Grades 3-6

A happy, healthy, and active environment awaits every Lower School boy at Landon.

An accomplished scholastic career at Landon begins in the Lower School, where we thoughtfully develop essential critical-thinking skills and social-emotional wellness.

We engage boys in projects and experiences that excite them about their learning, planting a positive perspective on education. Backed by the latest research, we approach every course, activity, and program through the lens of delivering what’s best for boys at this age.

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Curriculum

English

Reading and language arts are essential tools vital to the academic growth of every boy.

We strive to create a print-rich environment that encourages students to explore the world around them through a variety of genres. With direct instruction in phonics, vocabulary building, fluency, and comprehension, Lower School students grow into adept readers.

Boys read in small groups, practice word work, share their thoughts through writing and partner talks, listen to read-alouds, and spend valuable time independently reading.

The curriculum culminates in Grade 6 English, which engages boys in an extensive reading and writing course that follows the thematic approach of the Ancient History Social Studies class.

History

In Grades 3–5 at Landon, boys move from a yearlong study of Maryland to a year exploring global civilizations to a class on U.S. history and world context through the buildup to the Civil War.

Courses incorporate geography, history, hands-on learning and projects, opportunities for discussion on current events, and the practice of essential executive function skills, particularly while undertaking research projects.

In the Grade 6 Ancient History class, students trace the development of civilizations including Egypt, Greece, China, Africa, India, and the Americas. Writing, annotating, public speaking, and study skills are emphasized.

Mathematics

The Lower School uses Math in Focus – a Singapore math program that emphasizes problem solving.

Students learn new skills and concepts as well as how to think about their thinking and explain their thinking. The program in Grades 3–5 begins with manipulatives, moves to visual representations, and then introduces the algorithm. Through direct instruction and hands-on activities, boys explore new concepts and then begin independent practice.

Students in Grade 6, having acquired a facility and competency with numbers and basic operations, are asked to expand their knowledge and develop their understanding of different applications to real-world situations.

Science

The Landon science curriculum integrates scientific knowledge, the scientific method, and extensive writing and presentations.

In the Lower School, students explore aspects of biology, chemistry, and physics through hands-on experiments in the lab and in the field. Boys develop a love and appreciation for nature through the care of classroom pets, growing plants, and other targeted activities. Students also complete investigative STEM engineering design challenges, which includes work with rocketry and Little Bits technology.

Grade 6 Life Science guides students through concepts such as heredity, ecology and the environment, and cell biology. A hallmark is the botany program, including the study of plant biology, hybridization, and gardening.

World Languages

Learning a new language at Landon is fun and exciting for boys.

Students sing songs, play games, and create and present projects to reinforce what they study in class. They hear, read, write, tell, and re-tell stories through a variety of Total Physical Response classroom activities.

Students in Grades 3 and 4 have Spanish twice a week, moving to three times a week in Grade 5. Applied activities include participating in a pen-pal program with a Lower School in Valladolid, Spain, and collaborating with Middle School Spanish classes.

All students in Grade 6 take a world language course, choosing from Chinese, French, Latin, and Spanish. Focus remains on honing aural skills, acquiring vocabulary, and developing accurate use of the language in simple situations.

Applied Technology and Innovation

Applied Technology and Innovation at Landon teaches boys skills necessary to solve complex problems using the developing tools of the modern world.

Digital citizenship, technology ethics, and educational technology are integrated into the curriculum at every grade level. Through in-class instruction, students gain skills in basic computer use, coding, keyboarding, information and media literacy, and research.

Ethics, Service, and Leadership Program

The Lower School Ethics, Service, and Leadership program is grounded in an exploration of Landon’s mission, philosophy, and core values to answer the following key questions:

What does it mean to be a good person? How and why do my actions, no matter how small, impact others?

The ethics curriculum also connects with social-emotional learning and Landon’s focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion, as students learn about themselves and develop empathy for others, especially those whose identities might be different from theirs. The goal of ethics, service, and leadership in the Lower School is to help boys know what a good choice looks like, feel motivated to make the good choice, and have the capacity to follow through with their actions.

Ethics, Service, and Leadership at Landon

Arts

From the very beginning of boys’ Landon experience, they are immersed in studio art, music, and theater.

They draw, paint, and sculpt in the art studio, perform in full-scale theatrical productions, and choose from 12 instruments to play in music courses. As they discover their artistic talents and decide which instruments or techniques they prefer, they begin to view creative expression as a habit and an integral part of their life.

Explore the Arts at Landon

Athletics

Every Landon boy participates in athletics each day.

We believe that physical exercise and team collaboration are essential for boys’ well-being and learning. Landon’s Teacher-Coach-Mentors focus on ensuring every boy achieves healthy development, builds the fundamental skills to grow as an athlete and a teammate, and learns the value of living a healthy life with exercise and time outdoors.

All students take classes in wellness and physical fitness. Interscholastic sports begin in Grade 5.

Explore Landon Athletics

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Growing as engaged learners, passionate artists, and developing athletes.

Boys smile for a photo during their student-led farmers market

From capstone to cornerstone

Grade 6 students dug deep to make their capstone project a student-led success. With fresh ideas sprouting, they've planted the seeds for future Grade 6 classes to grow something even greater.

Lower School
capstone
farmers market
grade 6
matt gaston
sean nolan

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Wendy Lindley works with a student on his amusement park assignment

A ride through the regions

Grade 3 students turned U.S. regions into thrilling amusement parks, blending social studies, math, writing, and STEM in one unforgettable project.

Designed for Boys
Lower School
Shane McBride
Wendy Lindley

Open Popup about A ride through the regions

Landon News delivers in the Lower School

The Landon News Network has transformed Monday mornings in the Lower School. Get the inside scoop from the Bear news team.

DFB
LNN
Landon News Network
Lower School
Micciche