ESN Curriculum – Episcopal School of Nashville

ESN Curriculum

Episcopal School of Nashville is an independent co-educational Pre-K through middle school, serving students of diverse ethnic, cultural, religious, and socio-economic backgrounds. Valuing the education of the whole child, the school encourages students to engage their minds, bodies, and spirits as they grow in confidence and communion with others.

Nashville elementary school, episcopal school Nashville, Nashville elementary education, Pre-K, Kindergarten, First Grade, Second Grade, Third Grade, Fourth Grade, Fifth Grade, Sixth Grade, Seventh Grade, Middle School, elementary school, independent school, private school, Christian school

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ESN Curriculum Guide 2022-2023

VISION

To shape students who are intellectually, spiritually, and responsibly engaged with the place, community, and world they call home.

MISSION

The Episcopal School of Nashville, a diverse, urban independent school, is dedicated to nurturing the joy of learning and the spirit of discovery in each of its students.

CORE VALUES

Citizenship, Community, Compassion, Creativity,
Diversity, Integrity, Love of Learning, Spirituality

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CATECHESIS OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD

EARLY CHILDHOOD OVERVIEW

PRE-KINDERGARTEN

KINDERGARTEN

LOWER SCHOOL OVERVIEW

MIDDLE SCHOOL OVERVIEW

SIXTH GRADE CORE CURRICULUM

SEVENTH GRADE CORE CURRICULUM

EIGHTH GRADE CORE CURRICULUM

ENRICHMENTS AND ELECTIVES

ART

COMPUTER PROGRAMMING

PUBLIC SPEAKING AND DEBATE

EPISCOPAL IDENTITY

OVERVIEW

The Episcopal School of Nashville is proud to be a member of NAES, the National Association of Episcopal Schools. NAES schools generally share the following characteristics:

They are established not solely as communities for Christians but as ecumenical and diverse ministries of educational and human formation for people of all faiths and backgrounds, including Episcopalians and non-Episcopalians, Christians and non-Christians, and people of no faith tradition.
They welcome a rich variety of human beings, from increasingly diverse religious, cultural, and economic backgrounds. In fact, the intentional pluralism of most Episcopal schools is a hallmark of their missions.
They seek to integrate religious and spiritual formation into the overall curriculum and life of each school community.
They exist not merely to educate, but to demonstrate and proclaim the unique worth and beauty of all human beings as creations of a loving, empowering God.

Episcopal School of Nashville is founded by people who believe that serving others is an integral part of our lives and our service to God. As such we find God in and through each other.

Diversity, inclusiveness, and a sense of community are vitally important at Episcopal School of Nashville. We know that all persons are special in the eyes of God; therefore we have intentionally cultivated a culture of inclusiveness that values each student’s uniqueness and celebrates differences as a reflection of our Episcopal Identity. We welcome the intellectual, spiritual, physical, and financial contributions of people of all faiths as we seek to uplift the values that unite us.

In practice, these principles and ideals are expressed through:

School Worship that is creative, inclusive, draws fully upon the liturgical resources of the Episcopal Church and is a regular part of school life for all faculty and students.
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd with Pre-K through first grade students.
Community Life, in which reflection, prayer, and matters of the spirit are honored and cultivated and the physical, mental, and emotional health of all are supported and nurtured.
Religious Formation and Study that is meaningful, academically substantive, and age-appropriate; and in teaching the Christian tradition, fosters dialogue with other faith traditions.
Social Justice, which is the integration of the ideals and concepts of equity, justice, and a just society throughout the life of the school; the embracing and honoring of diversity; and the inclusion of community service and service-learning as an integral part of the life of the school.

By weaving these principles into the very fabric of the school’s overall life, Episcopal schools ensure that their missions are built on the sure foundation of a Christian love that guides and challenges all who attend our schools to build lives of genuine meaning, purpose, and service in the world they will inherit.

CHAPEL PROGRAM

Chapel is integral to who we are as a school community. While Chapel incorporates liturgical elements that are distinctly Episcopal, the overall goal is to give every student the opportunity to support and explore his/her own spiritual development. We will not seek to convert others; rather, we will encourage others to have a faith that builds and grows over a lifetime. Remembering that we are all on spiritual journeys, we will join with students and families as we learn and grow together.

Episcopal School of Nashville students participate in an all-school chapel each Friday, where you can observe joyful music, student leadership and participation, an Episcopal liturgy, and messages of hope for humanity. Guests are welcome to attend, too. Each Monday, students participate in divisional chapels (Early Childhood, Lower School, and Middle School).

CATECHESIS OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program is a beautiful Montessori-based method that embraces the relationship of the child and God and encourages us to come alongside the child as they wonder and discover more about the Good Shepherd.

The philosophy of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program is that even very young children have a religious life, that God is present to them in their deepest being, and they are capable of developing both a conscious and intimate relationship with God. We provide guidance and vocabulary to enable them to become aware of their relationship with God and to express it. Classes are structured to offer a time of prayer and song, a time for the “presentation” and a time for individual work by the child. The work of the child is their prayer and is the most important part of the class.

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is the approach to the Christian formation of children the Cathedral employs on Sunday mornings. This program is used worldwide and based on the work of Dr. Sofia Cavalletti, a Hebrew scholar, and her co-worker, Gianna Gobbi, a Montessori educator.

Children are grouped by age or grade level and attend class in specially prepared rooms called “atria.” An atrium contains attractively displayed handmade materials that are designed to invite children to deepen their relationship with God at their own pace. The program is biblically based and follows the rhythms of the church year. Based on the conviction that God and the child are in a relationship, the program focuses on the specific needs of the child.

Students in PreK, Kindergarten and first grade participate in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program.

OLD TESTAMENT

*Sixth grade only

In Sixth grade, we study the Hebrew scriptures (Old Testament), putting particular emphasis on building familiarity with the major stories, characters, and the cultural and historical context of the period in which these sacred writings were written and compiled.

NEW TESTAMENT

*Seventh grade only

In Seventh grade, the focus is on the Christian scriptures (New Testament). In the first half of the year, we study selected stories of the life of Jesus of Nazareth in the gospel narratives. The history and growth of the first century Church and its theological and ethical development under Roman rule comprise the second half of the course.

WORLD RELIGIONS

*Eighth grade only

Eighth grade studies World Religions. We focus on the five major world religions (in terms of popularity and influence): Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and Judaism, familiarizing ourselves with the history and basic beliefs of all. Attention is also paid to lesser-known traditions such as Taoism, Shintoism, the religions of the world’s indigenous peoples, and agnosticism and atheism. Students will prepare an end of the year capstone project (an oral presentation) sharing research on a religion of their choice.

TECHNOLOGY

At the Episcopal School of Nashville, we view technology as a tool to accomplish academic objectives and enhance learning. Technology is not the goal.

Every classroom from K through second grade has iPads for student use. Teachers use those devices to enhance their instruction and give students opportunities to express themselves.

In third through eighth grades, each student is issued a Chromebook for use throughout the school year. Students use them to complete and turn in assignments, do research, communicate, keep track of their grades and create unique digital content. We use Google-Suite and each student in third grade and up has an account that they can access at School through the ESN wifi (which has a built-in firewall to restrict access to inappropriate content).

LEARNING SUPPORT

The Learning support program offers services for students in Kindergarten through Eighth Grade. This service allows students to receive assistance in their academic classes, and supports teachers in meeting the needs of all learners. It includes pre-teaching, re-teaching, and breaking down concepts into smaller pieces that are easier to understand. All qualifying students receive an Individualized Learning Plan (ILP), which outlines all relevant background information, end of the year and mid-year goals, an intervention plan, classroom accommodations, and recommendations for home support. Students qualify for an ILP if they have already had an outside psychoeducational evaluation completed. Students are supported both through pull out small group instruction, and through in-class assistance from the learning specialist. All literacy intervention is rooted in the Science of Reading, using programs such as Wilson and Orton-Gillingham. All math intervention is aligned to the grade level curriculum: Math In Focus in 1st and 2nd grade, Eureka Math in 3rd-5th grade, and Connected Mathematics Project in 6th-8th grades. Students may be referred for learning lab support in two ways: 1) the student receives an psychoeducational evaluation which outlines the need for additional intervention 2) the student’s class assessments show a need for intervention.

EARLY CHILDHOOD OVERVIEW

As child psychologist Jean Piaget said, “Play is the work of children.” At ESN, play is the core of our Early Childhood curriculum. Meaningful play develops cognitive, linguistic and social development while increasing creativity and divergent thinking. Through inquiry and hands-on exploration, PreK and Kindergarten students are encouraged to partner in their education by expressing their interests and questions while investigating and learning through all of their senses.

PRE-KINDERGARTEN

The Pre-Kindergarten (Pre-K) at ESN is a play-based program. Our classrooms provide a setting for students to learn through hands-on exploration. Pre-K is a lively place where children learn by doing, sharing, and experiencing. Our program helps set a strong foundation for the skills they will need in the next stage of their educational journey with a balance of both teacher led and student initiated learning. The classrooms have been intentionally designed to support values of joyful play, discovery, creativity, and curiosity. They offer rich centers for investigation and self-initiated engagement in science, math, literacy, creative arts, and dramatic play. We utilize the Learning Without Tears curriculum, and regularly conduct cooking activities and science experiments. Students attend weekly division and all school chapel, atrium (Catechesis of the Good Shepherd), music, art, yoga, and urban gardening lessons.

LANGUAGE ARTS

Develops a love for children’s literature through class read alouds, mystery readers, and our reading buddy program
Investigates language through the study of letters, letter sounds, and rhyming
Encourages participation in writing and pre-writing techniques using Handwriting Without Tears curriculum and activities specifically planned to strengthen fine motor skills

MATH

Explores geometric shapes and spatial relationships to create and build objects
Compares objects by length, size, and height
Introduces numbers 1-20
Builds 1:1 correspondence and counting skills
Practices sorting, comparison, and patterning skills

DISCOVERY AND PLAY

Explores science and nature through outdoor play
Provides hands-on activities through weekly gardening classes to develop a respect for living things
Participates in fantasy and constructive games with rules and gross motor play

SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Creates relationships with peers to develop empathy, happiness, and self-worth
Builds interpersonal skills of cooperation, collaboration, and problem solving
Strives to increase independence and self-help skills
Teaches perseverance in challenging situations
Supports language development with peers and teachers

KINDERGARTEN

Kindergarten at ESN continues the play-based learning approach of our Pre-Kindergarten classrooms. We structure our school day to encourage inquiry, exploration and discovery. Whole group activities promote both foundational skills and social-emotional learning. Small group instruction during the academic blocks allows for differentiation and opportunities to challenge and enrich students at their individualized developmental level. Free-choice opportunities encourage students’ interests and curiosities with unique spaces such as the light table, the tinkering station, and sensory table explorations. We extend our classroom walls to the outdoors with our playground, sand kitchen area, and water or messy play in the outdoor sensory table. We also take advantage of our urban neighborhood with frequent nature walks. Keeping raincoats and rainboots at school allows us to be ready to play in nearly any kind of weather! Throughout the week, Kindergarten students have opportunities outside of the classroom to explore concentrated activities such as art, music, urban gardening, yoga, library, and atrium (Catechesis of the Good Shepherd). We celebrate our Episcopal identity through weekly divisional and all school chapel services.

In small group settings we focus on introducing skills in a joyful, playful classroom where children are encouraged to become curious, observant, and confident learners. We strive for our students to see themselves as readers and writers, mathematicians, scientists and gardeners, and valued members of their home and school community.

LANGUAGE ARTS

Develops phonemic awareness and pre-reading strategies through a multi-sensory approach
Reads to develop fluency, expression, and confidence
Retells story elements such as events, characters, and settings of a story and responds to make meaningful connections to those elements
Uses a variety of prewriting and writing strategies to develop clear, legible manuscript
Writes in meaningful ways to support an opinion, provide information, or tell a story with corresponding pictures

MATH

Understands, recognizes and models numbers to 100 in various representations using Singapore Math Curriculum
Counts to 100 by ones, fives, and tens
Works with numbers 11-20 to gain foundations for place value
Identifies and describes 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional shapes
Understands addition concepts as “putting together” and uses various strategies to model addition
Understands subtraction concepts as “taking away” and uses various strategies to model subtraction
Knows a variety of measurement concepts and utilizes both standard and non-standard units of measurement

SCIENCE:

Explores and observes the environment using the five senses
Investigates the basic needs of plants and animals
Actively engages with plant life stages through weekly hands-on Gardening classes
Observes and classifies daily and seasonal weather patterns and changes
Explores how sunlight warms the Earth’s surface
Investigates how forces of motion affect the movement of objects

SOCIAL STUDIES:

Explores and respects culture, traditions, and customs within families
Investigates “Who am I” and “Who is My Family” within our school community

LOWER SCHOOL OVERVIEW

Students’ days are filled with exploring, creating, and joyful learning. Each class meets in the morning as a group to build community and social-emotional skills before beginning academic work. Our teachers foster independent thinking, problem solving, and self-expression. We provide a foundation of high academic achievement through our curriculums and intentional differentiation. Episcopal School of Nashville’s Lower School is full of engaging, thought-provoking activities that help to educate the whole child and give them a strong foundation for a lifetime of learning.

FIRST GRADE

Building community and social and emotional awareness frames every moment of the day as first graders learn and play together. Students are encouraged to ask questions, explore, and bring new ideas to the learning community through collaboration and meaningful discussion. Our first graders learn reading skills with a balanced literacy approach that is embedded into all subjects. The primary phonics program we use is Fundations, helping kids explore reading skills through a hands-on approach. Each student receives individualized support for reading growth through collaborative and small group learning. Students explore writing topics in a workshop model and enjoy collaborating to build authentic writing skills. This developmentally appropriate approach allows for students to have freedom to write what they are passionate about while practicing important foundational skills. Math time is similarly collaborative and hands-on, with students discussing and exploring concepts to build a flexible, deep understanding of mathematics that is also relatable and applicable to the real world. Students also hone their social and collaborative skills through science, social studies and spiritual growth throughout the year.

LANGUAGE ARTS

Develops a love of reading
Continues the development of phonemic awareness and fluency skills through a hands on approach
Develops vocabulary through weekly book studies that provide students a meaningful context of the words
Examines both fiction and nonfiction texts when reading aloud and independently to gain understanding and appreciation using comprehension strategies
Builds on the Kindergarten foundations to dig deeper and make text to self, text to world, and text to text connections.
Begins to develop a sense of student’s own voice and creativity through the use of descriptive language and sentence structure
Develops strategies for spelling

MATH

Develops their foundational number sense
Represents and solves problems involving addition and subtraction
Counts to 120 by 2’s, 5’s, and 10’s
Adds and subtracts within 20
Counts on from any number within 120
Understands place value and begins to use it to solve addition and subtraction problems
Measures length through both standard and nonstandard units
Tells and writes time using an analog and digital clock
Represents and interprets data through graphing
Identifies and describes attributes of two-dimensional and three-dimensional shapes
Identifies coins and their value

SOCIAL STUDIES

Explores and develops appreciation of cultural traditions through comparison and connection
Develops an understanding of “Community,” “My Community,” and “How Do I Impact My Community?”

SCIENCE

Develops their understanding of the scientific process through observation and hands on experiments in three units of study
Investigates animal and plant traits and their unique survival methods
Explores the patterns of day and night
Investigates light and sound waves

SECOND GRADE

Our second grade students spend their day immersed in differentiated instruction and hands-on activities. Their awareness of the classroom and school community is growing, so we focus on respect, resilience, and independence. Throughout the year, students will be introduced to and master a variety of academic skills. Our students love teaching each other math techniques, reading to a partner, working in student-led small groups to analyze books and poetry, and daily story writing. Monthly artist studies (coordinated with the school’s art program) are unique to the second grade curriculum. The class spends time each week researching an artist, recreating their work, and writing an artist biography, culminating in an end-of-year art show. We believe that learning happens not just through listening, but through games, discussion, modeling, reading, drawing, and movement.

LANGUAGE ARTS

Explores and comprehends multiple genres
Identifies main idea and details, determines cause and effect in literature, explores author’s purpose, determines sequence of events, makes inferences, and considers character traits when reading
Grows as an independent reader by practicing reading fluency and expression
Builds strategies for generating writing ideas
Writes within a variety of genres (narrative, informational, persuasive/opinion, poetry)
Uses proper mechanics in writing
Understands and effectively uses the basic parts of speech
Studies word patterns and applies them in writing
Increases phonics and vocabulary through daily practice
Studies an artist each month and writes a nonfiction piece on the artist

MATH

Demonstrates perseverance and critical thinking skills while problem solving
Communicates mathematical ideas clearly and logically
Adds and subtracts within 20 fluently
Fluently add and subtract within 100 using strategies based on place value, properties of operations, and/or the relationship between addition and subtraction
Adds and subtracts using regrouping
Works with equal groups of objects to gain foundations for multiplication and division
Measures and estimates length in metric and standard units.
Counts money and solves problems involving money
Demonstrates an understanding of fractions
Tells time and solves problems involving time using hands-on activities
Demonstrates an understanding of geometry
Represents and interprets data through graphing

SCIENCE

Asks questions, analyzes data, makes observations, and communicates findings and solutions
Uses a drawing or model to illustrate a concept, represent a relationship, or solve a problem
Reads non-fiction books on life science topics
Compare and contrast animal habitats, life cycles, and environments
Differentiate between facts and opinions

SOCIAL STUDIES

Demonstrates how to read/use a timeline
Explores a variety of cultures and their traditions
Understands the importance of community
Develops mapping skills

THIRD GRADE

Third grade students spend their day immersed in engaging lessons and activities as they become independent and responsible learners. Reading and writing instruction is integrated with social studies and science through a variety of projects. These projects encourage learners to ask questions, research, create, write, and collaborate. Daily literacy lessons provide students with meaningful and engaging activities that provide opportunities to increase vocabulary, discuss ideas, make connections, and grow as learners. Math instruction encourages conceptual understanding and real-world application. In third grade, there is a focus on the importance of respect, persistence, and critical thinking about the community and world around them.

LANGUAGE ARTS

Explores a variety of genres
Reads and discusses selected literature as a class and in small groups that supports Science and Social Studies content
Builds fluency, strengthens comprehension, and develops confidence as a reader
Builds vocabulary, both content-specific and everyday language
Identifies key ideas and details, determines meaning through text and illustrations, analyzes characters, determines central message, and identifies author’s point of view when reading
Compares and contrasts a variety of stories and texts with similar content
Writes within a variety of genres (narrative, informational, persuasive/opinion, poetry)
Develops strategies for generating writing ideas
Learns how to use well-written paragraphs in writing with topic sentences and supporting details
Uses proper mechanics in writing
Understands and effectively uses the basic parts of speech
Studies word patterns and applies them in writing

MATH

Fluently adds and subtracts within 1,000
Represents and solves problems involving multiplication and division
Understands properties of multiplication and the relationship between multiplication and division
Multiplies and divides within 100
Solves two step word problems involving the four operations
Uses place value understanding to round whole numbers to the nearest 10 or 100, add and subtract, and multiply and divide whole numbers
Recognizes equivalent fractions, represents fractions on a numberline, expresses whole numbers as fractions, and compares fractions with the same numerators or denominators.
Tells and writes time to the nearest minute
Measures and estimates liquid volume and masses
Understands concepts of area and perimeter
Represents and interprets data in multiple formats

SCIENCE

Understands the scientific process through observations and experiments
Investigates ocean habitats and interactions
Describes how living organisms depend on each other for survival
Describes animal adaptations that help them live in different environments
Develops an understanding of the geological features of the earth
Collects and records weather data and draws conclusions based on weather patterns
Investigates air pressure, wind, and the water cycle
Understands the solar system and Earth’s relationship with other planets and bodies in the solar system
Understands that objects in the sky have patterns of movement
Understands that most objects in the solar system are in regular and predictable motion
Explores recycling and describes the need for renewable resources

SOCIAL STUDIES

Understands concepts of city, state, and country
Makes connections about people, places, and events throughout history
Researches presidents, inventors, and other American leaders
Gains an understanding of westward expansion, immigration, the Civil Rights Movement, and Native American cultures in North America
Engages in a community service project to positively impact the Nashville community

FOURTH GRADE

Fourth grade is focused on responsibility, independence and choices. Students are encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning which fosters independence, and there are many opportunities for making choices. Through student-led projects, students research topics of interest, gain deeper knowledge and share their knowledge with peers through presentations and projects. Throughout the curriculum students are engaged in a variety of ways to satisfy their natural curiosity: through novel studies in English, solving real world word problems in Math, hands-on experimentation in Science, research projects in Social Studies, and a year-long cursive handwriting program. Technology is used to deepen student knowledge through research, to record science data, practice math skills, learn coding skills and more.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS

Reads for a variety of purposes while exploring a variety of genres
Explores literature as an expression and record of human experience and thought
Applies the skills of a good reader including clarifying, questioning, connecting, summarizing, predicting, and inferring
Uses nonfiction sources to understand text features and make meaning from text, understands opinions and facts, draws conclusions, and questions
Studies character, setting, and plot
Writes effectively for a variety of purposes and audiences
Uses the writing process to create meaningful text in a variety of modes: expository, narrative, persuasive, and poetry
Develops content, organization, style, and conventions to proofread, edit, and refine writing
Accesses, selects, evaluates, and effectively uses information from a variety of sources
Communicates effectively, listens critically, and responds appropriately in a variety of situations
Engages effectively in a wide range of collaborative discussions with diverse partners building on others’ ideas while clearly expressing their own

MATH

Uses the four operations with whole numbers to solve problems
Generalizes place value understanding for multi-digit whole numbers less than or equal to 1,000,000
Gains familiarity with factors and multiples
Uses place value understanding and properties of operations to perform multi-digit arithmetic
Solves problems involving measurement and conversion of measurements from a larger unit to a smaller unit
Geometric measurement: understand concepts of angle and measure angles
Generates and analyzes patterns
Extends understanding of fraction equivalence and ordering
Generates and analyzes patterns
Builds fractions from unit fractions by applying and extending previous understandings of operations on whole numbers
Understands decimal notation for fractions, and compare decimal fractions

SCIENCE

In fourth grade students begin building and revising knowledge about the natural world based on evidence in a collaborative and equitable culture. We work together in the same ways that scientists do to figure out interesting phenomena and solve design problems we encounter in our everyday lives. We seek out innovative curriculum to field test with local and national research partners and citizen science projects to participate in. Topics of study have included:

Energy transformation
Waves and ocean structures
Stormwater engineering
Earth’s changing surface

SOCIAL STUDIES

Includes research, reading, writing, discussing and student-led projects and presentations.

Regions of the United States
Growth and the Civil War
Reading maps and globes
How our government works
The nation’s economy

FIFTH GRADE

Fifth Grade marks a significant turning point in a child’s academic journey. In Fifth Grade, students show an increased sense of self and responsibility for their learning as they transition into more in-depth exploration of subject-area concepts. Fifth graders learn how to manage time and academic expectations, identify their own learning styles, and dive deeper into their own academic interests through project based learning on topics of their choosing. For example, if a student is learning a certain topic, they may choose to share what they have learned by writing a song, creating a diorama, or presenting a research paper. If the student gets to create something in which they are interested, they will have a deeper understanding and gain more knowledge on that particular subject. Fifth graders, as lifelong learners and problem solvers, are expected to be active and critical thinkers, work cooperatively with their peers, and continue to develop their academic stamina in preparation for Middle School. As the leaders of the Lower School, Fifth graders will have access to different enrichment/elective options and they will have opportunities to lead Lower School assemblies, take charge of projects, and more.

LANGUAGE ARTS

Explores a variety of genres through different book studies during the year, as well as a Poetry Cafe
Reads with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support grade level comprehension, as well as reading with purpose
Determines a theme and compares and contrasts stories in the same genre.
Uses knowledge of language and its conventions, as well as determines the meaning of unfamiliar words from a range of strategies
Produces clear writing to inform, support an opinion, and to share a narrative

MATH

Understands the place value system
Performs operations with multi-digit whole numbers and with decimals to hundredths
Converts like measurement units within a given measurement system
Writes and interpret numerical expressions
Applies and extend previous understandings of multiplication and division to multiply and divide fractions
Represents and interprets data
Applies and extends previous understandings of multiplication and division to multiply and divide fractions
Geometric measurement: understand concepts of volume and relate volume to multiplication and to addition
Classifies two-dimensional figures into categories based on their properties.
Analyzes patterns and relationships
Graphs points on the coordinate plane to solve real-world and mathematical problems

SCIENCE

Students focus on the understanding that science builds coherently
Investigates what happens to our garbage with the key concepts gained relating to the particle nature of matter and gas, observations of the weight of the garbage materials, conservation of weight of matter, on chemical reactions, and decomposers in the environment
Explores, using models, that the organisms in an ecosystem are interrelated with each other and physical components of the ecosystem. Key concepts gained relate to interdependent relationships in ecosystems, plants and energy, ecosystems and the cycle of matter and energy in ecosystems, and human impacts on ecosystems
Examines Earth systems: geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere. A blind taste test comparing tap water and bottled water leads to identifying the properties of the tap water and bottled water with students’ questioning the sources of the tap water and bottled water. Models are developed to use as a thinking tool to describe the interaction of the hydrosphere with the geosystem. Key concepts gained relate to Earth materials and systems, the roles of water in Earth’s surface processes, human impacts on Earth systems, defining and delimiting engineering problems, developing possible solutions, and optimizing the design solution
Analyzes and creates models to explain falling stars. Key concepts gained relate to the structure and properties of matter, the universe and its stars, Earth and the solar system, and types of interactions

SOCIAL STUDIES

Understands a variety of primary and secondary resources to communicate arguments, organize data, and develop historical awareness
Develops geographical awareness
Gains an understanding of Industrialization, the Gilded Age, and the Progressive Era
Examines and summarizes the events from World War One and World War Two and America post war and the Civil Rights Movement
Explores early Tennessee and into Statehood.

MIDDLE SCHOOL OVERVIEW

Middle School is an important milestone in a student’s life. It is a time when they are transitioning out of elementary school into young adulthood, and are maturing intellectually, spiritually, social-emotionally, and physically. These Middle School years often shape a student’s beliefs and perspectives about themselves, their communities, and the world around them. Using the city as an extension of our classroom, our Middle School Program at ESN nurtures, inspires, and guides students in Grades 6-8 through this important time in their lives.

Our Advisory Program and Office Hours provide a daily touch point for students to connect, collaborate and build a safe community with their peers, as well as practice organizational and problem-solving skills, with support from a trusted Faculty Advisor. Office Hours is a 20 minute block at the end of each day where students can ask questions of faculty members, start their homework, and/or work independently. Our Advisory Program is informed by the Developmental Design Framework, which is an SEL approach that emphasizes both the academic and social needs of adolescents, and provides structures for teaching to the whole child so each student can reach their full academic potential, rather than be limited by the social and emotional realities of adolescence.

Our core academics, specials and elective classes focus on building exposure and practice around 21st century skills, such as critical inquiry and analysis, collaboration, creativity, and curiosity, alongside subject-specific content knowledge. Our low student-to-teacher ratio allows us to provide individualized instruction to meet students where they are, in addition to utilizing interdisciplinary approaches to solving real-world problems. Middle School teachers collaborate to design rigorous and meaningful learning opportunities for students daily, in order to help students move towards independence in their learning and develop into thoughtful, engaged active community members.

Clubs provide another outlet for students to practice channeling their ideas into action and hone leadership skills, through identifying and steering school-wide improvement projects. For the 2022-2023 School Year, students have a choice between Student Leadership Council (SLC) and Journalism Club, where they have a space to work democratically and collaboratively with peers, faculty and administration to lead change initiatives and build community.

Additionally, students and faculty work in partnership with community members to provide meaningful application of course skills and content. Community Partnerships have included growing produce to take to the Nashville Farmers Market, building our own bikes with Oasis Center, developing equitable neighborhood designs and public art with Civic Design Center, organizing supplies and resources for There with Care, designing and building new urban garden beds with Nashville Food Project, exploring different musical histories with artists and musicians from NMAAM, drumming with Global Education Center, and creating and producing our own songs with Home for Music. These relationships help us continue to future our mission as a diverse, urban independent school and utilize the “city as our classroom” to inspire the next generation of thinkers and change-makers.

English Language Arts

A typical day in Middle School ELA relies on the study of literature as the foundational jumping off point. Across the grade levels, students, sitting in a circle of desks, learn to speculate and wonder about the impact of language and the role of stories in shaping how we understand our world. The literature is selected with an eye for introducing students to a wide range of voices and genres. Culminating assessments are typically project-based and ask students to apply what they have learned from the literature to answer central questions like “Can loyalty be destructive?” or “What would a perfect society look like and why haven’t we gotten there?” Whenever possible, students are also encouraged to connect the themes of ELA to other academic disciplines or to current issues they observe in our local, national, and global communities.

Mathematics

The goal of the math program in the middle school at ESN is to develop each individual student’s problem-solving skills, communicate mathematical concepts effectively, develop reasoning and collaboration skills, and grow in their passion for learning. Students work with real-world problem sets and projects that allow them to develop thoughtful understandings of numeracy, algebra, geometry, probability, and data analysis. The classroom is a lively, student-centered environment where students engage in rich mathematics to discover patterns and the “Why?”behind the mathematics. Students gain a conceptual understanding of complex mathematical ideas, procedural skills and fluency, and the ability to apply mathematics to solve unique and unfamiliar problems. The approach allows students to develop skills in a wide range of mathematical situations while developing confidence as joyful mathematicians.

Science

Middle school science at ESN begins and ends with a sense of awe and wonder. Students encounter strange phenomena and tricky problems that they work together to explain and solve using the practices of science and engineering. The focus is on putting the answers they find to their own questions together in a coherent way. The process is inquiry based and hands-on throughout with many connections to students’ other academic and elective classes. Our program is built around the three dimensions of science learning outlined in the Next Generation Science Standards.

Social Studies

Social Studies at ESN is designed to help students become thoughtful, engaged citizens, who can understand both current and historical events from multiple perspectives. The social studies curriculum explores a combination of American and World History, with an emphasis on highlighting indigenous voices and stories, to inspire students’ curiosity about the world around them, build historical context and background knowledge, develop research, skills, writing and critical thinking skills, learning to follow their interests, and engaging in critical analysis or current events. Through hands-on projects, integrated research units, and field trips/community engagement, we’ll explore how history has shaped the world we live in as we strive to be the most inclusive, thoughtful and engaged citizens we can be.

Spanish

ESN Middle School students are introduced to the Spanish language against the backdrop of a big, beautiful world waiting to be explored. As they begin to learn the third most widely spoken language in the world, they also learn in the process an appreciation for other cultures and other worldviews. Language acquisition is viewed as an important life skill in a shrinking 21st century world. It is also seen as a part of a whole, integrated not only with the other disciplines taught at ESN, but also applicable to all aspects of daily life. Spanish at ESN uses the national curriculum called ¡Avancemos! as the skeletal framework and structure for all grades. This is a comprehensive curriculum that aligns to the ethos and goals, including introducing students to some of the various cultures that make up the Spanish-speaking world. Additional enrichment resources, such as music and cultural traditions, are occasionally introduced at the instructor’s discretion.

These core skills align with the Tennessee State Board of Education lays out in its norms for World Language, i.e. “the standards that establish a link between communication and culture, which is applied in making connections and comparisons and in using this competence to be part of local and global communities.”

SIXTH GRADE CORE CURRICULUM

Sixth Grade English Language Arts

The transition into a Middle School ELA classroom is marked by a shift in focus beyond simply identifying the main elements of a story, moving instead towards nurturing the ability to discuss the significance of a text and how an author’s use of language enhances a text’s meaning. The sixth grade students learn to make inferences, look for character change and development, and identify tone and figurative language. These new skills are supported by guided annotations, group reading, and class discussions. Accordingly, the study of literature serves as the foundation of all of our skill building in the sixth grade. Through an examination of texts such as Island of the Blue Dolphins and Brown Girl Dreaming, the students learn how to read critically, identify and evaluate important language from the text, find their academic voice in class discussions, and begin to generate more formal written reflections. This exploration of literature is complemented by a text-based study of vocabulary. Students define and practice using words in context and then build towards incorporating these words into their own speech and writing. Finally, the sixth grade also engages in the study of basic sentence structures, parts of speech, and the fundamental rules of punctuation, all in the service of helping them to become better readers, writers, and thinkers.

Sixth Grade Math

Mathematics in the sixth grade is built to strengthen the skills learned in the lower school (place value, multiplication and division, fraction, decimals, percents) while introducing more complex problem solving and pre-algebra concepts. The curriculum covers a wide variety of topics including ratios, proportions, integers, percents, fractions, decimals, and an introduction to algebraic thinking. The content is designed to lay the foundation for future math studies beyond Middle School. Students work both in cooperative groups and individually while using problem sets and hands-on activities to engage the material. Students are encouraged to take risks and boldly attempt to solve problems with strategies that are being developed. Algebraic thinking is introduced using real life activities and data.

Sixth Grade Science

Using the OpenSciEd curriculum, students study the following topics:

Light & Matter: Why do we sometimes see different things when looking at the same object?
Thermal Energy: How can containers keep stuff from warming up or cooling down?
Weather, Climate & Water Cycling: Why does a lot of rain, hail, or snow fall at some times and not others?
Plate Tectonics & Rock Cycling: What causes Earth’s surface to change?
Natural Hazards: Where do natural hazards happen and how do we prepare for them?
Cells & Systems: How do living things heal?

Sixth Grade Social Studies

Sixth Grade Social Studies focuses on the geographical, political and technological contributions of Ancient Civilizations and World Geography, ranging from Ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, Islamic World Africa, China, and Japan. Critical thinking is a focus, as students learn about other cultures as a way of understanding themes that connect all human cultures and civilizations. Students practice primary source analysis, developing opinions, and supporting our ideas with evidence, and becoming well-informed global citizens who care about the world we live in.

Sixth Grade Spanish (1A)

Students experience exposure and practice of basic conversational elements structures of the language in different scenarios. Units of study include: Greetings; Introductions; Weather; Simple present tense; Verb conjugation; Responding to classroom instructions; Descriptions of themselves and others; Activities/likes and dislikes; Reflexive; Speaking and Writing 3-5 sentence segments. Core skills include:

Speaking and Comprehension: Priority is given to speaking as much as possible, showing students the value of being able to communicate in another language. As the year progresses, increased expectations around speaking more Spanish and less English occur. Students are not expected to understand everything, nor is this the goal; the purpose is to accustom the students’ ear to the language, so they practice listening comprehension. Daily routines include using the reflexive, practicing using dialogue in different scenarios and using basic conversational commands in Spanish. Differentiated instruction helps to meet a variety of learning styles and needs.

Reading and Writing: In keeping with maintaining high academic standards and preparing students for higher education, attention is also given to reading and writing the language. Students have daily opportunities for practicing writing, responding to prompts, developing dialogue, or writing about themselves. Spanish has one of the most consistent phonetic systems of any language. Once the students learn the basic rules of Spanish phonetics, reading and spelling become more fluid and easy to master.

Grammar: Grammar weaves its way through every core skill in this holistic approach to learning, at times in the form of specific grammar lessons and exercises, other times in reading and writing assignments.

SEVENTH GRADE CORE CURRICULUM

Seventh Grade English Language Arts

Building upon the previous year, the study of literature remains the foundation of the ELA experience in the 7th grade. Through texts such as The Giver and Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, the students tackle questions about latent dangers of perfection, the nature of truth, and the tension between freedom and order. Annotation continues to be a key component of the student-directed study of literature, and these independent observations are shared, investigated, and built upon during student-led, Harkness-style discussions. With the strong foundation that reading and discussing a text provides, the 7th grade writing program utilizes a two-step combination of journaling or “writing-to-think” and drafting formal analytical essays. In the 7th grade year, students begin to master the skills required to generate arguments, organize their thoughts effectively, and to quote and discuss textual evidence, so that they can enter the 8th grade year as skilled and confident essay writers. The 7th graders also study vocabulary in the context of the texts they are reading. Grammar instruction in the 7th grade builds upon the foundation of the year before, moving onto the study of more complex sentence structures, as well as how the incorporation of phrases, clauses, appositives, and other grammatical structures can add sophistication and variety to a student’s written voice.

Seventh Grade Math

The seventh grade math curriculum continues the foundation that was established in sixth grade by helping students to develop more sophisticated techniques in problem-solving and introducing them to the fundamental concepts of algebra. The topics of study include positive and negative numbers, rational numbers, similarity, ratios, linear relationships, and probability. Manipulatives and experiments help students establish a deeper understanding of the material. Cooperative problem-solving continues to develop communication skills as students work with each other on problems requiring critical thinking. The introduction to algebraic thinking is extended by considering the concept of a balanced scale to build algebraic equations.

Seventh Grade Science

Using the OpenSciEd curriculum, students study the following topics:

Chemical Reactions & Matter: How can we make something new that was not there before?
Chemical Reactions & Energy: How can we use chemical reactions to design a solution to a problem?
Metabolic Reactions: How do things inside our bodies work together to make us feel the way we do?
Matter Cycling & Photosynthesis: Where does food come from and where does it go next?
Ecosystem Dynamics: How does changing an ecosystem affect what lives there?
Earth’s Resources & Human Impact: How do changes in the Earth’s system impact our communities and what can we do about it?

Seventh Grade Social Studies

Seventh grade Social Studies continues to build on the development and expansion of the Americas, exploring key developments in American history from Colonization, American Revolution, The Constitution, Manifest Destiny, Sectionalism, The Civil War, and Reconstruction. Students delve deeper into the structure, function and institutions of the United States government, comparing democracy with other forms of government, as a means of better understanding our democratic values and ideals.

Seventh Grade Spanish (1B)

The seventh grade curriculum builds on and expands upon 1A skills and content. Units of study include: Greetings; Verb conjugation; Discussing weather, foods and beverages; Asking questions; Discussing Likes & Dislikes (foods, clothing, activities); Describing family; Expressing possession; Making comparisons; Ordering from a menu; Giving dates; Reflexive; Speaking and Writing 4-6 sentence segments. Core skills include:

EIGHTH GRADE CORE CURRICULUM

Eighth Grade English Language Arts

Still with literature at the core of the course, the 8th graders spend the year working to establish mastery of the close reading of texts, vibrant student-led discussions, and strong analytical writing skills. In preparation for the high school English programs they will enter the following year, the students study a range of classical texts, from The Crucible to To Kill a Mockingbird, that speak to the issues and concerns of today. Students also examine the work of modern poets like Nikki Giovanni and Maya Angelou, as well as contemporary writers like Sherman Alexie and Jason Reynolds. Both grammar and vocabulary are taught in the context of writing. Students learn to identify structural issues such as sentence fragments, lack of parallelism, or agreement mistakes so that they can revise and add clarity to their own writing. Students also begin to discover the ways in which grammar and vocabulary can be used as tools to add artistry and fluidity to their written work. The goal and focus of the 8th grade year is to ensure that we are graduating independent thinkers who can think critically, speak confidently, and write persuasively about the stories we tell and how those stories shape who we are.

Eighth Grade Math

The eighth grade math curriculum is designed to develop algebraic reasoning and understanding while pursuing solutions to engaging problems. The course emphasizes problem-solving and critical thinking skills, preparing students for high school as their independence increases and problem-solving skills become more advanced. Major topics studied include direct and inverse variation, linear relationships, triangular relationships, exponents and exponential growth, quadratic relationships, systems of equations, sequences, and applied mathematics to solve word problems. As with the 6th and 7th grade classes, real world and hands-on activities are emphasized. Students strive to make connections between the mathematics they have studied over the years and other school subjects.

Eighth Grade Science

Using the OpenSciEd curriculum, students study the following topics:

Contact Forces: Why do things sometimes get damaged when they hit each other?
Sound waves: How can sound make something move?
Forces at a distance: How can a magnet move another object without touching it?
Earth in Space: How are we connected to the patterns we see in the sky and space?
Genetics: Why are living things different from one another?
Natural Selection & Common Ancestry: How could things living today be connected to things that lived long ago.

Eighth Grade Social Studies

Eighth grade social studies focused on a chronological survey of American history with emphasis on examining historical contexts of contemporary issues, in addition to diverse and indigenous perspectives and events from our nation’s past. Through independent research, collaborative group work and socratic seminar discussion, students review concepts of government, globalization, equity and access in government, as well as stories of groups that have historically fought against injustice, as we work towards a more nuanced understanding of the U.S. relations to the world.

Eighth Grade Spanish (Spanish 1)

Eighth grade Spanish builds upon Spanish 1A & 1B, focusing on increased expectations around length and frequency of both written and verbal communication. Units of study include: Daily practice with speaking, reading and listening comprehension; Regular Cultural Presentations which include reading, writing and speaking; Preparation for taking Spanish 2 in High School; Speaking and Writing multiple paragraphs. Core skills include:

ENRICHMENTS AND ELECTIVES

Our core academic, specials and elective classes focus on building exposure and practice around 21st century skills, such as critical inquiry and analysis, collaboration, creativity, and curiosity, alongside subject-specific content knowledge. Our low student-to-teacher ratio allows us to provide individualized instruction to meet students where they are, in addition to utilizing interdisciplinary approaches to solving real-world problems. Middle School teachers collaborate to design rigorous and meaningful learning opportunities for students daily, in order to help students move towards independence in their learning and develop into thoughtful, engaged active community members.

ART

The ESN Art curriculum is designed for students to understand the importance of art, and build individual knowledge and skill in various art forms and techniques. Students in each grade are introduced to a variety of art mediums, artists, and subjects to inspire creativity, and discover connections to other academic studies. Students are encouraged to expand their imagination through discovery, observation, and self-expression as they explore the elements of art and observe those elements in nature and in man-made environments.

PreK and Kindergarten Art

Identifies primary/secondary colors and explores how to create secondary colors
Observes texture in relationship to nature and in art
Recognizes, draws, and cuts out shapes
Constructs patterns
Differentiates shape and form
Learns basic drawing skills through guided instruction as well as self-expression when responding to a book, discussion, video, or idea
Recognizes line diversity
Creates artwork with varied materials/techniques: painting, drawing, oil pastels, chalk pastels, colored pencils, paper and objects from nature and recycled materials.

First Grade Art

Reviews and identifies primary and secondary colors
Constructs color wheel
Combines texture and shape with collage
Distinguishes between negative and positive space with shape and space
Experiments and explores form three-dimensionally
Explores two-dimensional and three-dimensional art works
Creates artwork with varied materials/techniques: painting, drawing, oil pastels, colored pencils, markers, crayons, paper, objects from nature and recycled materials.

In the Second and Third Grade art curriculum students are introduced to various art mediums, artists, and a range of subject matter. Students are encouraged to expand their imagination through discovery, observation, and self-expression as they explore the elements of art (line, shape, form, color, texture, value, and space). 2nd grade art curriculum encourages students to generate artistic ideas and artwork that conveys and expresses meaning, introduces different artists on an introductory level, and increases awareness of art in their community and environment.

Second Grade Art

Identifies and creates primary, secondary, tertiary, complimentary, and analogous colors
Demonstrates various styles of two and three-dimensional art
Observes and learns about abstract, impressionistic, realistic art
Creates projects inspired by a variety of classic and contemporary artists
Comprehends the concept of composition
Creates form through drawing/painting
Creates artwork with varied materials and techniques, including: painting, drawing, oil pastels, chalk pastels, colored pencils, printmaking, paper sculpting, found objects in nature, and recycled materials

Third Grade Art

Identifies and creates primary, secondary, tertiary, complimentary, and analogous colors
Explores the elements of art (line, shape, form, color, texture, space, value)
Begins to learn about the principles of design (movement, pattern, emphasis, balance, variety, unity, proportion)
Demonstrates various styles of two and three-dimensional art
Observes and learns about abstract, impressionistic, realistic art
Creates projects inspired by a variety of classic and contemporary artists
Comprehends the concept of composition
Creates form through drawing/painting
Creates artwork with varied materials and techniques, including: painting, drawing, oil pastels, chalk pastels, colored pencils, printmaking, paper sculpting, found objects in nature, and recycled materials.

The Fourth and Fifth Grade art curriculum gives students varied opportunities to create two and three-dimensional art that builds creative skills when producing art. Students are encouraged in whole groups and individually to expand their imagination through discovery, observation, problem solving, and self-expression. Art history, multi-culture art, and integration with academic studies are increased.

Fourth Grade Art

Explores elements of art (shape, color, line, texture, form, space, value)
Explores the principles of design (movement, pattern, emphasis, balance, variety, unity, proportion)
Identifies primary, secondary, tertiary, complementary, and analogous colors
Makes and observes elements of art in nature and man-made environments
Comprehends and analyzes the concept of composition
Creates artwork inspired by contemporary and modern artists
Observes and creates texture in artwork
Experiences the processes of art and mixed media
Creates artwork with varied materials/techniques: Painting, drawing, oil pastels, chalk pastels, colored pencils, printmaking, paper sculpting, found objects in nature, and recycled materials

Fifth Grade Art

Focuses on exploring and increasing growth/skill in implementing the elements of art and the principles of designs into individual and group artworks
Experiences the processes of art production and mixed media
Generates art work with varied materials and techniques in different styles of art inspired by classic and contemporary artists
Increases vocabulary related to the arts and art composition
Introduces drawing of the human figure
Learns how to perceive, analyze and interpret artistic work, relate knowledge and personal experiences to artistic endeavors, and relate artistic ideas/works with societal and cultural context

Middle School Art

The curriculum for Middle School Art allows students to create artwork using a variety of techniques and materials, while developing skills to combine craftsmanship with their concepts. Students are encouraged to draw upon personal interests and self-expression for each project and to develop art that is relevant, meaningful, and reflects personal growth. As an ESN Middle School elective, the art curriculum will focus on a variety of topics and exploration to build creative skills including Drawing, Painting, 3-Dimensional artwork, Mixed Media, Collage, Printmaking, and the principles of Design. This class accommodates and fosters all skill levels, and prepares students for further exploration and studies in Art. Students will learn more about how to perceive, analyze and interpret artistic work, relate knowledge and personal experiences to artistic endeavors, and relate artistic ideas/works with societal and cultural context.

COMPUTER PROGRAMMING

Third Grade Computer Programming

Students are introduced to the concepts of computer programming through the block-based visual programming language Scratch. With colorful sprites and backdrops, students begin their coding journeys by learning how to move around sprites and make them communicate with each other through the various coding blocks. By writing simple stories, our students begin learning how to write procedural code in a colorful, adventure-filled setting. Later, students are introduced to the logic that underpins computational thinking. Concepts such as variables, conditional statements, and programming loops are introduced under the guise of crafting simple video games. By the end of the year, our third graders will have mastered a number of techniques to create interactive programs.

Fourth Grade Computer Programming

Students start learning text-based programming. Using a web-based application called Trinket, students are introduced to the Python programming language. Unlike Scratch, in which commands are given via colorful virtual building blocks, Python requires that students begin to learn how to write programs using grammar and memorized words that the Python interpreter recognizes. While Python is considered a “high-level” (i.e. more easily human readable) language, the students must work hard to learn the rules that govern text-based programming. Previous ideas such as variables and control are reintroduced with more rigor, and students also begin to explore Boolean logic. Many of the exercises involve a specific Python library called Turtle, which facilitates drawing lines and circles to a console screen. As students learn more and more Python techniques, they will be able to write varied scripts that can generate spirograph-style images, test whether numbers are prime, and rearrange sentences from standard english to pig latin.

Fifth-Eighth Grade Computer Programming

The Middle School Programming curriculum is structured around investigating various programming topics in order to foster a love of computers, logic, and engineering. Students will explore subjects as diverse as investigations of the internet and the technologies that make it all possible, creating simulations of physical processes such as gravitational attraction, and building complex video games that will test students’ abilities to keep track of all the moving parts. Students explore a diverse set of programming and markup languages including Python, Scratch, HTML, CSS, and Javascript. In order to encourage love for the sport, students are given time every class to explore their own projects with teacher guidance. Programming is a wonderful medium for students to learn that the creative and logical aspects of the mind need not live separately from one another.

PUBLIC SPEAKING AND DEBATE

The Public Speaking and Debate elective for students in grades 5-8 is an excellent way to encourage students to break out of their comfort zone and build self-confidence. Speaking out loud to a class or an even larger group of people is difficult for most people at first, but being in this class will encourage students to become comfortable and proficient in using their own voices to communicate more effectively. This is taught using a structured argument process (Debate) that involves formal discourse on a particular topic, often including a moderator and audience. Since debate is a structured argument that includes two sides that speak alternately for and against a particular contention usually based on a topical issue. Students learned that debate participation promotes problem-solving, innovative thinking, and helps them to build links between words and ideas that make concepts more meaningful. Students are taught to synthesize wide bodies of complex information, exercise creativity, and implement different ways of knowing that will be communicated with public speaking and debate!

Builds Self Confidence and Self Awareness
Helps Students discover their inner voice
Teaches the structured process of debate and public speaking
Uses Teamwork, Creativity, Imagination, and Motivation

LIBRARY STUDIES

From the earliest stages of Episcopal School’s development, the school library collection has been a major focus and source of pride within the community. At the core of the library curriculum is developing a love of reading, critical thinking skills and problem solving. We explore our local, national and global communities using resources from our collection and from other primary sources. Starting in Pre K, students visit the library at least once a week, with access to a diverse and well curated selection of books and materials. Early Childhood classes focus on cultivating a love of reading, with weekly storytimes and literacy based activities. In our Lower School, traditional library skill development such as using a dictionary, the Dewey Decimal System and how to conduct research are added to the curriculum. Weekly STEAM activities and project based units are integrated into an exploration of the library collection. Middle school students use the library to work on projects, relax over a game of Scrabble, check out books and have access to independent STEAM project materials weekly. When students matriculate from ESN, they will have gained the tools and skills necessary to continue using information resources responsibly as a part of their academic career.

PreK and Kindergarten

Library Manners
Library Procedures
Authors and Illustrators
Nursery Rhymes
FIction and NonFiction
Fairy Tales
Parts of a Book
ABC Order/First letter

First Grade

Library Manners
Book Care
Library Procedures
Choosing a Just Right Book
Fiction, Non Fiction and Biography books
Poetry
Story Elements
Nonfiction text features
ABC Order/First Letter
Nonfiction organization
Intro to Research
Guided Research

Second Grade

Library Manners
Book Care
Library Procedures
Choosing a Just Right Book
Basic Library Arrangement
ABC Order/Second letter
Intro to Dewey Decimal System
Non Fiction Books and Numerical Order
Intro to Dictionary Skills
Database Introduction

Third Grade

Purpose, Goals, Expectations
Library Procedures
Banned Books
Book Genres
Library OPAC
Book talks
Fables, Myths, Folktales
Note Taking Strategies
Research Project including citations

Fourth Grade

Purpose, Goals, Expectations
Library Procedures
Banned Books Week
Intro to Thesaurus
Fact and Opinion
Book Talks
Note taking Strategies
Understanding and Finding Information
Choosing and Using Information
Digital Citizenship

Fifth Grade

Purpose, Goals and Expectations
Library Procedures
Using Reference Materials
Fact and Opinion
Create and Present Book Talks
Choosing and Using Information
Digital Citizenship
Research Project/Multimedia

Middle School

Purpose, Goals and Expectations
Library Procedures
Copyright
Plagiarism
CIting Resources
Developing Research Questions
Creating a bibliography

MUSIC

The ESN Music Program aims to develop a lifelong enjoyment and appreciation of music. This is achieved through instruction where students can create, play, and explore in a nurturing environment. Our program aligns with the National Standards for Music Education.

Pre-Kindergarten Music

Sings with others
Sings chapel songs
Listens to American Folk music and music from other cultures
Plays handheld instruments such as maracas, egg shakers, hand drums
Echoes rhythmic and melodic patterns
Uses body to explore musical concepts and express emotions
Folk dancing

Kindergarten Music

Sings alone and with others
Sings chapel songs
Listens to American folk music and music from other cultures
Plays handheld percussion and barred instruments
Echoes rhythmic and melodic patterns
Uses of body to explore musical concepts and express emotions
Folk dancing
Maintains steady beat using body percussion or handheld classroom instruments

First Grade Music

Sings in a large group for all-school programs
Sings folk songs and chapel songs
Listens to American folk music and music from other cultures
Echoes and plays rhythmic and melodic ostinato patterns
Engages in creative movement and dances
Reads rhythmic music notation patterns
Plays handheld percussion and barred instruments
Maintains steady beat using body percussion or handheld classroom instruments

Second Grade Music

Sings in large group, small group, and alone
Learns musical form
Evaluates music and identifies likes and dislikes
Expands understanding of music to a broader world
Plays handheld percussion and barred instruments
Learns melodies, accompaniments, and ostinatos
Creates rhythmic and melodic patterns
Engages in creative movement and dances
Reads rhythm and pitch on the musical staff
Plays melodies, accompaniments, and ostinatos
Identifies pitch on the treble clef
Rehearses and refines as a class with the intent to perform

Third Grade Music

Sings in a large group, small group, and alone
Reads music on the treble clef
Evaluates music and identifies likes and dislikes according to different genres, cultures, languages and other criteria
Expands understanding of music to make connections to the local community
Plays classroom instruments for expression of musical elements such as melodic contour, rhythm, dynamics, and form
Creates new melodies by writing them on the staff and collaborating in groups
Engages in creative movement and dancing
Plays ukulele as an accompaniment using 3 chords
Rehearses and refines as a class with the intent to perform

Fourth Grade Music

Sings in a large group, small group, and alone
Reads music on the treble clef
Evaluates music and identifies likes and dislikes according to different genres, culture, languages, and other criteria
Expands understanding of music to make connections to the local community
Plays all classroom instruments for expression of musical elements such as melodic contour, rhythm, dynamics, and form
Creates new melodies by writing them on the staff, collaborating in groups or alone
Engages in creative movement and dancing
Plays ukulele as an accompaniment using 4 chords
Uses staff reading to play xylophones
Rehearses and refines as a class with the intent to perform

Fifth Grade Music

Sings in a large group, small group, and alone
Reads music on the treble clef
Evaluates music and identifies likes and dislikes according to different genres, culture, languages, and other criteria.
Expands understanding of music to make connections to the local community
Plays all classroom instruments for expression of musical elements such as melodic contour, rhythm, dynamics, and form
Creates new melodies by writing them on the staff, collaborating in groups or alone
Engages in creative movement and dancing
Plays ukulele as an accompaniment using 4 or more chords
Uses staff reading to play xylophones
Rehearses and refines as a class with the intent to perform

Middle School Music

Middle schoolers begin to explore more specific offerings in musical arts. They may choose between instrumental music (on the ukulele) or vocal chamber music. In both instrumental and vocal chamber music, students learn to refine performances with expression, appropriate interpretation, and technical accuracy. Students continue to explore many aspects of music, including music history, composition, and improvisation.

Purple Martin Choir

The Purple Martin Choir is ESN’s premier vocal ensemble. Open to grades 3-5, students learn the fundamentals of vocal technique and how to read music. We focus primarily on the enjoyment of ensemble music, however, we have at least one formal performance per semester. Students learn to refine performances with expression, appropriate interpretation, and technical accuracy while developing confidence as a performer.

URBAN GARDENING

Gardening at ESN is an enrichment class for students in the Lower School (grades K-5). Our gardening curriculum focuses on 4 overarching and intersecting goals. (1) The garden is a site that supports science learning in particular and school achievement in general through hands-on activities and garden based literature. (2) Students learn about healthy eating habits and gain knowledge of food systems and foodways by selecting, planting, caring for, harvesting, and eating what they grow. (3) Ecological knowledge and environmentally responsible behaviors are learned and reinforced through practices such as recycling and composting. (4) Positive youth development and social and emotional learning are supported through garden activities as students working together to plan and carry out their own projects in partnership with the natural environment. Students’ social and emotional learning is supported in garden class through connecting with nature, taking time to focus on sensory experiences, and practicing teamwork skills to accomplish tasks together. Students’ physical development is also supported through fine motor tasks like planting seeds or pruning plants and gross motor tasks like digging with a shovel or pushing a wheelbarrow.

Typical activities in garden class include:

Growing, preparing, and eating healthy and delicious food
Planting and caring for plants growing in our garden
Designing and building garden infrastructure like raised beds, pathways to walk on, or a compost bin
Studying related science topics in a hands on way like how seeds work, pollinator interactions, photosynthesis, the water cycle, and decomposition
Working at our table at the East Nashville Farmers Market or taking field trips to local working farms

YOGA

Yoga at ESN seeks to promote a positive outlook of yoga for all students. The classes offer exploration of yogic attitudes and ideas about living well, poses, breath work, meditation practice, and relaxation. The aim is to nourish each student’s connection to their spirit, increasing their personal sense of happiness and wellbeing, as well as their connection to their body, others, and the Earth, more providing groundedness and ease. Through playful yet mindfully aligned practice, students will, over time, learn to be aware of the quality of their own energy and how to regulate it as needed in order to move through life more freely. Strength/stability and flexibility, of body and mind, are nurtured in equal parts. Some information about the traditional roots of yoga, including Sanskrit language and Yoga philosophy will be introduced, not as an alternative, but rather a reinforcement to and compliment of the Christian faith. The in-the-moment needs of students, as much as possible on an individual level, on a given day are always taken into account in the flow of the yoga class.

Pre-K and Kindergarten Yoga classes are a variety of practices, games and stories to increase awareness of the child’s own body and other bodies in space, balance, focus, coordination, strength, cultivating listening skills, as well as the ability to be still.

Lower School Yoga emphasizes similar physical and emotional goals as EC but with a greater depth of exploration so that students can begin to see yoga as a system of practices to uplift body and mind, rather than a simply a catalog of poses or fitness system. Students will be given space and language to explore the function of their own mind, to promote positive mindset and mindful behavior. Through short flows, stories, games, meditation, challenges, Sanskrit study, and discussions, students will gain an understanding of Yoga as both a path and the goal of that path: the state of joyful liberation, experiencing oneself as a well-tuned instrument.

Middle school yoga classes focus on creating ease in the student’s body and mind, offering an experience less about games and more about a consistent practice of postures and meditation strategies that they can benefit from on a regular basis.

Classes include a combination of weekly affirmations, breathing exercises, mindfulness exercises, yoga sequences, pose challenges, yoga-based and social-emotional learning games, and end with a relaxation and closing song or poem. Our yoga classes are playful and engaging and include songs, stories, and games to make yoga fun and accessible for everyone, including our youngest students.

Every week, we do some or all of the following:

A breathing exercise
An affirmation such as, “I can do hard things,” “I am proud of myself for being a hard worker,” “I’m a kind friend,” “I will have a good day,” and “I can find joy.” I’ve taught students that positive affirmations are ways we can think positively, have a positive mindset, and believe in ourselves, like The Little Engine Who Could, which is different from bragging or showing off.
A yoga flow, usually with student leaders, and sometimes with students taking turns, leading one pose at a time to create an original yoga flow.
1 to 3 yoga-based or social-emotional learning games
A guided relaxation
Closing song or poem, which we sing or recite together

ATHLETICS

Episcopal School of Nashville’s athletics program strives to teach students technical skills, sportsmanship, leadership, and perseverance while serving out the mission of the school. Each year, the School fields multiple teams in basketball (winter) and soccer (spring). Cross country and track are also offered in the fall and spring, respectively. Practices, meets, and games will be held off site and will be communicated by the coach.

BASKETBALL

ESN’s basketball season starts in January. Grades for PK – 8. Date, time and cost TBD. Email Ms. Lewis with questions.

CROSS-COUNTRY

ESN Cross Country is back this fall! There is an Elementary School Division for 3rd-5th graders that will run 1 mile. There is a Middle School Division for 6th-8th graders that will run a 2-mile race. ESN will run in the Nashville Youth Athletics league. Meets will start 9/10! If you are interested please fill out the interest form here. Email Ms. Lewis with questions.

SOCCER

ESN’s soccer season will start in the spring. Grades PK-8. Date, time and cost TBD. Email Ms. Lewis with questions.

TRACK

ESN participates in track in the spring. Grades 2-8. Date, time and cost TBD. Email Ms. Lewis with questions.

AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS

ESN offers after school programs that serve as an extension of the school’s mission. We endeavor to offer a variety of activities that align with the needs and interests of our diverse student population while continuing our dedication to nurturing the joy of learning and the spirit of discovery in each student. Each activity will have its own fees and scheduling.

ESN Curriculum Guide 2022-2023

VISION

MISSION

CORE VALUES

EPISCOPAL IDENTITY

OVERVIEW

CHAPEL PROGRAM

CATECHESIS OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD

OLD TESTAMENT

NEW TESTAMENT

WORLD RELIGIONS

TECHNOLOGY

LEARNING SUPPORT

EARLY CHILDHOOD OVERVIEW

PRE-KINDERGARTEN

KINDERGARTEN

LOWER SCHOOL OVERVIEW

FIRST GRADE

SECOND GRADE

THIRD GRADE

FOURTH GRADE

FIFTH GRADE

MIDDLE SCHOOL OVERVIEW

SIXTH GRADE CORE CURRICULUM

SEVENTH GRADE CORE CURRICULUM

EIGHTH GRADE CORE CURRICULUM

ENRICHMENTS AND ELECTIVES

ART

COMPUTER PROGRAMMING

PUBLIC SPEAKING AND DEBATE

LIBRARY STUDIES

MUSIC

YOGA

ATHLETICS

BASKETBALL

CROSS-COUNTRY

SOCCER

TRACK

AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS

CONTACT US

LEARN MORE

AFFILIATIONS