6 Specialty Classes That Lower Schoolers Love (From a Fifth Grader)

By Lucy M.

Hello! My name is Lucy M. I’m a fifth grader at Rowland Hall and I want to tell you about our Lower School’s specialty classes: TREC, science, art, music, library, and PE.

We attend each class once or twice a week, and they’re one of the best parts of our days. They let you explore and try different things. Everyone has their favorites, but honestly, they’re all pretty great. Let me share what I like most about each one!

1. TREC (Technology, Robotics, Engineering, and Coding)

I love TREC so much. You get to be creative and solve problems at the same time. You get to build things that move or use electricity, and there are so many different activities. I really like the long-term projects we are able to work on. Once you get into that flow, it’s so fun to continue it and figure out how to make things work. I know a lot of kids would really enjoy this class.

2. Science

Science is awesome because we get to ask questions and actually test our ideas. Experiment days are something everyone gets excited about. One time we did Mentos in Coca-Cola, which was definitely a favorite! We also work on longer projects, like for our Science Share. For my project this year, I studied brine shrimp and tested which type of food gives them the most energy by seeing how fast they move across a jar.

3. Art

Art is really fun because there are so many different types of projects. We draw, use pastels, work with clay, and even do papier-mâché. It never gets boring. Clay is one of my favorites because you learn different techniques. I also like that once you finish your project, you sometimes get free time to create your own ideas or do another. Once I even made a tiny pitcher with a handle.

4. Music

I love music because you can express your heart through the notes you’re singing. We get to sing songs as well as play instruments. I like to use the xylophone whenever they’re out. I like singing so much I also joined our lunch and Extended Day choirs. We perform at events like Grandparents Day and Seasons of Light.

5. Library

Most everyone loves library. We gather for story time, check out our own books, and work on projects, like researching a changemaker. There’s always time for independent reading, which I like. And our library teacher is really kind and sweet. One more thing: whatever grade you’re in, you get to check out that many books.

6. PE

PE is way fun and we really like the teachers. They make the class fun for all kids, no matter how into sports you are. We get to try all kinds of activities. We recently did a unit on bowling. Everybody loved that. We’ve also done handball, soccer, and thrown javelins, and we do track every year to work on our speed. I also like that PE happens in different locations on campus: the quad, gym, and back fields.

I hope learning a little about our specialty classes helps you see why I love the Lower School so much. If you want to learn more about Rowland Hall, contact the admission team.

About Lucy M.
When she’s not having fun at school, Lucy loves taking her goldendoodle for walks. Her favorite place to visit is Hawaii, where she enjoys going to the beach and eating at Mud Hen Water. This summer, Lucy plans to take up skateboarding, and next year she’s excited to play volleyball for Rowland Hall’s middle school team.

Banner: Lucy and classmates launch rockets during a TREC class in May 2026.