Early Learning
Embracing curiosity and possibility in Early Learning.
Early learning is formative, and at BASIS Independent, we aim to sow those seeds of possibility. We combine a child’s natural sense of curiosity with hands-on learning and purposeful play. With two expert teachers guiding every classroom, young students relish asking questions and discover that purposeful learning is energizing and fun. Together, they explore new ideas and make meaningful connections, form important bonds that drive social-emotional development, and build strong foundations in early literacy and numeracy. By finding and using their voices and creativity early on, our students build confidence while discovering the joy of learning.
“We focus on building a love of learning while pursuing academic skills. Yes, we do kindergarten math, but that involves movement, silly riddles, and fun—and the kids have a blast.”
Nurturing a Culture of Curiosity
Our advanced, age-appropriate curriculum encourages questioning, creating, exploring, and discovering. Through dynamic, interactive lessons, our teachers nurture children’s natural curiosity and guide them toward purposeful academic learning. The goal is to facilitate more meaningful lightbulb moments for every child.
Teaching that Invites Students In
Our unique two-teacher model combines subject expertise and skills building with consistent support, encouragement, and fun. Young learners spend each day doing hands-on activities with two passionate teachers who help them make meaningful connections across subjects.
Foundations for Lifelong Learning
Our diverse, structured courses foster early numeracy, literacy, and awareness of core ideas to come in later years. Students learn through developmentally appropriate play, music, and exploratory activities that make high-level material more accessible.
In the Early Learning Program, Students Will…
Embrace the New.
Students feel empowered by their curiosity and willingness to learn.
Shine.
Students experience meaningful milestones as they develop fine motor, social-emotional, self-help, and phonological awareness skills.
Explore.
Students broaden their social lens through the classroom, making connections between home and outside environments.
Start Strong.
Students get the best start to their educational journey, paving the way for a seamless transition into future grade levels.
Year by Year
Transitional Kindergarten
Transitional Kindergarten taps into the innate desire of four-year-olds to understand the world around them and feel a sense of belonging. In courses like World Discovery, students explore living things—including themselves—and how we use our five senses to interact with the world around us. In foundational courses, students make predictions and test ideas through play, music, and hands-on activities that make high-level material fun.
Kindergarten
Kindergarten focuses on more formal learning, with the BASIS curriculum helping students develop their literacy and math skills. Supported by our two-teacher model, students connect what they know to new ideas, learning academic, physical, and social concepts through goal-oriented activities, play, movement, and exercise. By developing foundational reading, writing, and math skills, our program inspires an authentic love of knowledge.
Curriculum
Discovery as Delight, Learning as Fun
Our Early Learning Program establishes school as a place of fun and excitement. Two nurturing teachers guide every classroom, and young learners grow rapidly through hands-on, experiential lessons and play.
The rich curriculum taps into children’s natural propensity to question, create, imagine, and discover—introducing ideas and focusing on early literacy and numeracy. We don't expect mastery of every concept. We expect young learners to engage with new ideas, so as they progress, they become great readers and confident problem solvers.
Robust courses fuel future academic success by introducing language, literacy, and social studies (taught together), as well as mathematics, self-care skills, movement, Mandarin, and expressive arts. As kids explore, they also learn to set daily routines, collaborate, build friendships, and solve everyday problems.
World Language
We teach Mandarin to young learners because its unique linguistic traits activate both sides of the brain and encourage visual learning and interdisciplinary connections.
History
In hands-on, age-appropriate activities, students examine their community and themselves, try out investigative skills, and explore the past, present, and future as frameworks for time.
Math
Early learners begin the journey toward numeracy by practicing skills needed for math basics, such as identifying patterns, classifying, measuring, quantifying, and combining.
English
The path to literacy and lifelong reading starts with phonological and phonemic awareness, practice using basic grammar, and trying creative pursuits that spark the imagination.
Science
Our early learning science curriculum is intentional about encouraging curiosity, prompting students to investigate the natural world by observing, asking questions and testing ideas.
Fine Arts
Creativity and self-expression are essential practices for all young people. Our early learners explore their imaginations through visual art, performing arts, and music classes.
Engineering and Computer Science
Our early learning engineering classes facilitate discovery, tapping into the natural instinct of young students to explore the world with both their hands and minds.
Physical Education & Health
Imaginative play, movement activities, routines, and games are spaces where young learners develop foundational physical skills, build community, and learn to value collaboration.