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Where Curiosity Meets Purpose

Lower School

GRADES 1–5

At Rowland Hall’s Lower School, every child is known by name and story.

Here, belonging and learning go hand in hand, and the curiosity sparked in early childhood grows into joyful academic exploration as children ask big questions, make meaningful connections, and work together. Guided by expert, caring teachers, students engage in experiences that nurture creativity and strengthen critical thinking.

Whether your family is joining Rowland Hall for the first time or continuing your journey with us, your child will be welcomed into a close-knit community that celebrates growth and discovery.

Take an interactive virtual tour of our Lower School

Charlotte Larsen

Charlotte Larsen

Head of Lower School
School: 801-355-0272

Lower School at a Glance

Rowland Hall’s Lower School builds on students’ natural curiosity and growing independence. Within this community where they’re known and supported, children embrace new challenges and develop the skills that help them thrive as learners.

A Lower School student smiles outdoors while holding her lunch bag.
A Lower School teacher stands with smiling students outside on campus.
A Lower School teacher smiles while working one-on-one with a student at a desk.
Two Lower School students smile outside near the playground on campus.
A Lower School student with a backpack stands on rocks holding a clipboard during an outdoor learning activity.

17

average class size

Smaller classes support focused instruction and responsive, purposeful learning for every student.

550+

years of educator experience

Our educators and staff draw on decades of collective expertise to guide and support young learners.

38

fifth-grade interns per year, on average

Our 5-I Internship Program gives fifth graders real opportunities to lead and contribute to campus life.

17

fourth-grade field studies each year

From the Great Salt Lake to Little Cottonwood Canyon, students explore Utah’s past and present through hands-on experiences

Lower School students gather outdoors for a field study in a natural area.

The Rowland Hall Difference

 

A Lower School student smiles while working on a tablet in her classroom.
A Lower School student smiles while seated at his classroom desk.

Outstanding, Engaging Academics

Anchored in a bold vision to develop people the world needs, our Lower School builds on the wonder and curiosity sparked in early childhood. Teachers design purposeful, challenging lessons that tap into children’s natural drive to make sense of the world around them. From math, science, language arts, and social studies to art, music, Spanish, PE, library, and our distinctive TREC (technology, robotics, engineering, and coding) program, authentic learning experiences help ideas come to life. Learning is joyful and alive, inspiring creativity, perseverance, and critical thought.

LEARN. THINK. DO.
OUR ACADEMICS IN ACTION

Exceptional Faculty

Rowland Hall’s Lower School attracts exceptional educators who are passionate about teaching and committed to advancing their craft through ongoing professional development that keeps them at the forefront of child development and instructional research. Drawn to a community that values innovation, collaboration, and the delivery of a competitive academic program, our faculty know each student well—how they think, learn, and grow—and create caring, inclusive classrooms where academic excellence, safe risk-taking, and positive identity development thrive. In addition to expert homeroom teachers, students learn from faculty who specialize in art, music, science, TREC (technology, robotics, engineering, and coding), Spanish, library, and PE.

Meet The Lower School Faculty

Lower School students sit in a circle with their teacher during a class discussion.
A Lower School student works on a tablet while her teacher provides guidance.

A Lower School class poses together in a classroom wearing colorful scarves.
Four Lower School students stand together outdoors with their arms around each other.

A Relationship-Centered Community

We believe strong relationships are the cornerstone of exceptional education. Challenging, engaging academics thrive in a culture of genuine connection, where every child feels safe to take risks and stretch their thinking. In the Lower School, belonging is the foundation that allows students to do their best work. Dedicated educators know and care for each child, nurturing confidence and empathy while providing diverse opportunities to lead and contribute. Whether through in-class leadership roles, our cross-divisional Buddy Program, a one-of-a-kind fifth-grade internship, weekly Roar and Soar assemblies, or the Lower School’s Multicultural Festival, students learn that their voices matter and their place in the community is essential.

Learn More About Our Community

Character Development

Learning to be an active member of a caring, service-oriented school community is an integral part of the Lower School experience and essential to Rowland Hall’s vision. An ethical foundation strengthens academic growth by helping students consider consequences, act with integrity, and engage thoughtfully with others. From the classroom to the playground, students practice respectful problem-solving and learn how their choices affect the community around them. Through age-appropriate discussions and real-world scenarios, they build empathy, develop sound judgment, and grow into responsible members of a larger world.

Students collect brine shrimp during a field study at the Great Salt Lake.
Three Lower School students stand together on the playground.

 

Lower School Specialty Classes

Lower School students build and program a robot during a TREC class.

TREC

Because we know young children are capable of innovative, complex thinking, our TREC—technology, robotics, engineering, and coding—program provides opportunities for students in grades 2–5 to take on engaging, STEM-based challenges. Housed in a dedicated lab, TREC fosters persistence, creativity, and collaboration, helping students learn to think logically and computationally, whether they’re programming a robot, developing a coding algorithm, or designing a 3D printed model to solve a real-world problem.

An Upper School student holds a petri dish during a science lab experiment.

Science

Active, lab-based experimentation aligned with Next Generation Science Standards helps young scientists connect curiosity with understanding. Students study earth science, biology, chemistry, and physics through weekly hands-on labs led by dedicated science specialists. Each lab invites them to investigate real phenomena, ask thoughtful questions, and make sense of their observations through guided inquiry. Extended projects, like the annual Science Share, further foster persistence and growth, as students learn to think and act as scientists.

Lower School students play xylophones during a music class.

Music

Music is for everyone, and our program invites students to explore and create together. Guided by the Orff Schulwerk and Kodály approaches, weekly classes build skills through singing, rhythm, instruments, movement, and improvisation. Students discover their musical voices, learn to listen and collaborate, and experience the joy of making music in community. Their growth shines in annual performances. Those interested can also join chorus or take lessons through our Extended Day program.

A Lower School student holds a plaster mask during an outdoor art activity.

Art

Visual arts let students explore their creativity and develop as artists in a playful environment. Aligned with the National Coalition for Arts Standards, our program encourages inquiry and experimentation, helping young artists strengthen problem-solving and critical-thinking skills while expressing themselves through interdisciplinary, multicultural projects. Art history, art appreciation, and color theory enrich lessons, and students work with high-quality materials and try techniques including painting, printmaking, ceramics, sculpture, and design.

Lower School students practice throwing and catching during a physical education class.

Physical Education

Physical education builds confident movers and encourages lifelong healthy habits. Led by trained and experienced educators, lively weekly classes help lower schoolers build coordination and strength through activities such as dance, relay games, cooperative sports, and aerobics, all of which are aligned with national and state PE standards. A highlight of our program is Winter Sports, an annual multi-week experience that invites children to explore new pursuits, such as skiing and ice skating, while enjoying time together as a community.

A Lower School teacher points to a worksheet while students work on iPads during Spanish class.

Spanish

Spanish classes give children early access to language learning and the diverse cultures of the Spanish-speaking world. In lively, immersive classes led almost entirely in Spanish, students build listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills through conversation, role-playing, songs, and guided practice. Gestures, visuals, and classroom connections support comprehension and help children express themselves with growing confidence. Along the way, they explore cultural traditions and compare them with their own, deepening their curiosity about the world.

A Lower School student selects a book while speaking with her teacher in the library.

Library

We’re committed to developing exceptional readers and writers through a library program that supports joyful reading and meaningful research. Our curriculum aligns with classroom learning and national library standards, helping students explore genres, build research and media literacy skills, and evaluate information thoughtfully. Author visits and rich resources encourage curiosity and creativity, and the Steiner Library serves as a welcoming hub for reading, study, and discovery, for students as well as teachers and parents.

Lower School students ski in formation during Winter Sports on a snowy mountain.

Experiential Learning

At Rowland Hall, experiential learning is grounded in unique programming that gives students meaningful opportunities to learn by doing. This learning comes to life through a variety of Lower School programs, including changemaker experiences that allow students to reflect on issues they care about; our annual Maker Night, which brings families to campus to explore hands-on STEM challenges; field studies across the Salt Lake Valley that connect classroom learning to the wider world; and Winter Sports, an annual program that helps students build confidence by taking on new challenges in an outdoor setting.

Lower School students and their teacher hold spoons during a sustainability lesson on compost and trash sorting.
The image consists of the word "N.THIN" in large, bold letters. The letters are in varying shades of green, with the "N" and "THIN" in a darker green and the "." and "I" in a lighter, lime-green color.

Third-Grade Sustainability Project

Learn. Think. Do. is a simple way to think about the life-changing learning at Rowland Hall.

In the Lower School, students learn that meaningful change begins in their own community, and that small, everyday choices add up to a lasting impact. One third-grade class spent the year exploring what it means to be conscious consumers, examining how habits of convenience can lead to waste and overconsumption. They then turned their learning into action by educating others. The class produced videos on mindful practices such as using reusable cutlery and composting, and hosted a quiz show that engaged their peers in creative, memorable ways. Through this project, students discovered that their voices and choices matter, and that even simple actions can lead to meaningful environmental change.

See More Examples of Learn. Think. Do.

Lower School Stories

2023 Cary Jones Faculty Mentor Award winner Melanie Robbins, Rowland Hall kindergarten lead teacher
Faculty Awards 2025

Each year at division commencement ceremonies, independent private school Rowland Hall proudly honors faculty members who have demonstrated exceptional teaching and mentoring. This story covers 2024–2025 honorees.

Frequently Asked Questions