The lower school at MSW (grades K-3) is centered around experiential based learning both in the classroom and on our beautiful campus. Our teachers in the Lower School infuse their our own unique thematic and place based MSW Curriculum with curriculum from Fundations, Think! Math, and Mystery Science offering a uniquely MSW educational experience. We believe Vermont is Our Classroom, many lessons and curriculum is in alignment with the seasons, natural surroundings, and local community.

Kindergarten & 1st Grade:

In Kindergarten and first grade, students focus on a play based education that also includes a strong student centered pedagogy focused on building strong literacy and mathematical skills. Our small class sizes and outdoor focused program allows for these students to have opportunities to put their skills into practice and interact with the real world around them.

In addition to taking part in the OWLS program once per week with the rest of the school, Kindergarten and First Grade students also engage in near daily forest classroom activities where they learn about animal tracks, snow, and read books that deepen their understanding and connection to the land around them. Students leave these early grades with the strong reading, writing, math, and analytical skills they will need to be successful in their later years at MSW and beyond.

Second & Third Grade:

In the Second and Third Grades, students begin to focus heavily on moving from a play based approach to a more scholarly approach to their learning as they are asked to think ever more critically about the world around them. Thanks to a strong foundation in their core subjects during Kindergarten & 1st Grade, we see our Second and Third graders often discussing topics in class with such depth that it would be easy to recognize them as beyond their years.

By having opportunities to collaborate with the older students on thematic areas such as Water Resources in science, these students are able to envision and motivate their future towards deeping their understanding of these subjects amongst their peers and their excellent classroom instruction helps them build the skills necessary to do so.

LOWER SCHOOL