Learning
Curriculum
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Curriculum1
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The UCLA Lab School curriculum is designed to engage children in deep thinking and collaborative problem-solving across the disciplines.
Every child arrives curious. At UCLA Lab School, we build on that curiosity, giving children room to ask questions, explore ideas, and solve problems together across art, literacy, math, music, science, social studies, and social-emotional learning.
Our teachers begin by setting clear learning goals aligned with rigorous national standards, including, but not limited to, the Common Core Standards and Next Generation Science Standards. But it's children's own questions and interests that shape the path to reaching them.
We treat the environment as a third teacher, filling classrooms with thoughtfully chosen resources and materials that spark curiosity and invite children to move and explore. From there, teachers plan engaging experiences that build the knowledge and skills children need to meet the standards, and they weave assessment into learning all year long, giving children many ways to show what they know through writing, drawing, painting, dancing, building, music, technology, and more.
As a laboratory school housed on UCLA's campus, we benefit from a deep connection to and the guidance of the School of Education & Information Studies. That closeness allows our teachers to learn alongside leading researchers and bring the latest thinking on how children learn directly into the classroom.
Features of our curriculum:
- Rooted in national standards and our school-wide learning goals, yet flexible enough to grow with what each child brings into the classroom
- Brings learning to life through inquiry and hands-on exploration
- Builds on children's natural curiosity and creativity
- Develops strong critical thinking skills
- Helps children understand subjects deeply, not just memorize them
- Nurtures a lifelong love of learning
- Grounded in Safe School, our curriculum and approach to social-emotional learning, the foundation of everything we do.
The following standards guide our curriculum development:
List of 9 items.
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Arts
The visual and performing arts (VAPA) are integrated into every area of the UCLA Lab School curriculum. The arts help children observe our world in new ways. They serve as a dynamic lens that can widen and deepen learning in other subject areas. The arts enhance our ability to know and appreciate the variety of languages, cultures and people that make up our global mosaic.Read More -
Digital Design Studio
As part of UCLA Lab School’s Future Classrooms Initiative, the Digital Design Studio carries forward the school’s longstanding mission as a university laboratory school to advance educational practice, explore new possibilities for learning, and help shape the future of education.Read More -
iSTEAM
Read MoreUCLA Lab School’s iSTEAM Lab is a dedicated maker space where students engage in hands-on learning to develop their ability to think, investigate, and communicate like scientists and engineers. Work done in the iSTEAM Lab is integrated with the core concepts of the curriculum. Cross-pollination of activities encourages creativity and invention. Each year we are excited to see what grows out of the collaborations in this dynamic space. -
Literacy
Read MoreWe give students many opportunities to develop their literacy skills by speaking, listening, reading and writing. Young children use their oral language skills to learn to read. Older children read to learn. We encourage all children to develop their passion and identity as readers and writers. Our goal is for our students to read deeply and widely and communicate effectively throughout their lives. -
Mathematics
We believe all children are mathematicians and have an innate sense of mathematics concepts. Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI), a highly effective research-based program, is central to our teaching of math. Teachers use children’s thinking as a basis for curricular decision-making.Read More -
Music
The Music Program at UCLA Lab School is grounded in the belief that children should be active music-makers, listeners, and creators. The Music team facilitates hands-on, experiential activities that support students' development of essential musical skills and concepts.Read More -
Physical Education
Read MoreOur program is based on the belief that physical education is an integral part of children’s development. -
Safe School
Read MoreUCLA Lab School faculty and researchers have developed a school-wide system for maintaining a safe and nurturing environment that promotes learning. Safe School articulates and reinforces our values as a community. These values include respect, kindness, honesty, integrity and responsibility. -
Science and Social Studies
We teach science and social studies together to help children learn about themselves and about the world. We use a systematic process of inquiry. This helps students build both content knowledge and information literacy skills such as formulating questions and finding and evaluating resources that they can apply to learning in any context.Read More
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