Curriculum Highlights
Every day, our teachers weave together arts, academics, and social & emotional learning.
Here are some highlights from the rich interdisciplinary curriculum in each grade:
Love the Skin You’re In!
KINDERGARTEN
Love the Skin You're In!
-•-
Our kindergarteners embark on a meaningful exploration of color in the natural world—and in themselves. Understanding that skin color is primarily determined by melanin, through engaging art activities, students create self-portraits and hand collages using skin tone crayons, markers, and construction paper. They also experiment with mixing primary colors to discover their unique skin color, lovingly naming it with imaginative titles like “Sun-Kissed Sand.” Storytime features thoughtfully chosen children’s books that spark age-appropriate conversations about identity, similarities, and differences. These shared readings open the door to inclusive discussions and help our youngest learners understand how to talk about skin color with kindness, curiosity, and respect. At our school, even the littlest voices are empowered to celebrate diversity and embrace what makes each of us unique.
Mapping Our World
KINDERGARTEN
Mapping Our World
-•-
In kindergarten, students begin to make sense of the world around them through the exciting study of maps and navigation. Starting with the four cardinal directions, they learn to use a compass to find their way around school and create their own colorful compass roses. Working together, students explore key map features—like legends, symbols, and scale—using real paper maps and comparing them to today’s digital tools. As part of this playful and educational journey, students also dive into maps of the past—treasure maps! With creativity and imagination, they design their own treasure maps, dress up as pirates, and embark on a treasure hunt around campus. This hands-on experience brings learning to life while building spatial awareness, collaboration skills, and a sense of adventure. Through exploration, comparison, and storytelling, our youngest learners begin to see that maps are not just tools—they're gateways to understanding places, people, and possibilities.
Making Soup Together
FIRST GRADE
Making Soup Together
-•-
Each fall, first graders read the folktale Stone Soup as a foundational text for the yearlong exploration of what it means to belong to a community. The main theme of this story highlights the importance of collaboration, kindness, and community building, making room for everyone at the table. First graders read several variations of the Stone Soup tale, considering their similarities and differences, including Stone Soup by Heather Frost, Bone Button Borscht by Aubrey Davis, and Cactus Soup by Eric Kimmel. Our Stone Soup investigation culminates with cooking our own Stone Soup in class, with everyone contributing ingredients from home! Stone Soup teaches us that "when we work together, we can make great things!"
Who Are We?
FIRST GRADE
Who Are We?
-•-
A central part of the first grade social studies curriculum is the exploration of personal and collective identity. Each month, students reflect on different aspects of who they are by creating self-portraits inspired by a diverse range of artists. Through the vibrant styles of Frida Kahlo, Kehinde Wiley, Yayoi Kusama, Todd Parr, among others, students discover new ways to express themselves while celebrating individuality and community.
A Creative Writing Journey
SECOND GRADE
A Creative Writing Journey
-•-
In October, second graders dive into an imaginative writing journey centered around Hallowe’en! This seasonal unit is designed for students to practice their fiction writing skills through a structured and supportive process: planning, developing characters, crafting engaging plots, and using descriptive language, as well as editing and revising their very own spooky—or silly—Hallowe’en stories. The highlight of the unit is our much-anticipated Hallowe’en Publishing Party, where students proudly share their finished stories with classmates, teachers, and family members. It’s a joyful celebration of hard work, imagination, and the power of storytelling—complete with costumes, festive decorations, and lots of smiles. This cherished October tradition builds literacy skills, encourages self-expression, and fosters a strong sense of community through the magic of words.
Discovering the Wonders of Rainforests
SECOND GRADE
Discovering the Wonders of Rainforests
-•-
In our vibrant second grade Rainforest Unit taught by our K–5 science specialist, students dive into the lush world of tropical rainforests—uncovering their unique climate, towering canopy layers, and the incredible diversity of life they support. Through hands-on exploration, students learn how rainforests impact our daily lives, from the air we breathe to the products we use, and reflect on how our choices can help protect these vital ecosystems. Highlights of the unit include an exciting field trip to the California Academy of Sciences’ rainforest dome and the opportunity to grow their own mini rainforest terrariums—bringing a piece of the rainforest into the classroom and inspiring a lifelong appreciation for the natural world.
Reimagining Fairy Tales
THIRD GRADE
Reimagining Fairy Tales
-•-
Our third graders embark on a rich and reflective journey through the world of fairy tales—past and present, near and far. As part of an in-depth literary study, students explore fairy tales from a wide range of cultures, analyzing their structure, characters, settings, and themes. They examine the traditional elements of fairy tales while also learning how to adapt them with fresh perspectives and inclusive storytelling. A key focus of this unit is identifying and unpacking stereotypes and singular representations often found in classic tales. Students consider how these stories reflect or distort identity, and how modern adaptations can offer broader, more truthful reflections of the world we live in. This work is deeply connected to our yearlong inquiry into literature and media as windows, mirrors, and sliding doors—a framework that encourages students to see their own identities reflected in stories, to learn about the lives of others, and to imagine new possibilities through storytelling.
Voices of the Bay Area: Past, Present, and Future
THIRD GRADE
Voices of the Bay Area: Past, Present, and Future
-•-
In third grade, students take a deep dive into the physical and cultural landscape of the Bay Area, with a focus on understanding the region’s history, geography, and systems of local government. Central to this study is an exploration of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe, past and present, offering students a more accurate and inclusive view of the land’s original stewards. Through guided inquiry, fieldwork, and discussion, students examine how the relationship between power, land, and people has shifted over time. They consider whose voices have been heard, whose stories have been overlooked, and how historical and current events impact communities today. Perspective-taking and empathy are central to this work, as students connect individual choices to broader social systems and learn how their own actions can contribute to justice and sustainability. Students visit Hacienda Peralta Historical Park, where they immerse themselves in the rich cultures, languages, and traditions of the Ohlone peoples—both pre-contact and in the present day.
Mission District Murals
FOURTH GRADE
Mission District Murals
-•-
Our fourth graders embark on a dynamic, interdisciplinary journey to deepen their understanding of the community they live in and the history that shapes it. Traveling by BART to San Francisco’s vibrant Mission District, students join a guided mural tour with Precita Eyes Muralists, where they explore powerful artistic themes rooted in social justice, culture, and local history. This immersive experience connects art, history, language, and community. Students engage directly with the stories behind the murals, gaining insights into the neighborhood’s rich cultural tapestry and evolving identity. Along the way, they practice their Spanish speaking skills in a real-world setting during a visit to a local panadería, bringing language learning to life through authentic interaction.
Gold Rush Studies
FOURTH GRADE
Gold Rush Studies
-•-
In fourth grade, students embark on a deep investigation into California and U.S. history, focusing on the transformative impact of land use. They study pivotal events like the California Gold Rush and Westward Expansion, examining how these moments shaped the state we know today.
Using a rich mix of primary and secondary sources, students develop critical research skills and learn to see history from multiple perspectives. Their learning culminates in an immersive overnight field trip to Coloma, CA—the birthplace of the Gold Rush—where they connect directly with the land and stories they’ve studied. Over several weeks, students synthesize their discoveries by researching, drafting, and publishing essays that explore the Gold Rush from various angles. Through this process, they not only deepen their historical understanding but also cultivate their own voices and perspectives as young historians.
History of the United States
FIFTH GRADE
History of the United States
-•-
In fifth grade, students explore the history of the United States through a critical lens: power. They investigate fundamental questions—What is power? Who holds it? How is it used? And how can it shift from one person or group to another? Focusing on key social movements throughout U.S. history, students examine the societal conditions that sparked collective action and inspired communities and individuals to fight for change. This interdisciplinary study blends history, civics, and art, encouraging students to analyze the forces that shape our society. Their learning culminates in diverse research projects, including formal reports, creative zines, and vibrant infographics. Each infographic features a unique symbol designed by the students in art class, reflecting their understanding and personal connection to the movements studied. Through this journey, fifth graders develop a deeper awareness of history’s complexities and their own potential to influence change in their communities.
Best Buys, Ratios & Rates
FIFTH GRADE
Best Buys, Ratios & Rates
-•-
Students comparison shop to deepen their understanding of proportional reasoning, using ratio tables to determine the cost of different amounts of bird seed sold by weight, or the status of a truck's gas tank over various trips. These rich problems offer a "low floor and high ceiling," concrete models for students who need extra support, and extension for those who require additional challenge. Students present their problem-solving strategies to peers in a "Math Congress," responding to their questions, which pushes them to clarify their thinking.
Team-Building & Reflection
SIXTH GRADE
Team-Building & Reflection
-•-
About a third of the sixth grade class is continuing from our lower school, eager to meet those coming from other elementary schools. To strengthen their social bonds, they live in the Marin Headlands for four days each fall, combining team-building with natural science education in a dramatic setting. Humanities teacher Maria Palmer accompanies the class, guiding students to write about their memories of their time at the Headlands as an introduction to the sixth grade’s study of memoir.
Exploring Famous Artists from the Inside Out
SIXTH GRADE
Exploring Famous Artists from the Inside Out
-•-
Students research artists, identify their aesthetic fingerprints, and work through the artist’s process in order to fabricate their own works. Sixth graders might recreate fabric art in the style of Faith Ringgold, sew fashion by Coco Chanel, emulate graffiti by GATS (pictured here), and even wrap a play structure like Christo and Jeanne-Claude.
Socratic Seminar
SEVENTH GRADE
Socratic Seminar
-•-
Socratic Seminar is a cornerstone of seventh-grade English. These inquiry-based, structured discussions revolve around a focal text and are guided by a launching question. In addition to scaffolding careful, close reading of a specific text using evidence and reasoning, Socratic Seminars help students develop conversational soft skills such as modulating "air time" and sharing space, while demonstrating active listening through facial expression and body language. They also foster metacognitive practice as students reflect on their experience, identify what went well and what was challenging, and extract lessons for future seminars.
Biomimicry
SEVENTH GRADE
Biomimicry
-•-
Seventh graders embark on an exciting journey into the world of biomimicry—where science, creativity, and nature collide. They begin by identifying a real-world human challenge, then turn to nature for inspiration, exploring how plants, animals, and ecosystems have solved similar problems through evolution. Using these discoveries, students design their own nature-inspired inventions that could improve the way humans tackle everyday issues. The study of biomimicry empowers students to think like innovators and problem-solvers, while deepening their appreciation for the natural world. Students rely on creativity and science to tackle problems and find answers—and become inspired to see the world a little differently.
Mapping the World
EIGHTH GRADE
Mapping the World
-•-
Eighth graders take on the herculean challenge of drawing and naming all 200 countries of the world from memory. They work their way through each continent over the course of the year, pausing to research a climate change topic that impacts our planet. Their research becomes the basis for turning their maps into “choropleths,” visually highlighting what they've learned. It is an academic and artistic challenge that builds the geographic literacy that students need to make sense of history and current political issues. While it can feel overwhelming at first, by the time they graduate, every student has the confidence to map the world by heart.
Masterworks
EIGHTH GRADE
Masterworks
-•-
The capstone experience of the Upper School is “Masterworks.” It is a 40-hour, interdisciplinary project completed over several months under the guidance of a faculty advisor. Students choose a topic they are truly passionate about. Some have been dreaming up their ideas since sixth grade! They craft a proposal, conduct background research, and bring their vision to life, whether it’s writing and illustrating a graphic novel, building and learning to play a guitar, using photography to document their family history, constructing a climbing wall, or designing hand-sewn couture inspired by different historical eras. The experience culminates in “Masterworks Presentation Night,” when students proudly share their projects with peers, teachers, and families.
