Lower School (K-4th Grade)

We are thrilled to begin this journey with you! Your child will embark upon a very special year of exploration and growth. While Kindergarten children are primarily focused on self, they are
beginning to explore friendships and the world around them. To support the development of the whole child, instruction focuses on cognitive, physical, and social/emotional growth.

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Pre-K students must be 4 before September 1 and Kindergarten students must be 5 by September 1 to apply.

For Pre-K and Kindergarten admissions, we follow the September 1st date as a guide. Applicants within the cutoff date may be considered after review by the admissions committee.

Welcome to First Grade, where learning is an exciting adventure filled with discovery and growth! We believe that students thrive when they can explore and learn from their actions in a supportive environment. By encouraging academic risk-taking, we turn every challenge into a valuable teachable moment.

In our classroom, we focus on fostering personal responsibility, self-control, and sound decision-making skills, helping our students develop the confidence and resilience they need for a bright future. Join us on this journey of exploration, learning, and fun!

Communications & Literacy

• Reading Workshop, Writing Workshop, Phonics and Grammar
• Mini lesson- guided practice- independent practice
• Book Bags- go home and return every day
• Dictation and red words (sight words)
• Grammar- organic and curious approach

• Knowledge building literacy instruction grounded in the Science of Reading, multi-sensory approach to explicit instruction in phonics and grammar.

Mathematics

• Singapore Math

• Focus on building problem-solving and reasoning skills and an in-depth understanding of essential math skills

Science

• Guides the development of successful active-learning through hands on learning experiences.
• Science notebooks for data, observations, and to develop thinking and communication
• Provides tools and strategies to engage students in experiences that lead to a deeper understanding of the natural and designed worlds.

Social Studies

• The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizens
• Geography
• Symbols and Traditions of the United States
• Life Today and Long Ago
• One Nation, Many People (culture, traditions, celebrations)
• Work in the Community (economics, needs and wants)

• Inquiry-Based Learning: Engaging investigations build knowledge in History, Civics, Geography, and Economics.

LiFE Curriculum 

 

Sample Daily Schedule:

*All classes will include cleaning before and after

• 8:20 Arrival
• 8:30-9:00 Leadership
• 9:00-10:10 Math
• 10:10-10:25 Snack/ Recess
• 10:25-11:40 Sci/SS
• 11:40-12:30 Lunch/Recess
• 12:30-1:50 Essentials
• 1:50-3:00 Communication & Literacy
• 3:00 Pack up
• 3:10 Dismissal

In second grade we are curious, brave, and passionate about learning. We hold ourselves accountable in actions and words. We are an open-minded community of innovative learners, leaders, and entrepreneurs, preparing to take our talents into the world to make a positive difference. 

We honor all forms of intelligence by creating an engaging, positive, and encouraging learning environment. We respect and appreciate differences. We come to school excited and prepared each day. We are responsible and take pride in all that we do. We believe in ourselves. We allow ourselves and others to make mistakes and learn from them. When we make a mistake, we see it as an opportunity to grow.

We use our passions, strengths, and curiosity to synergize with others. As global citizens, we recognize how our words and deeds impact our greater world. We thrive in an atmosphere where we all feel comfortable sharing ideas and expressing ourselves.

Communications & Literacy

Reader’s Workshop

• Skill based whole group mini lesson
• Guided Practice
• Practice with reading partner
• Share your learning with the class
• Break into additional learning centers- Buddy reading, read to self, reading games

 Writer’s Workshop

• Skill based whole group mini lesson
• Teacher models
• Conferencing with writing partner
• Independent writing time
• Share/Publishing Party

Mathematics

We meet each student where they are. There will be plenty of enrichment and extended learning!

• Singapore Math
• Math Workshop: Investigation > Whole Group Instruction > Partner Work > Independent Work > Choice Time

• Students will have nightly math homework. It should only take 10-15 minutes. We encourage students to practice nightly math facts. Math tests will go home and will need to be signed and returned the following day.

Science

• Physical Science -Solids and Liquids
• Earth Science - Pebbles, Sand, and Silt
• Life Science - Plants and Insects

Social Studies

• Families Today and in the Past
• People, Places, and Nature
• Government
• People Who Supply Our Goods and Services
• Making a Difference

(Science and Social Studies are taught in alternating 6-week blocks.)

LiFE Curriculum 

Sample Daily Schedule

• 8:20 Arrival
• 8:30-9:00 Leadership
• 9:00-10:10 Math
• 10:10-10:25 Snack/ Recess
• 10:25-11:40 Sci/SS
• 11:40-12:30 Lunch/Recess
• 12:30-1:50 Essentials
• 1:50-3:00 Communication & Literacy
• 3:00 Pack up
• 3:10 Dismissal

Academics include Math, C&L, and Science/Social Studies.

After an extensive teacher-led research process, Aspen Academy has adopted the latest, most innovative and relevant standards in the nation. The Next Generation Science Standards are used from grades K-8, making Aspen Academy one of the only schools in the area to use these cutting-edge standards school-wide.

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Third grade is a big transitional year with a gradual release of independence. Highlights in 3rd Grade:

• Friendship changes
• Conflict resolution
• Personal responsibility
• Big year for cognitive development

Communications & Literacy

Reading

• Mysteries: Foundational Skills
• Reading to Learn
• Character Studies: Book Clubs
• Research Clubs

 Writing

• Crafting True Stories
• The Art of Information Writing
• Once Upon a Time
• Changing the World

Mathematics

• Math workshop model: concrete > pictoral > abstract
• Numbers to 10,000 (including addition and within 10,000)
• Multiplication and multiplication tables
• Fractions
• Area and perimeter
• Graphs and line plots
• Using bar models with all operations
• Measurement
• Time
• Angles, lines, and 2D shapes

Science

• Motion & Water: Students explore magnetism and gravity to learn about forces and interactions. Students engage in the engineering design process.
• Water & Climate: Students explore the properties of water, the water cycle, and weather. Students study the interaction between water and other earth materials and learn how humans use water as a natural resource.
• Structures of Life: Students observe plant and animal structures, functions, and behaviors. Students compare the life cycles of different organisms and care for live plants and animals in the classroom.

Social Studies

• Our Environment and Economics: Students explore how we interact with our planet which includes geography, weather, climate, how we affect animals and plants and resources.  Students will also learn about economics with needs and wants as well as goods and services.
• Communities Build a Nation - Government, Landmarks, and Symbols: Students explore how does our past affect our present by looking at American Exploration and settlement.  Student will explore the Constitution,  and how our three branches of government were created to protect our rights. 
• Citizenship and Civic Engagement - A Growing Nation   Celebrating Our Communities: Students will continue to explore rules and laws, importance of being a good citizen, rights,  and how transportation and immigration changed America.  Students will also celebrate how our communities live, work and play together. 

LIFE Curriculum 

Sample Daily Schedule

• 8:15-8:30 Arrival
• 8:30-9:00 Leadership
• 9:00-10:20 Essentials (Two 40-minute classes)
• 10:20-11:40 Class 1
• 11:40-12:30 Lunch and Recess
• 12:30-1:50 Class 2
• 1:50-2:00 Recess/Snack
• 2:00-3:20 Class 3
• 3:20-3:25 Clean up and end-of-day jobs
• 3:25-Dismissal

Classes include Math, C&L, and Science/Social Studies and class order rotates 3x throughout the year.

After an extensive teacher-led research process, Aspen Academy has adopted the latest, most innovative and relevant standards in the nation. The Next Generation Science Standards are used from grades K-8, making Aspen Academy one of the only schools in the area to use these cutting-edge standards school-wide.

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Fourth grade is a big transitional year with a gradual release of independence. Highlights in 4th Grade:

• Ready for more independence
• More of an emphasis on narrowing friend group
• Being close to puberty and becoming more and more self conscious
• Beginning to show skills at resolving conflicts with peers and demonstrate leadership in this area
• Begin to feel loneliness and rejection
• Ready for more freedom and responsibility

We are partners in helping develop your child!

Communications & Literacy

Reading

• Interpreting Characters
• Non-Fiction/Research
• Poetry
• Historical Fiction

 Writing

• Realistic Fiction
• Non-Fiction/Research
• 5 Paragraph Essay
• Poetry

Topics:

• Public Speaking & Communication
• Reading Workshop
• Writing Workshop
• Grammar Instruction- Patterns of Power

Mathematics

• Always ask questions
• Identify reasoning
• Play games
• Praise effort

Science

Energy

• Electric circuits
• Magnetism
• Electromagnetism
• Waves

Soils, Rocks, and Landforms

• Earth's surface
• Natural resources
• Weathering
• Soil types

Environments

• Biotic vs. Abiotic
• Ecosystems
• Brine Shrimp Hatch
• Seed germination

 

Social Studies

Geography and Government

• Map skills
• Branches of government
• Economy

Colorado History and the West

• The West and Southwest regions
• Colorado People
• Western Expansion

Regions

• Other 4 U.S. Regions
• Cities and landscapes
• Changes over time

 

LIFE Curriculum 

Sample Daily Schedule

• 8:15-8:30 Arrival
• 8:30-9:00 Leadership
• 9:00-10:20 Essentials (Two 40-minute classes)
• 10:20-11:40 Class 1
• 11:40-12:30 Lunch and Recess
• 12:30-1:50 Class 2
• 1:50-2:00 Recess/Snack
• 2:00-3:20 Class 3
• 3:20-3:25 Clean up and end-of-day jobs
• 3:25-Dismissal

Classes include Math, C&L, and Science/Social Studies and class order rotates 3x throughout the year.

Aspen Academy’s Lower School mathematics program enables children to:

• Discover concepts
• Develop an intuitive feeling for mathematics
• Apply established math skills and reasoning to problem solving

Concepts are taught using concrete materials alongside corresponding algorithms. Pictorial representations provide visual images for computation, and the use of manipulative materials helps children to bridge the gap between the concrete and abstract.

Singapore Mathematics is used as our foundational-level curriculum. After being immersed and then graduating from this program, students are typically performing two to three grade levels ahead of the standard American student

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Student choice and ownership are at the forefront of our language arts curriculum. At Aspen Academy, all of our language arts teacher pride themselves on tapping into the personal interests and learning styles of each and every one of their students. The workshop model, which consists of a short, whole-group lesson and extended time for differentiated-partner, small group and individual learning time, allows for each student to reach his or her full potential. Providing choice for both reading and writing creates an authentic learning environment full of passion and excitement in each language arts classroom. These choices provide an opportunity for critical thinking, self-reflection and decision-making unmatched among other programs in the nation.

 

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The world is changing faster than we realize, and preparing our students for a world that is global, dynamic and complex will not look the way it used to. Our Social Studies program doesn’t just teach history; we pride ourselves on an approach of learning about the world through history, geography, economics and civics. We focus on studying our world not just in a textbook and the classroom, but in context so that our students can go out into the world to apply the lessons, critical thinking and passion to the greater society.

After an extensive teacher-led research process, Aspen Academy has adopted the latest, most innovative and relevant standards in the nation. The Next Generation Science Standards are used from grades K-8, making Aspen Academy one of the only schools in the area to use these cutting-edge standards school-wide.

 

Learn More

 

Our Essentials Program offers performance-based courses that continue to build leadership, confidence and pride for each student. We realize world language, performing arts, visual arts, technology and fitness, along with the academic content classes, create a space for students to grow and learn in all areas of their school life as well as discover their individual passions and gifts.

 

Learn More About Arts 

 

Learn More About Athletics and Fitness 

 

Learn More About Innovation and STEAM 

 

Learn More About Spanish