environment. Our nurturing community supports individualized attention through low teacher-to-student ratios and small group instruction, helping each child build foundational academic and social skills.
- Math: Exploring numbers and operations through play and stories
- Reading: Phonics, guided reading, and comprehension with leveled books (Fountas & Pinnell)
- Science: States of matter, plants, animals, and weather (Kide by STEMscopes)
- Writing: Early narrative expression and drawing (Lucy Calkins Units of Study)
- Social Studies: Community helpers, citizenship, and symbols (IMPACT by McGraw Hill)
- Religion: Introduction to Jesus' teachings through prayer and stories (Sadlier)
1st Grade – Building Curiosity
First grade centers on fostering a lifelong love of learning through inquiry-based lessons and social-emotional growth. Students develop independence with engaging activities and collaborative classroom work.
- Math: Basic operations and number sense with hands-on learning
- Reading: Guided reading and comprehension with leveled books (Fountas & Pinnell)
- Science: Matter, plants, animals, and weather (Kide by STEMscopes)
- Writing: Narrative and early writing skills (Lucy Calkins Units of Study)
- Social Studies: Citizenship and community roles (IMPACT by McGraw Hill
- Religion: Foundations of faith and prayer (Sadlier)
2nd Grade – Growing Independence
Second graders deepen their skills through structured lessons and hands-on activities that promote independence and critical thinking across all subjects.
- Math: Expanded operations and problem solving (Savvas EnVision)
- Reading: Fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension (MyView + Fountas & Pinnell)
- Science: Life cycles, matter, and weather patterns (STEMscopes)
- Writing: Personal and informational writing (Lucy Calkins Units of Study)
- Social Studies: Community, geography, and history basics (IMPACT by McGraw Hill)
- Religion: Catholic teachings and prayer life (Sadlier)
3rd Grade – Deepening Understanding
Third grade emphasizes critical thinking and independence, with novel studies, multi-step math problems, and inquiry-based science activities. Students read multiple novels throughout the year, enhancing their comprehension and discussion skills.
- Math: Multiplication, division, fractions (Savvas EnVision)
- Reading: Novel studies and guided reading groups (MyView + Fountas & Pinnell)
- Writing: Opinion and informative essays (Lucy Calkins Units of Study)
- Science: Animal adaptations, weather, and earth science (STEMscopes)
- Social Studies: California history and map skills (IMPACT by McGraw Hill)
- Religion: Gospel values and prayer life (Sadlier)
4th Grade – Transition and Growth
Fourth grade students develop greater responsibility academically and socially. They collaborate more frequently, meet in book clubs, and learn presentation skills. Projects increasingly use technology such as Google Docs and Slides.
- Math: Multi-digit operations, fractions, geometry (Savvas EnVision)
- Reading: Literature elements and vocabulary development (Savvas MyView + Fountas & Pinnell)
- Writing: Structured essays and reports (Lucy Calkins Units of Study)
- Science: Solid earth, environments, magnetism, electricity (STEMscopes)
- Social Studies: California history, Gold Rush, government (IMPACT by McGraw Hill)
- Religion: The Ten Commandments, Advent, Lent, Easter (Sadlier)
5th Grade – Preparing for Middle School
Fifth grade continues to build academic mastery and independence, emphasizing critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving. Students refine fluency with fractions, decimals, and volume, and deepen their understanding of science and social studies topics.
- Math: Fractions, decimals, volume, operations (Savvas EnVision)
- Reading: Novel studies, inference, theme, character analysis (MyView + Fountas & Pinnell)
- Writing: Multi-paragraph essays, expository and narrative writing (Lucy Calkins Units of Study)
- Science: Life, physical, and earth sciences (STEMscopes)
- Social Studies: U.S. history, explorers, colonies, revolution (IMPACT by McGraw Hill)
- Religion: Seven Sacraments and Catholic traditions (Sadlier)
