UNIVERSITY LIGGETT SCHOOL \ ACADEMICS

\ ACADEMICS

Lower School

Advancing Curiosity Since 1878

Diving below the surface of questions and proposing challenging questions is the cornerstone of our Lower School. Class time balances the freedom of wild curiosity and inventiveness within the thoughtful sequence of our curriculum. Developing literacy, numeracy and research skills allows students to learn independently and collaboratively while they pursue projects that harness their passions and critical thinking to bring big ideas to life.

The Liggett Approach In Lower School

Learners in the Lower School approach all content with inquiry. To develop thinking dispositions, teachers use routines and protocols to encourage specific types of thinking. Thinking routines are a set of questions or a brief sequence of steps used by teachers and learners to support and encourage specific thinking strategies.

Fall and Spring Evaluations of Students’ Personal Best Times on Track

Annual Kindergarten Exploration of Legendary Visual Artists

Green Screen Videos for 4th Grade Biographies

The fifth grade genre projects focus on student choice from which genre they read first to the format they choose to demonstrate their understanding of a novel. Students present their project to their peers and field questions about the novel. Examples of other projects to show understanding of a novel are to create a mobile using the four elements of the book, make a detailed map of an important setting from the book, create a 3-D model of the main character, and write an interview with the character.

We Believe There Are Multiple Approaches to Solving a SIngle Math Problem.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE LIGGETT APPROACH

Learn More About The Liggett Approach In Lower School

More to Explore @ Lower School

Literacy

We utilize the Daily 5 and CAFE methods to provide extended periods to practice, combined with focused, intentional instruction, to help increase student reading achievement.

Daily 5 is the structured framework we use to practice authentic reading and writing during our literacy block.

Daily 5 consists of:

Read to Self
Read to Someone
Listen to Reading
Work on Writing
Word Work

CAFE is a system of goal setting which organizes the key components of successful reading strategies and helps students maximize understanding.

Comprehension
Accuracy
Fluency
Expand Vocabulary

Numeracy

The Math in Focus approach (Singapore Math) ensures every student’s ability to master concepts and apply mathematics. The program emphasizes concept mastery, a concrete-to-pictorial-to-abstract approach, metacognitive reasoning, and model drawing to solve and justify problems. The program's principles are drawn from a solid base of foundational research identifying effective approaches to mathematics teaching.

Project Work

Project Work builds context and connection between our students and new information. For example, collaboration happens often between classroom academics and art class, making for a more meaningful experience for the student. This same level of integration between “knowing” and "doing" occurs in other Lower School academic focus areas, like music, physical education and technology.

In science, we let student interest guide our curriculum. For example, in first grade, students were interested in how paper was made. After learning the process, they worked on making their own paper out of recycled newspaper.

In second grade, the students were really excited to learn about tornados and other landforms. They made volcano models out of clay and made them erupt using a chemical reaction of water, red kool-aid powder, and baking soda.

In third grade, after experiencing a wind farm during a road trip, a third grader suggested we learn about wind turbines. Students researched what renewable energy was, how wind turbines work, and what pieces they would need to get them to work, and spent a few weeks building their own wind turbine model with a DC motor and recycled materials.

In fourth grade, students used Minecraft Education to develop a sustainable city using the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. They presented their solutions to unsustainable problems by recording a video of their city.

The fifth graders were interested in solar power so after researching renewable energy and learning about solar panels, they build solar model houses using a 3D laser printer to cut wood. After their houses were constructed, they connected conductors to mini solar panels that they attached to their houses and used the bright sun to power their homes.

In the Lower School, we foster student interest and build it into our curriculum.

How do learners make meaning?

Robust Resource Classes

VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS: (PreK-5)
Our philosophy, stemming from the Liggett approach, gives artists the knowledge and exposure to be creative, independent thinkers and problem solvers through the use of proper material exploration, art criticism of personal and public works of art, and the history of artists and movements.

MUSIC: (PreK-5) Orff
The Lower School Music program is an Orff-based program that guides students from PreK through 5th grade to carefully develop musical skills through a hands-on, creative approach. Students learn and develop their musical skills by creating and composing their own music. Singing games, folk dances and traditional songs from around the world are used to create an engaging and joyful learning environment. Hand percussion and drums are the instruments through which rhythmic skills are explored and developed through all the grades. Beginning in second grade, the musical concepts of pitch, melody and ensemble are developed through xylophones.

Children are encouraged to learn through their natural environment of play. Improvisation is encouraged to allow children to explore the possibilities in music. The music used in the classroom is based on the children's own heritage with a combination of folk and composed music.

SCIENCE: (K-5th)
The Lower School science curriculum incorporates life, physical, earth, space, and computer programming topics into process skill development and project-based learning opportunities. Students are engaged in activities that promote scientific observation, creativity, collaboration and critical thinking at every grade level. We do experiments, host expert visitors, use current technology, and build Lego robots throughout the year. We provide an inquiry-based approach to learning which allows students to formulate questions, research and explore topics and communicate their findings with others. We practice early lab skills as we learn content to facilitate a deeper understanding of the processes and knowledge that is science.

ORCHESTRA: (3rd-5th)
Participation in strings is available to all Lower School, Middle School and Upper School students beginning in the 3rd grade. Students in 3rd grade may start on violin, viola or cello.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION (PreK-5)
The Lower School physical education program instruction focuses primarily on personal best, sportsmanship, teamwork, skill development and strategy.

In grades 1-4 the students are exposed to eye/hand coordination, eye/feet coordination, stunts and tumbling, locomotor skills, ice skating at the school's own McCann Ice Arena, physical fitness units, spatial awareness, cooperative games, balls skills and station work. The 5th grade physical education program is a stepping stone for the students’ transition to the Middle School PE program, with increased emphasis on skill building in specific sports and playing modified lead-up games.

Peggy Dettlinger
Head of Lower School

LEARN ABOUT THE ARTS

University Liggett School is a private preschool and kindergarten through 12th grade college preparatory school in Metro Detroit that is nationally recognized for its innovative curriculum and arts and athletics offerings.

Non-Discrimination Statement