Math instruction at Open Window begins one full grade level ahead, starting in kindergarten.  

We emphasize: 

• Conceptual understanding over memorization 

• Multiple strategies and problem-solving approaches 

• Creative exploration of patterns, logic, and number sense 

Students work on problems with accessible entry points and high complexity, allowing for natural differentiation. A single lesson might lead one student to discover a new rule, while another uses it to explore algebraic graphing.

It's all part of learning to think like a mathematician. 
 

Our reading and writing program is grounded in the science of how children learn language, with an added layer of support for the unique needs of gifted learners. 

In Lower School, students: 

• Develop phonemic awareness and decoding skills 

• Practice handwriting and learn cursive through Handwriting Without Tears 

• Engage with rich, meaningful texts that grow in complexity 

• Learn to express themselves through multiple genres of writing 

We integrate social-emotional learning to help students understand not just what they read, but how they think and feel about it. 
 

Lower School science is hands-on, inquiry-based, and filled with opportunities to explore the world up close. From life cycles to energy systems, our students observe, question, test, and discover. 

Science might look like: 

• Spotting an earthworm on the playground and launching a class-wide investigation 

• Testing the water quality in the fish tank to ensure the salmon fry your class is raising have a healthy environment 

• Studying biomimicry by making observations of native plants in the science lab 

This is how we build scientific thinking: by making room for wonder, curiosity, and experimentation. 
 

Social studies in Lower School starts with identity and expands outward, from families to communities, countries, and cultures. It’s deeply interdisciplinary and project-based. 

Each year brings a new theme: 

• K: “All About Me” & the Kindergarten Parade 

• 1st: “Part of the Family”  

Family Fest and cultural storytelling 

• 2nd: “Cougar Mountain and Beyond”   

Building towns and running toy companies 

• 3rd: “Learning About the US Through My Story”  

Immigration, U.S. monuments, and student-created spoken word poetry 

• 4th: Washington State history and Indigenous studies 

These projects help students see themselves in the curriculum and understand their place in a broader world. 
 

Our Lower School Spanish program nurtures a love for language learning from the very start. 

Through storytelling, music, movement, and play, students build foundational skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing while discovering how language connects us to people and cultures around the world. 

• Grade K-1: Students explore familiar topics like animals, colors, weather, and family through immersive, story-driven units. 

• Grades 2-4: Themes expand to include food, sports, music, and home life. By fourth grade, students begin reading and writing in Spanish and reflect on their own language growth using the Avant STAMP assessment. 
   

In our art studio, students are encouraged to experiment, take risks, and see themselves as artists. The focus is on process over perfection, helping students develop fine motor skills, creative expression, and a mindset of joyful exploration. 

Through exposure to a wide range of materials, techniques, and global artists, students learn: 

• How to express their identity through visual media 

• How to problem-solve when creative ideas don’t go as planned 

• How to appreciate different perspectives and styles 

Art becomes both an outlet and an opportunity to build confidence, perseverance, and self-awareness. 
 

Our physical education (PE) program builds strength, agility, and sportsmanship while also helping students develop emotional regulation, resilience, and teamwork. 

In Lower School, students: 

• Practice a wide range of sports and activities like yoga, climbing, parkour, Gaga Ball, soccer, and jump rope 

• Engage in mindfulness exercises to build self-awareness and focus 

• Learn to challenge themselves at their own pace with our “challenge by choice” approach 

Whether they’re navigating a new game or practicing a familiar skill, students grow in confidence, coordination, and connection to their community. 
 

The Paulus Library is both a vibrant hub and a quiet retreat. It is a place where students explore stories, dive into research, and become critical consumers of information. 

In Lower School, students: 

• Build early research skills, from asking questions to finding reliable sources 

• Discover a wide range of print and digital books curated for gifted readers 

• Develop a lifelong love of reading through choice, exploration, and connection 

The library is open throughout the day for independent reading, collaborative work, or simply a cozy moment with a great book.