"...the blessedness of being little." ~Shakespeare

As it states on our website, "Seabury's curriculum is built on a foundation of multidisciplinary, concept-based units that are designed to stretch students' thinking through a focus on broad ideas and big questions."

Concept of the year? Quest

Broad idea for first graders? The Renaissance

Big question for first graders? Who was William Shakespeare?

Big question for teachers? Can they do it?

Answer for teachers? A big resounding yes!

First of all, we started off with some Shakespearean compliments:

Directions: Combine one word from columns A, B, and C, add "Thou" to the beginning, and voila, a sweet compliment for a friend. (Cue the uproarious laughter.)

Thou sweet, fair-faced welsh cheese!

Thou brave, tiger-booted cukoo-bud!
Thou sugared, thunder-darting pigeon-egg!

Thou rare, honey-tongued toast!

Next, we gave sonnet writing a try. 

A lesson on iambic pentameter and rhyme pattern

A hog sat next to a dog

The stars shined with the moon

A dog chased the hog

It was way too soon. 

Notice the ABAB pattern. 

Then, having been inspired by A Midsummer Night's Dream and by the Magic Tree House book, Stage Fright on a Summer Night, the kids giddily set off in groups to do their own plays. 

We were a bunch of eager, gifted students in our happy place!

Writing scripts

Designing costumes

Hat + plastic bag + Starbucks lids + tail = a leopard!

Making fire-breathing dragon puppets

"Sewing is really peaceful."

Compiling props

Cupcakes, french toast, syrup, and fish sticks

Building scenery

"We're experts at castle building."

We even made rotten tomatoes for the "standers" to throw (those that paid less and stood during Shakespeare's plays at the Globe Theater.)

Performing a "little" puppet show with "little" props and a "little" puppet

Performing their play

A queen, her servant (wrapped in wrapping paper), and a leopard

We at Seabury provide big, broad opportunities for our little people.

"And though [they] be but little [they are] fierce," 

as William Shakespeare would say.

To find out more about our curriculum, check out our curriculum guide below:

Curriculum Guide