A Tour of Pine Brook School
Since 1988 The Pine Brook School has used a thematic approach to curriculum. Rather than segmenting subjects such as reading, writing, math, science and social studies into separate units, we embed them into a broad whole-year theme that is rich enough to provide students with ample research topics and opportunities to acquire new skills and put them to use in a meaningful way.
Within the theme, students can choose their own focus and become actively engaged in their learning. We emphasize research into individual topics, starting at the second grade level, and teachers plan educational experiences that incorporate many different ways of learning.
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Pre-K budding artists show off their Jackson Pollack efforts (some of which can be seen on their smocks). |
Kindergarten students scrutinize a Monarch butterfly on the school grounds. The theme for their grade is "Families," and students explore the butterfly's life cycle with live Monarchs in the classroom. They count and graph the number of days it takes for the butterflies to emerge, and they symbolically connect with Mexican children about migration patterns.
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First-graders on a visit to Chaffich Island. "Water" is the curricular theme that integrates many aspects of the natural environment. Pine Brook students take advantage of local fresh and salt water habitats to learn about the water cycle, seasons and tides. |
Our Reading Buddies program brings upper-grade students into a mentoring role with younger kids, providing a reading role model for first-graders while also strengthening the older students' skills.
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The themes of "Native American" and "Agriculture" alternate during the second and third grades. Students plant an organic garden each spring using Native American agricultural techniques and then harvest their crop in the fall. |
In March, the maple syrup project includes identifying maple trees on the property, carving taps, collecting sap and boiling it to produce maple syrup.
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Students in the fourth and fifth grades study "Connecticut" and "Habitats" alternately, exploring the diversity of our state's environment as well as its history and governmental structure. |
Middle school students examine cancer cells under microscopes at the CuraGen laboratories in Branford, under the instruction of Dr. Bill LaRochelle. Through a combination of teacher-presented material, experts from our community and individual research, students delve into the three Middle School themes: "Immigration to America," "Ancient Cultures,"and "Exploration and Discovery."
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The physical education program emphasizes individual fitness and development as well as cooperative team play.
Lower School classes are designed to teach motor skills, proper movement patterns and simple games. By 4th grade the emphasis shifts to teaching individual skills and how to use them within team sports.
The middle school program incorporates outdoor education, which focuses on wilderness survival skills, hiking, backpacking and camping. |
For two days in May we celebrate our year-long themes as an entire community. Families, friends and community members are invited to see the students' work, which is represented through research, visual displays, art, costumes, food, music and drama. |
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