Art is a core part of every student’s education at Pennfield. Kindergarteners through 5th graders work with a wide variety of media to grow their understanding of art elements and principles. They explore drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramics, and sculpture to find ways to express their creativity, progressing gradually each year. The teacher introduces art history and multicultural arts to foster an appreciation of different kinds of art and to learn how to discuss their own work constructively.
A Healthy Balance
The Lower School
“It feels like so much more than school. They are really teaching them how to be people in the world, how to give back to the community, and how to support one another.”
Starting in kindergarten through 5th grade, the Lower School is a full-day program filled with engaging, structured learning. Each year builds on the last, helping students grow and master new skills at a pace that suits their age and stage. Classroom teachers guide students through core subjects like English, math, and social studies in a supportive, self-contained environment. Alongside these, students dive into science, Spanish, art, music, physical education, and a range of enrichment classes—giving them plenty of opportunities to discover their interests and develop their talents. Our goal is simple: spark curiosity, capture attention, and help every child fall in love with learning.
Music
In the Lower School music program, students learn to recognize beat and rhythm patterns, build confidence in their singing and vocal range, and experiment with simple instruments, including the xylophone, drums, ukulele, and electronic keyboards. Dance is incorporated to improve physical coordination and rhythm comprehension. Often different musical traditions are woven into classroom social studies of world geography and cultures. Students are able to perform for their peers and families.
Students in 5th grade are introduced to Modern Band and select a musical instrument such as guitar, piano, or drums to study. They learn to play songs they love from different genres, sing lyrics, improvise solos and background parts, and compose music. Students may also choose to participate in Select Chorus, an optional ensemble that meets weekly and performs at school and outside events.
Library
Students in kindergarten through 4th grade visit the library each week to discover classic and contemporary literature and learn age-appropriate fundamentals of research in conjunction with classroom projects.
Physical Education & Health
The Lower School physical education program focuses on movement, utilizing games, gymnastics, yoga, and dance to foster students’ physical and emotional development through movement concepts such as body awareness, space, effort, and relationships. It is designed to build on those concepts through axial movements, locomotor skills, balance, and manipulative skills. This development leads into sports education as the students become competent in basic skills and mature physically and emotionally. The health education curriculum aims to increase student awareness of their role in taking care of their own health. Emphasis is placed on the steps necessary to maintain overall health including staying physically fit, eating nutritious foods, and establishing an awareness of their social and emotional health.
At Pennfield, we believe a great education should be within reach. We offer flexible options to help families plan, including a 10-month payment schedule, need-based financial aid for applicants in kindergarten through grade 8, and special rates for U.S. Active Duty military families. We are here to support you in exploring the possibilities.
We Welcome A Visit
Explore The Lower School
Kindergarten
A healthy mix of learning and play keeps our youngest Lower School students interested and engaged in their first year of full-day learning. For kindergartners, it’s an exciting time full of exploration as they discover how they fit into their classroom, their school, and the world around them. It’s a year of many firsts!
In kindergarten, teachers draw on a variety of engaging materials to help every child grow as a confident reader and writer. Guided reading practice builds fluency and comprehension, while daily phonics lessons strengthen letter-sound knowledge. Students also learn handwriting skills with attention to posture, grip, paper position, and forming both capital and lowercase letters. Fun activities, games, and extra practice bring learning to life and keep young learners excited about reading and writing.
Math instruction uses a hands-on approach that helps young learners explore time, money, and measurement, geometry and spatial sense, as well as concepts of data and chance. Students also develop skills in counting and numeration, correct number formation, numerical patterns, functions, sequences, operations, and problem solving.
Social studies focuses on topics close to home—like family, friends, map skills, and the changing seasons—and we weave these themes into art projects, writing, and classroom reading. Activities including “show and tell,” field trips, and reading selections may all be based on the current theme.
Kindergartners also start taking on classroom responsibilities and sharing their own interests. With personal attention and thoughtful care, we support each student as they build confidence and begin their own joyful journey as lifelong learners.
Grade 1
1st grade marks an exciting and important year where students build a strong educational foundation that supports growth for years to come. One of the biggest milestones is learning to read independently—a moment filled with pride and excitement. Alongside reading, students dive into creative writing and storytelling, strengthening their spelling, grammar, and handwriting in fun and imaginative ways.
Our math program continues to engage students in a hands-on examination of linear and weight measurement, thermometers, calendars, clocks, and money. Students begin to use mental arithmetic by memorizing addition and subtraction facts. 1st grade math introduces a number of concepts such as fractions, place value, number sense, mathematical relations, and word problems, which will be expanded on in later grades.
In social studies, students explore a variety of themes such as Families and Communities, Working Together, Economics, Landforms and Bodies of Water, and Colonial Times and Customs/Traditions. They keep up with current events through Scholastic News® magazine. Participation in the cross-grade presentation—a cross-curricular project for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades that combines social studies, language arts, research, music, movement, and public speaking—is also an integral part of the 1st grade social studies program.
Throughout the year, we focus on each child as a unique learner. With plenty of personal attention and support, every student finishes 1st grade equipped with the skills, confidence, and curiosity to take on what comes next.
Grade 2
2nd grade is a joyful year where students grow as confident, creative learners. With strong foundations already in place, they take their reading and writing skills to the next level through daily writing. Students continue to gain depth of reading comprehension and writing skills. With more advanced fine motor control, students work on handwriting formation and ultimately, cursive formation using Zaner-Bloser. Students develop their vocabulary skills and are taught the foundational skills necessary for proficient reading. As they share their work with classmates, they build presentation and listening skills in a fun and supportive environment.
In 2nd grade math, students review addition and subtraction facts, time and money concepts, and patterning. The study of fractions, measurement, decimals, and place value becomes more in-depth. Two- and three-dimensional shapes are introduced as a prelude to geometry and students begin memorization of multiplication facts and operations.
Over the course of the year in social studies, 2nd graders move through a series of units on Native Americans, national symbols and landmarks, Rhode Island state history, local geography, and basic economics. Students discuss current events they read about in the Scholastic News® magazine. Participation in the cross-grade Lower School presentation—a cross-curricular project for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades that combines social studies, language arts, research, music, movement, and public speaking—rounds out the social studies curriculum.
2nd grade is a year of solidifying skills, discovering new interests, and building a strong sense of self as learners—all in a creative, collaborative, and nurturing environment.
Grade 3
3rd grade at Pennfield is a year full of exploration, discovery, and growing independence. The 3rd grade language arts program builds on skills taught in 1st and 2nd grade. Students focus on reading a wide variety of books while continuing to write daily and create meaning between reading and writing. Formal spelling and vocabulary are important components of the curriculum, along with grammar instruction and handwriting practice. Through lively discussions, they explore plot twists, character development, and new vocabulary, building their comprehension and critical thinking skills. Writing takes a big leap forward this year, too. Students research nonfiction topics and present their findings through creative projects like dioramas, maps, and artwork.
Math students move ahead to multi-digit addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Study of fractions, place value, decimals, and geometry continues. Math facts and skills are reinforced through a variety of math and computer games.
In social studies, 3rd graders are introduced to mapping and map reading skills, along with geography of the United States and the continents of the world. Immigration to the US through Ellis Island during the late-1800s into the 1900s is also highlighted. As in 1st and 2nd grades, 3rd graders participate in the the crossgrade presentation – which combines social studies, language arts, research, music, movement, and public speaking—plays a major role in the social studies curriculum
Throughout it all, our small class sizes and dedicated teachers ensure that each student receives the support and encouragement they need. In this creative, active learning environment, 3rd graders thrive—growing as thinkers, problem-solvers, and learners with a strong sense of curiosity and confidence.
Grade 4
4th grade bursts with energy, curiosity, and hands-on discovery. With a focus on writing, 4th grade students learn the mechanics of writing as they create narrative, descriptive, expository, procedural, and persuasive pieces, in addition to poetry. Writing workshops emphasize the steps of writing: drafting, revising, editing, proofreading, and publication. Students learn to peer edit while working together to enjoy the writing process.
In math, students gain a more in-depth understanding of decimals, fractions, measurement, and probability. Previously mastered skills, such as multiplication and division facts, are applied to new multistep concepts. Fourth graders identify and construct geometric shapes, estimate and compute with larger numbers, and interpret data using graphs and statistical landmarks.
The social studies curriculum has a dual emphasis—geography of the US and major countries around the world, and history from the Industrial Revolution through the Gilded Age. Both studies guide students as they explore the history of events that have impacted the United States with a close study of Rhode Island. Students also learn about current world events. A crossgrade focus unit for 4th and 5th graders combines a social studies topic with research writing and culminates in a schoolwide presentation from each student.
4th grade is a year of active learning and growing awareness of the world—starting with the vibrant, history-rich, and nature-filled community right in our own backyard.
Grade 5
5th grade at Pennfield is a year full of exciting academic milestones. Students are able to explore a variety of genres to deepen their understanding of both fiction and nonfiction works through whole class novels, small literacy circles, and independent reading. They practice the mechanics of writing and explore numerous forms of writing, including narrative, descriptive, expository, persuasive, and poetry. Each student keeps a Writer’s Workshop binder, which showcases their progress and highlights just how far they’ve come since 4th Grade.
With a strong focus on more advanced computation, students develop an understanding of math concepts through hands-on learning, visualization, and pictorial models. The 5th grade develops critical thinking skills necessary to solve math problems. Students learn to compute with fractions, decimals, and percentages, explore geometric and algebraic concepts, organize data for analysis, and learn graphing skills.
In social studies, 5th graders develop a deeper understanding of the past by exploring the significance of historical events through inquiry and investigation. Units focus on map work, geography of North America, and the history of Native peoples, European explorers, early colonial settlements, the American Revolution, and the formation of the United States government. Through videos, readings, research, maps, note-taking, discussions, and reporting, students build knowledge about how these historical events have shaped the world we live in today.
By the time the year wraps up, they’re not only well-prepared—they’re excited and confident to begin the next chapter at Pennfield: Middle School.
