Students between the ages of seven and fourteen are especially inspired by their feelings. Drawn to beauty, with a vivid life of the imagination and a readiness to learn, children of this age respond most powerfully to an integrated curriculum that engages their feelings, enlivens their thinking and nourishes their imagination. In response to these developmental needs, the Green Meadow lower school curriculum weaves a strong element of imagination and emotional engagement into every academic and specialty subject. By connecting the children’s personal experience with their education, a deeper understanding of the subject matter results, and seeds are set for future creative and active thinking.

A unique element in the Green Meadow Lower School is the class teacher, who remains with his or her class for several years, often accompanying the students from first through eighth grade. This continuity gives the teacher an intimate understanding of each child, allowing deeper understanding of his or her academic, physical and moral growth. In addition to the main lessons (math, science, language arts, history) taught by the class teacher, the lower school curriculum is enriched by teachers who specialize in foreign languages, movement, gardening, art, handwork, and instrumental and choral music. In forming the bridge from the middle school grades to the high school, English and math are taught by high school faculty in grades six, seven and eight. An artistic element woven throughout the entire lower school curriculum serves to uniquely link academic classes with one another and with all specialty subjects, providing a truly integrated education.