Special Programs

At the Lower School, students are provided with a variety of special programs that encourage community building, helping others and learning about themselves and the world they live in. Some of these programs are:

PROJECT OCEANOLOGY
In October of the fifth grade year, the class participates in Project Oceanology, a four-day environmental awareness and team-building experience at BB&N's camp in New Hampshire. Using fields, forests, and wetlands, the program encourages cooperation and active involvement in outdoor education. Skills taught over the four day visit include team building, shared responsibilities, and leadership. Teachers accompany the students on this trip and share in all activities.

HULBERT CAMP
This two day trip for sixth graders takes place in September at a camp in Beverly, MA. The children are instructed in the use of rope courses and other challenge activities. During Hulbert Camp, students have the opportunity to practice group communication and problem-solving during the use of low-course elements on the first day, and advancing to high-course elements on the second day. Teachers accompany the students on this trip and participate fully in the experience.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
Children are busy both in and outside of the classroom at BB&N. Students in each grade participate in a variety of community service or service learning projects and activities such as recycling and environmental awareness campaigns; Kindergarten visits to Cambridge Assisted Living Home; 1st and 6th graders visiting local Daycare centers to read to children; canned food and hat/mitten drives, as well as Unicef and Book Bonanza fund raising. Children learn to give of themselves, along with developing organizational skills and cooperative work ethics as they complete goals that are meaningful and support others in need.

CURRICULUM-FOREIGN LANGUAGES
Starting in Beginners through First grade, students are exposed to an exploratory language program for half a year of French and Spanish. Songs, basic greetings, counting and simple vocabulary are taught as a natural part of the class time. Starting in Fifth grade, students select either French or Spanish as a class 4 times a week. The programs focus on three basic language skills: speaking, listening and understanding. Although the emphasis is on oral (conversational) instruction, students practice word-related written activities. The texts, Vive la France! (French) and Realidades A (Spanish) is complemented by various listening and conversational exercises.

TEACHER TRAINING INSTITUTE
Since 1977, graduate students from Lesley University have participated in a joint master’s degree program, working with the head teachers in our Lower School, to prepare for positions in elementary and middle school classrooms in both public and independent school settings. Wheelock College and other area colleges have sometimes participated in the program as well. Our youngest students enjoy the benefit of these gifted teachers-in-training.

MULTICULTURALISM
In the Lower School, we celebrate diversity in many ways. Families share traditions through presentations, food, and celebrations at the grade level as well as school wide. In our Social Studies curriculum, children explore cultures, ideas, and beliefs of our world. BB&N's Multicultural Director, with the help of our diversity committee, plan many events throughout the year such as Black History Month activities, Chinese New Year celebrations, and our Affinity Lunch program. Through all these varied activities, our children learn tolerance, acceptance of others, and the joy of sharing each others' cultures.

BB&N SUMMER CAMP
For over 50 years, the School has offered a summer day camp to students from pre-school age through Grade 6. Older students may also participate in the camp as counselors-in-training. The camp program, divided into age-appropriate segments, includes swimming, a variety of other sports, music, dramatics, art, woodworking, and computers.