The cyclical nature of life will be a continuous theme throughout the year. Children will be investigating many cycles in nature, including the plant cycle, the seasons, and the habits of animals and humans. Students will observe the patterns of their own growth in relation to other cycles. Children will explore how they have grown and changed throughout the year, discovering the potency of their place in the local and more global environs. The children's investigations will be supported by rich and varied instructional materials, with an emphasis on the integration of the arts and sciences.

Fall Topics:
Plant Cycles, Bulbs and Seeds, Decomposition, Seasonal Change, Animals Preparing for Winter
Winter Topics:
Human Cycles, Shelters Around the World, Human Body Systems, Solstice
Spring Topics:
Critter Cycles, Metamorphosis of Tadpoles and Caterpillars, Hatching, Ants, Independent Projects

Primaries focus on journeys of the ancient and the present, of the natural and the literary worlds, journeys into far away lands and journeys in our own lives and environs. Over the summer, children keep a journal of a small felt mouse. In the fall, children will learn about the history of Arbor School-the evolution from farmhouse to school. From these familiar surroundings we will plunge into the depths of the sea, studying whales and their migration. Continuing with our focus on the ocean, we will travel to Greece and become familiar with the stories of Greek mythology. As we study this watery environ, we will learn about ships-their history and design. We will also be looking at the wheat cycle-the journey from the garden to the grinder and finally into bread. In the spring, we will be studying other countries and will use those models for Imaginary Islands of the students' own invention. Year-long projects include: personal journal, literary journal, ongoing classroom journals, and author studies.

Fall Topics:
Mice and Mice Journeys, Vehicles and How Things Move, How Arbor School Came to Be
Winter Topics:
Author Study, Stories from Greek Mythology
Spring Topics:
Whales and Their Migration, Ships, Water Cycle