K-1st
Lower School at Loudoun Classical School is a place of wonder and delight aiming to shape the habits, affections, and virtues that will set our students on the path to a lifetime love of learning.
We plan to add two grades per year until we have a full K-5th Lower School!
Lower School
Our Approach
Our approach in the Lower School combines the best practices from a traditional Christian classical liberal arts education with those of Charlotte Mason. In addition to foundational academic skills such as reading, writing, and arithmetic, we set a generous feast of poetry, stories, singing, nature study, artist and composer study, and more.
For our youngest students in Kindergarten and first grade, we provide brief but focused skill-based lessons that develop the mind’s habits of close attention. These are interspersed with activities and learning opportunities that encourage small energetic bodies to move and develop physical self-discipline. Above all, we aim to tune our students’ hearts to love and serve the Lord God with their whole being – heart, mind, and body.
Our
K-1st
Program
Bible
We begin each day with LCS Chapel, a gathering of our entire student body for a liturgy of prayer and praise. In addition, each day we read Bible stories, pray, memorize Scripture, and learn the great hymns of the faith together.
History
Here again, stories are vital to developing our students’ historical imagination as we explore God’s great works among men in our own country and around the world. Geography, maps, and timelines are our daily companions.
Math
Hands-on numbering, calendar activities, adding and subtracting, and skip-counting (the basis for multiplication and division) encourage students to explore and delight in the art of numbers. Shape exploration and pattern recognition furnish a very gentle introduction to geometry, even from the youngest ages.
Science
As children of our great Creator, we have the privilege and duty to understand and to care for His marvelous creation. From the earliest ages, we emphasize a four-step approach to the natural sciences: Notice, Name, Know, and Steward. This begins with daily nature walks and activities focused on learning to identify local birds, trees, flowers, animals, and insects, as well as basic compass and directional skills.
Literature
In these early years, students are daily treated to a variety of folk tales, fairy stories, and delightful childhood tales that “every child has a right to know.” We believe that building a store of stories is the key building block to a lively intellect and imagination, and the cornerstone of all composition.
Language Arts
As a foundational art and skill, reading occupies a central place in our curriculum. Our approach is phonics-based and focused on mastery of the fundamentals for both decoding (reading) and encoding (spelling). Student work is completed with pen and paper, and good penmanship is stressed.
Fine Arts
We gently introduce students in an age-appropriate way to the most beautiful art, music, and poetry across the ages.
Physical Education (Gymnastic)
Multiple playground breaks, walks, and indoor activities help students steward the good gifts of healthy bodies.
