US Academics - North-Central NJ Private Elementary School | GSB https://www.gsbschool.org/academics/lower-school Archived on 2026-04-24 14:26 UTC Academics - North-Central NJ Private Elementary School | GSBLower SchoolLower School Academic ProgramYour web browser does not support the tag.The Gill St. Bernard's Lower School nurtures students innate desire to discover the world around them.As part of our rich, relevant, and balanced elementary school curriculum, Kindergarten to 4th Graders work with homeroom teachers and our team of related arts teachers to strengthen key learning skills for academic and personal success. Each school day is designed to keep bodies and minds active as students participate in classroom lessons, experiential learning projects, supervised playtime, social-emotional education, and countless other impactful moments across our campus.Our elementary students love to come to school. Surrounded by a warm and supportive community, they gain the confidence and sense of belonging that are essential preludes to learning and growth.Want to learn more? Join us for aLower School Information Sessionon Tuesday, November 18, 2025, or schedule apersonalized tourtoday!Apply to GSB's Lower SchoolVISIT USOrton-GillinghamStep Up to Writing®Singapore Math®Social StudiesHandwriting Without Tears®Responsive Classroom®In the Lower School, we use an Orton-Gillingham approach to teaching reading. It is multisensory, systematic, and supports all learners. Students in K-2 are taught specific phonics and spelling patterns to build their decoding, spelling, and writing skills. Third and Fourth Graders make the transition to morphology, learning about Latin and Greek bases, prefixes and suffixes to strengthen their spelling, vocabulary, and comprehension.Students use the Step Up to Writing® program throughout the Lower School. It is a multi-sensory approach to writing that teaches students strategies to create well-developed writing pieces. It gives our students a common language and structured framework to build upon as they move through the Lower School.Beginning in early childhood, Lower School students use the Singapore Math® program to build a solid mathematical foundation. The program is known for its approach which takes students from the concrete to pictorial to the abstract. Students begin each new concept using manipulatives, followed by drawing pictures or bar models, and then move to the abstract algorithm. Students also work on various problem-solving strategies and critical thinking skills throughout the year.Our social studies curriculum begins with understanding self and community then branches out to our nation and the world around us. Social Studies units are supported by the Pollyanna curriculum which is a racial literacy curriculum that promotes understanding and inclusion.In grades Kindergarten through Fourth Grade, this program uses a multisensory approach to teach proper letter formation, spacing, and writing fluency. The Handwriting Without Tears® program incorporates fun, hands-on activities and simple, step-by-step strategies that help young learners build fine motor skills and confidence in their writing. Its developmentally structured progression ensures that students master foundational handwriting skills in an engaging and effective way and helps Third and Fourth Grade students seamlessly transition from print to cursive writing.Responsive Classroom® is a student-centered, social-emotional learning approach for teaching and discipline. It is designed to create safe and engaging classroom and school communities. Cooperation, assertiveness, responsibility, empathy, and self-control are the guiding social-emotional competencies explored and practiced each year.Lower School FAQsStudent LifeCharacter building, social-emotional learning, and vibrant extracurricular activities are key tenets to our balanced educational approach.Find Out MoreRelated Arts ProgramsBeyond homeroom classes, students work with our Related Arts teachers to hone skills in Art, Music, Library, and Technology, Physical Education, Science, and Spanish.Find Out MoreExtended Day & After School ProgramsOur series of Preschool - 4th Grade enrichment activities keeps learning active while providing flexibility for families.Find Out MoreKitchen Discovery LabLocated inside of the Cox Building, the Kitchen Discovery Lab is an innovative, student-centered space designed to provide our youngest learners the chance to explore, experiment, and of course, grow. From studying food from around the world in world language classes or weighing vegetables from Home Winds Farm in a math lesson to learning about nutrition and food science in their science and STREAMS courses, the space is designed to help students apply abstract concepts through real-world application.Learn About Our Kitchen Discovery Lab Grand OpeningInnovation StationsInnovation Stations is a weekly program in which 1st to 4th graders complete hands-on activities and group challenges to build their social, emotional, and academic skill sets. Weekly course rotations include Tinker Summit, Tech Summit, Friends and Feelings, and Food Explorers in the Kitchen Discovery Lab.See More Lower School CurriculumHome Winds Farm VisitsLower School classes take regular trips across campus to Home Winds Farm to learn about the natural world. Visits include trips to the apple orchard, vegetable garden, green house, and chicken coop for fun and memorable experiential learning projects.Discover Home Winds FarmBiome MuseumThe annual Biome Museum marks the culmination of weeks of cross-curricular activities focused on a specific ecological environment. By bringing together their work in art, library and technology, music, research, science, and Spanish, each grade level is challenged to think creatively about how to best present information through displays, drawings, maps, writing, voice, and video. The project also gives students an opportunity to practice their digital literacy skills, creating iPad-guided tours of the museum and interspersing QR codes that link to resources for further learning throughout the exhibits. When families tour the museum, fourth-grade students serve as docents, explaining the wealth of information included in the eye-catching displays.Learning SupportBeginning in our Early Childhood Program and carrying through 4th Grade, Lower Schoolers establish strong academic and personal skill sets with the help of our Learning Support Specialists. Our Learning Support team works in tandem with classroom teachers and families to design and implement tailored support plans to help individual students bolster their academic, social, and emotional development.Stone Soup DayAs one of Gill St. Bernard’s most beloved school traditions, students, families, and faculty gather on campus to celebrate Stone Soup Day each October to kick off our year-long service-learning program. In preparation for the hallmark event, Lower Schoolers work together as sous chefs in the Kitchen Discovery lab to peel, dice, cut, and measure vegetables to add to the Stone Soup pot. On Stone Soup Day, the youngest member of the GSB Lower School has the honor of adding a "magic stone" to the pot. After the stone is added, the full Lower School adds their portion to the recipe, one grade at a time, representing the power of sharing and working together. While GSB's Dining Team transforms the vegetable Stone Soup for lunch later that day, extra produce and shelf-stable goods are donated to local food pantries to spread the magic for those in need.Tinker SpaceOur Tinker Space provides students with a place to build and explore. By using a variety of materials, tools, and technology, students take part in project-based activities to learn how to think creatively, approach problems in a variety of ways, persevere through trial and error, and foster a deeper sense of innovation.Learn More About The Lower School CurriculumKindergarten1st Grade2nd Grade3rd Grade4th GradeSingapore Math ® ProgramOne-on-One Reading SpecialistThe NutcrackerFriends & FeelingsBuilding upon concepts they learned in Preschool and PreKindergarten, Kindergarten math classes focus on acquiring a deeper understanding of addition and subtraction through the Singapore Math ® approach. Working with numbers one to one-hundred, students practice number bonds, extend their work with number comparisons, and count by twos, fives, and tens. Students also learn about coins and their value, practice telling time to the hour and the half-hour, and explore the passage of time through calendar activities. As they learn new number concepts, they begin with concrete hands-on materials, move to pictorial representations, and then to the abstract use of numbers and symbols.Kindergarten is a special time when emergent readers can make tremendous progress. In addition to classroom activities, each kindergarten student meets one-on-one with our reading specialist once a weekfor personalized reading instruction. The reading specialist communicates weekly with parents to share a more comprehensivepicture of their child’s reading journey. In both the classroom and the Reading Room, each student is appropriately challengedand supported to develop as a beginning reader.As a favorite Lower School winter performance, Kindergarteners leadThe Nutcrackerplay alongside Preschool and PreKindergarten students to the delight of audience members. In preparation for the show, students read and hear different versions ofThe Nutcrackerin class, learn the music, and travel to see the ballet. After examining different interpretations of the tale, students create a book of their own, which stands nearly two feet high and is used during the performance. A rite of passage for our kindergarten students, each year’s class brings its unique personality and flair to the time-honored tradition.Friends and Feelings is an age-specific social and emotional program taught by our Lower School Counselor. During the lessons, students practice problem-solving strategies, understand the importance of celebrating differences and similarities, and learn the value of cooperation, empathy, and respect.Reading RodeoBluebird UnitKids CAN Help ProjectName UnitEstablished more than 20 years ago, Reading Rodeo is a beloved first grade tradition combining literary, history, and math skills. While learning about the American West in a month-long history unit, students are challenged to read twenty-minutes at home while recording their progress along the way. At the end of the unit, students host a rodeo-themed family celebration to commemorate the total minutes read, reflect on the reading challenge, and take part in line dancing, smores, and outdoor games.Each spring, First Graders get an im-peck-able look at nature by setting up bluebird boxes throughout GSB campus. Students regularly check on their boxes to track bluebird life cycle progress, from eggs, fledglings, and adult birds that leave the nest. It's a wonderful opportunity to bring the classroom into nature!In the annual service learning project, First Graders lead the entire Lower School in a canned food collection during the winter holiday season. Students are responsible for sorting, counting, and stacking cans in pyramids of 10 to line the Cox hallway. As they practice their arithmetic skills, students are introduced to graphic concepts to show how numbers can be visually represented and how to write those numbers out as words. At the completion of the project, First Graders take a field trip to the Chester Mendham Food Pantry to donate the cans and see first hand how their work can help local communities.In this annual social studies Unit, First Graders conduct research to discover the origin of their name and celebrate what makes it unique. At the conclusion of the project, students invite families to the classroom to present their work and share their name facts.Poetry UnitPassport ProgramButterfly UnitBiography Reports & PresentationsSecond graders expand their reading and creative writing skills each year by studying different forms of poetry. At the end of the unit, the class invites parents to an in-person poetry tea party, where students share their favorite original poem from the Unit.Second graders truly embody our school motto, "The World Is Our Classroom," in their annual Passport to the World Program. With the help of parent volunteers who serve as tour guides, students learn about cultures and traditions from around the world. Each destination represents a country that a parent or guardian is native to, has lived in, or has traveled to and allow families to share their personal history and passions with the class. The program serves as wonderful inspiration for students as they stamp their passports to travel the global village!Second Graders learn about the life cycle of butterflies as they raise live butterflies in the classroom before releasing them onto the GSB campus. This unit, which integrates our Science and Spanish classes, comes to life with butterfly activities that combine science, reading, and writing with hands-on activities. Students learn the stages of the butterfly life cycle, explore pollination, migration, metamorphosis, adaptations, and lessons humans can learn from butterflies.Through various activities in their Biography Unit, Second Graders learn about the lives of some remarkable people. After selecting a person to study, students work diligently to create a biography project and present their research to the class. As a fun twist, students will dress up as their individual to bring history to life.Colonial FairIndigenous Peoples' MuseumNovel StudiesFairview Lakes Field TripGSB Third Graders un-earth Early American History as part of their annual Colonial Unit. After studying geographical facts, colonial life, and historical perspectives, students wrap up the Unit by choosing a colonial trade to research and create a poster presentation. Families are invited to tour the Colonial Fair to explore the projects and learn about the different trades.Third grade students spend time throughout October and November studying several Indigenous Peoples, including the Inuit, Navajo, Seminole, Tlingit, Pueblo, and Haudenosaunee. During the Unit, students not only learn about indigenous peoples’ traditions and cultures, but put together their own project displays to deepen their understanding while building on essential classroom skills.Over the course of the year, Third grade students participate in numerous novel studies. During these studies, students dive deep into the book to explore narrative elements, build vocabulary, and strengthen higher-level comprehension skills.Third Graders kick off the beginning of each school year with a class trip to Fairview Lakes! Students spend the day in nature participating in multiple team building exercises that emphasize the benefits of working together. Each exercise succeeds only if the students work together to help each other through.STREAMSCHOWBand Explorer ProgramKindness CrewStarting in Fourth Grade, GSB students begin STREAMS, a two-year-long STEM-based elementary school program that brings together work in sustainability, technology, research, engineering, agriculture, math, and science. Using our 208-acre campus as a living laboratory, Fourth Graders work with teachers to design solutions to achieve greater sustainability on our campus and in the larger world.Students identify and research a real-world problem that affects humans, animals, or the environment. Students then create a product that will improve or support those affected by the topic they chose. Learning about entrepreneurship and collaborating with classmates, students create a plan to market and sell their product or provide awareness and support toward their goals.All Fourth Grade students take part in our Band Explorer program. Students will learn each of the five most prominent beginning band instruments: flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, baritone, and saxophone. At the end of fourth grade, students can make an informed decision about which instrument to continue with in Middle School based on their interest and passion.Fourth Graders are welcomed into the Kindness Crew on the first day of school as the oldest students in the division. Over the year, students work to develop their leadership skills as recess helpers, sharing the kindness quote at weekly Town Meetings, and being a positive role model to the younger Lower School students.Have A Question?We're here to help! Explore ourLower School FAQsor reach out to our Admission Office atofficeofadmission@gsbschool.orgRecent Lower School NewsThe Power of Giving Back: GSB’s All-School Day of ServiceApr152026GSB Families Go Back to the ’80s at Sold-Out Family Bingo NightJan292026Early Childhood Holiday Concert: Sweet Holiday of Song and 35 Years of Nutcracker MagicDec192025Lower School Winter Concert: Where Holiday Spirit Meets SongDec192025Teacher Spotlight: Lynn ProsenAt GSB, Lynn loves exploring our beautiful campus and sharing its wonders with her inquisitive pupils. She loves the “Aha” moment, when something clicks and connects, like the thrill of a chemical reaction and the excitement of a bug, bird, or worm discovery.Meet LynnLower School Director Kyle ArmstrongKyle Armstrong serves as the Director of Lower & Middle Schools. He holds more than 25 years of experience working in independent schools.Prior to joining GSB, he was Associate Head for Academics for a PS-8 independent school. He also has experience as a history teacher, baseball and basketball coach, and eighth-grade team leader.Mr. Armstrong holds an M.A. from Lesley College in Massachusetts, and a B.A. in History from Trinity College in Connecticut. Kyle’s wife, Kristen, is GSB’s Upper School Librarian. They have two children at Gill.Explore Our Lower School CurriculumAllFine ArtsHistory / Social StudiesLibrary and TechnologyMathematicsPerforming ArtsPhysical EducationScienceSignature ProgramsWorld LanguagesAll1st Grade2nd Grade3rd Grade4th GradeKindergartenLower SchoolPrekindergartenPreschoolBiome MuseumThe Lower School Biome Museum marks the culmination of weeks of cross-curricular research, place-based learning, and exploration focused on a campus or New Jersey based ecological system, such as pond, stream, wetland, forest, farm, or ocean.about Biome MuseumEarly Childhood LibraryPreschool and Prekindergarten students visit the library once a week for story time. Books are chosen to introduce students to a wide variety of children’s literature.about Early Childhood LibraryEarly Childhood Physical EducationThe Early Childhood physical education curriculum for the year is designed to build foundational movement skills, enhance coordination, and promote overall physical development through daily structured and playful activities.about Early Childhood Physical EducationEarly Childhood Social StudiesThe early childhood Social Studies program focuses on helping Preschool, Prekindergarten, and Kindergarten students explore the concepts of self, community and personal history.about Early Childhood Social StudiesGrade 1 Language ArtsFirst Grade continues to be a time of exponential growth in literacy. Using an Orton-Gillingham approach to reading, students are given a multisensoryabout Grade 1 Language ArtsGrade 1 Library and TechnologyFirst Grade library students learn what a “just right book” means and how to find them. Students also practice alphabetical order to help guide them throughout the library.about Grade 1 Library and TechnologyGrade 1 MathematicsThe Singapore Math® curriculum builds on addition and subtraction skills, as students work with two-digit numbers and place value.about Grade 1 MathematicsGrade 1 ScienceStudents are introduced to many of the fundamental skills that scientists use. A study of trees as a habitat in the fall allows exploring ways in which plants and animals meet their own needs to survive and grow.about Grade 1 ScienceGrade 1 Social StudiesThe curriculum explores the building blocks of community and how different communities are structured.about Grade 1 Social StudiesGrade 1 SpanishIn First Grade, students start to write words in Spanish. They will develop their Spanish language with the book,Seed from Qtalk, that reinforces previously taught vocabulary while introducing new words and making sentences.about Grade 1 SpanishGrade 1 Visual ArtIn First Grade art, students explore the fundamentals of visual expression through hands-on projects that build creativity, fine motor skills, and confidence.about Grade 1 Visual ArtGrade 2 Language ArtsSecond Grade students continue to become more independent as readers, exploring their interests through literature, building stamina,about Grade 2 Language ArtsGrade 2 Library and TechnologySecond Grade library students learn about fiction, nonfiction, and biography books. Students also review story elements and how to identify them in books.about Grade 2 Library and TechnologyGrade 2 MathematicsStudents gain increasing mastery with addition and subtraction skills, working with numbers up to 1,000, using mental math strategies, and solving word problems.about Grade 2 MathematicsGrade 2 ScienceStudents practice scientific investigations of butterfly and plant systems throughout the year. In the fall, our study of butterflies begins.about Grade 2 ScienceGrade 2 Social StudiesThe curriculum builds on the concept of community, exploring the essential elements of a successful and thriving community.about Grade 2 Social StudiesGrade 2 SpanishIn Second Grade, students begin reading words, phrases, and sentences in Spanish. They continue to develop their Spanish language with the book,Sprout from Qtalk, that reinforces previously taught vocabulary while introducing more words and new sentences.about Grade 2 SpanishGrade 2 Visual ArtIn Second Grade art, students build on foundational skills while beginning to explore more complex techniques and ideas.about Grade 2 Visual ArtGrade 3 Language ArtsStudents continue exploring fiction and nonfiction genres, including narratives, informational texts, fairy tales, and poetry, as they become increasingly more independent as readers.about Grade 3 Language ArtsGrade 3 Library and TechnologyThird Grade library students practice locating books by call number. Students review fiction versus nonfiction and practice comparing the two on the same subject.about Grade 3 Library and TechnologyGrade 3 MathematicsStudents continue to practice addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division with larger and more complex numbers.about Grade 3 MathematicsGrade 3 MusicThird Grade music exploration is a lively adventure filled with singing, games, and movement. Using a student-centered approach, lessons are designed to spark creativity, engagement, and personal expression.about Grade 3 MusicGrade 3 ScienceBeginning with observations of the sky and weather, Third Graders become meteorologists using weather measurement tools to predict the weather.about Grade 3 ScienceGrade 3 Social StudiesThe course of study begins with a unit on Native Americans and continues to European explorers and the British colonization of North America.about Grade 3 Social StudiesGrade 3 SpanishIn Third Grade, students are introduced to the bookAlba and Gael, that reinforces previously taught vocabulary while introducing new words and phrases. This book also encourages students to practice their listening comprehension skills.about Grade 3 SpanishGrade 3 Visual ArtIn Third Grade art, students deepen their understanding of artistic concepts and begin to make more intentional choices in their creative work.about Grade 3 Visual ArtGrade 4 Language ArtsStudents begin the Accelerated Reader program, which encourages independent reading and the further development of comprehension skills.about Grade 4 Language ArtsGrade 4 Library and TechnologyFourth Grade library students continue to focus on research methods and strategies, learning to navigate the library spaces, and using a variety of sources.about Grade 4 Library and TechnologyGrade 4 MathematicsIn Fourth Grade, the Singapore Math® curriculum introduces more advanced work with decimals, fractions, algebraic reasoning, and basic geometry, while also stressing mastery of skills that will enable students to thrive in later math courses:about Grade 4 MathematicsGrade 4 MusicFourth Grade music is an exciting journey of discovery, building on students’ knowledge of notes, rhythm, form, pitch, dynamics, and tempo as they dive into the world of timbre and texture.about Grade 4 MusicGrade 4 Science and the STREAMS ProgramOur signature science program is called STREAMS (sustainability, technology, research, engineering, agriculture, math, and service) which extends traditional coursework in science with fieldwork that respectfully utilizes the land that surrounds us.about Grade 4 Science and the STREAMS ProgramGrade 4 Social StudiesThe curriculum includes an in-depth study of the American Revolution and the United States government.about Grade 4 Social StudiesGrade 4 SpanishIn Fourth Grade, students continue to expand their Spanish vocabulary and reading level with the bookAlba and Gael 2, which reinforces previously taught vocabulary while introducing new words and phrases.about Grade 4 SpanishGrade 4 Visual ArtIn Fourth Grade art, students continue to develop their artistic skills while exploring more advanced concepts and creative problem-solving.about Grade 4 Visual ArtGrades 1-2 MusicIn First and Second Grade, a rich repertoire of rhymes, folk songs, music games, and movement are explored using varied music styles.about Grades 1-2 MusicInnovation StationsInnovation Stations is a weekly program in which First through Fourth Graders complete hands-on activities and group challenges to build their social, emotional, and academic skill sets.about Innovation StationsKindergarten Language ArtsKindergarten is a special time when emergent readers can make tremendous progress. Classroom activities focus on rich and age-appropriate literature experiences.about Kindergarten Language ArtsKindergarten MathematicsThe curriculum emphasizes the concepts and foundational skills needed to solidify a strong number sense.about Kindergarten MathematicsKindergarten MusicKindergarten musicians explore music through hand rhymes, movement activities, and musical games and stories.about Kindergarten MusicKindergarten ScienceThe curriculum encourages the natural curiosity of young learners while introducing them to the science skills and tools to investigate the world around them.about Kindergarten ScienceKindergarten SpanishThe Spanish program for Kindergarten continues to introduce vocabulary and expressions. Students practice greetings, the days of the week, months of the year, season of the year, weather, counting numbers up to 100.about Kindergarten SpanishKindergarten Visual ArtKindergarten art is a hands-on course that promotes artistic self-expression while developing fine motor skills through the manipulation of a wide range of art materials.about Kindergarten Visual ArtKitchen Discovery LabLocated inside of the Cox Building, the Kitchen Discovery Lab is an innovative, student-centered space designed to provide our youngest learners the chance to explore, experiment, and of course, grow.about Kitchen Discovery LabLower School Health & WellnessAs part of physical education, students in First through Fourth Grade have health and wellness instruction on a variety of topics, including healthy eating, the importance of physical fitness, healthy strategies for working through differences with friends, hygiene, and other developmentally appropriate topics.about Lower School Health & WellnessLower School Physical EducationThe Lower School physical education program provides structured, large-group activities, fitness, and games that develop cognitive, physical, and social skills.about Lower School Physical EducationPersonalized Reading InstructionHomeroom teachers incorporate a range of instructional techniques for reading, including targeted small group instruction and elements of the Orton-Gillingham approach.about Personalized Reading InstructionPrekindergarten Language ArtsPrekindergarten students continue to develop skills for reading through listening and retelling stories and poems.about Prekindergarten Language ArtsPrekindergarten MathematicsYoung learners continue to explore fundamental mathematical concepts and relationships. Students match and sort objects by specific attributesabout Prekindergarten MathematicsPrekindergarten SpanishThe Spanish program for Prekindergarten students continues introducing vocabulary and expressions.about Prekindergarten SpanishPreschool and Prekindergarten MusicStudents learn music through singing, creative movement, and listening and playing classroom instruments.about Preschool and Prekindergarten MusicPreschool and Prekindergarten ScienceScience explorations for our youngest learners introduce them to what scientists do and how they learn about the world around us.about Preschool and Prekindergarten SciencePreschool and Prekindergarten Visual ArtBy creating art, young learners engage in discovery and develop creativity, independence, and problem-solving skills.about Preschool and Prekindergarten Visual ArtPreschool Language ArtsIn Preschool, teachers introduce developmentally appropriate literature to teach the foundational skills of comprehension and appropriate response to books and other text.about Preschool Language ArtsPreschool MathematicsWithin the Creative Curriculum© hands-on activities introduce young learners to numbers and foundational mathematical concepts.about Preschool MathematicsPreschool SpanishFor our youngest students, the Spanish program begins by introducing vocabulary and expressions.about Preschool SpanishRelated ArtsThe Lower School Related Arts program is led by a team of specialist teachers in Art, Library, Music, Science, Spanish, PE, and Technology. These dedicated courses serve as an important complement to our Lower School curriculum.about Related ArtsSocial-Emotional Learning and Character EducationResearch indicates that social and emotional skills help students thrive in school and throughout their lives.about Social-Emotional Learning and Character EducationTinker SpaceOur Tinker Space provides students with a place to build and explore. By using a variety of materials, tools, and technology, students take part in project-based activities to learn how to think creatively,about Tinker SpaceBegin your admission process and become a member of the GSB community.Complete our Interest Form to receive more information on the many student programs at Gill St. Bernard's.Schedule a campus or join us for an upcoming admission event. Same domain → Similar titles →