Lower School

In Lower School (Grades 1 – 5) students navigate through academically rigorous, thematic units of study. FIDS encourages questioning and debate, expanded research, and investigation to support and develop the lifelong skill of critical thinking. As students rise through the grades, reading and language arts are increasingly emphasized, encouraging students to express their ideas and understanding of what they have learned and their perception of the world and their needs for the future. Students take part in the writing process throughout the school day, with emphasis focused on grammar development, mechanics, handwriting, and expression. The mathematics program emphasizes practical applications, a grounded understanding of mathematics vocabulary, and the reinforcement of acquired skills. The school strives to promote a genuine interest in history and social studies, and teachers encourage free investigation into ideas and topics. In addition, with a commitment to early world-language instruction, the social studies curriculum is complemented with essential knowledge of various cultures and traditions. The STEM curriculum is introduced and experienced through discovery, project-based learning, group investigations, and independent research. In addition to our own fully equipped STEM lab, Fisher Island serves as an excellent “science lab” in which to investigate the ocean, flora, fauna, and various biomes. The Fisher Island Observatory provides an opportunity for studying the night sky.