Lower School

Language Arts uses a Readers and Writers workshop approach. It is enhanced with phonics, vocabulary, handwriting, spelling, and grammar. Students are taught structure, development, and reading and writing conventions through literacy. Children are also exposed to a wealth of children’s literature, including folktales, fables, picture books, informational texts, and novels. Learning through literature will enhance comprehension and fluency strategies while promoting an enthusiastic love of reading. Students learn to write in various genres, including narratives, information, and persuasive writing.

Mathematics in the lower school includes the use of Sadlier Mathematics as well as Everyday Mathematics. The program is enhanced through supplemental resources in technology and hands-on experiences, including projects, collaboration, independent practice, and problem-solving.

From an early age, the science curriculum uses a broad, hands-on inquiry-based approach to science that involves research and experiential learning. These inquiries challenge students to investigate real-world problems and then use scientific principles to solve that issue. Intertwined through these investigations, students will consider the scientific process through tools and identify real-world situations they will analyze through testable questions. This inquiry is ongoing as the students discover how observations and data can provide valuable insights into the world we live in. Current scientific research is enhanced through Science Weekly. 

Students build upon experiences in their families, school environment, and the world around them to explore traditions, customs, and cultures.  Students will develop skills across core elements of geography by examining geographical features, places, regions, physical systems, human systems, and society.  Through hands-on activities and investigations that include individual and group activities, students will develop their analytical thinking skills as they research the causes and effects of significant historical events and figures. Our Studies Weekly enhances our students reading skills from junior kindergarten through fifth grade through the integration of non-fiction reading practice in the Weekly publication. 

 In the Lower School, character education is taught daily in the classroom through values, examples, and academics and the strong partnerships we share with our families to help prepare our students academically, socially, and emotionally.  Our guidance counselor teaches formal character education classes to all Lower School students. These lessons are representative of many good character traits, such as respect for yourself (honesty, integrity, responsibility, effort, and pride); respect for others (generosity, compassion, understanding, and loyalty); and characteristics that convey a positive outlook on life (fairness, open-mindedness, initiative, optimism, and sense of humor). We desire that these will help our students become scholars and productive citizens.

The Library is enjoyed by Cubs through Fifth Grade. Classes are weekly, 30-minutes long to help foster reading, understand what a library has to offer and get new reading materials. The Lower School Library allows students and parents to check out books and enjoy presentations by authors, naturalists, scientists, and others throughout the year.

The Media Center expands student learning using both printed and electronic media. Cubs through 5th grade have biweekly classes which range from 15-minutes to one hour.  Cubs and Jr. Kindergarten are taught how to care for the books and the curriculum correlates with what they are learning in the classroom. Kindergarten and first grade students are exposed to a different author and genre each month. This encourages the students to expand their reading to a wide variety of books. Ipads are introduced at the Kindergarten level. The devices are used to complete activities that compliment each unit of study.  Second through fourth grades begin the year with library skills, move into study skills, internet etiquette, and finally how to properly research topics and present those topics in the presentation style of their choice.  Fifth grade students begin the year with internet etiquette and will move into a new program called Genius Hour.  Genius Hour, developed by Google, allows the students take charge of their own learning by researching a topic they are passionate about and then presenting their findings to the class at the end of each quarter. 

Lower School Music incorporates a variety of teaching methods with a focus on beginning music theory and the performing arts. All of our students, including our youngest in Cubs and Jr. Cubs are exposed to different genres and elements of music. Fifth-grade students are given the opportunity to participate in a choir that performs throughout the Jackson community.

Jr. Cubs through Fifth Grade physical education classes combine teaching developmentally-appropriate movement forms, fine and gross motor skills, games, and sports, including the social skills of teamwork.

 The elementary Foreign Language program gives younger minds an introductory step in foreign language acquisition. The primary goal is to foster interest and enthusiasm for foreign languages starting in our Jr. Cubs program.

An understanding and appreciation of the arts manifest itself in the artwork created and is displayed throughout the school. Opportunities in the Visual Arts at USJ range from two-dimensional drawing, painting, and collage, to three-dimensional sculpture in clay and paper, with a variety of craft projects. Spirited discussions about artists and their styles and lives stimulate the creative process and are evident in a student production.

The USJ STEAM initiative is an innovative program that integrates the subjects of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics – (STEAM.)  In STEAM Lab students are challenged to think critically, utilizing hands-on exploration, risk taking, and collaboration.

For First Grade through Fifth Grade students, the Elementary Science Lab provides a unique atmosphere of exciting science lessons with a more hands-on approach to learning. Student activities complement the traditional classroom curriculum and expose them to scientific insights present in the world around them. We foster cooperation in a team setting and challenge the creativity and interests of the individual. Children learn better when more senses are engaged in the process. Our lab seeks to build on that understanding with manipulatives that supplement the concepts discussed. The approach to learning reinforces information gathering through discovery.