Young children are natural learners: eager, playful, and full of questions and ideas. They are curious and easily sparked

by new materials and experiences. At MPA, Lower School is colorful, lively, and inviting. It’s also calm and safe so that

young learners feel free to explore, ask questions, and develop a sense of who they are. We celebrate the diverse group

of children who make up our student body, and are committed to helping them develop a strong academic and social

foundation for the rest of their lives.

Our students are global citizens, and we value the importance of preparing them for the challenges of the 21st century.

A deep and longstanding commitment to innovative thinking is alive in our Lower School, highlighted by our recently

completed Innovation Lab which introduces students to Design Thinking concepts, and encourages students to take risks,

exercise an innovative mind, and think outside the box. Intentionally small class sizes ensure that our students are well-

known, their individual needs are met, and they are able to shine in Lower School.

LOWER SCHOOL

be curious. become inspired.

INNOVATION AND DESIGN THINKINGMPA is deeply committed to cultivating an innovative spirit in our students.

Our Innovation Lab, which teaches Design Thinking, helps our Lower School

students build a creative confidence. It allows for risk taking and problem

solving and teaches the value of utilizing multiple viewpoints to solve a

problem. It encourages being open to a variety of possibilities. Design Thinking

is based on five steps: Empathy, Define, Ideate/Brainstorm, Prototype and Test.

moundsparkacademy.org/innovation

IN LOWER SCHOOL AT MPA, WE FOSTER THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE WHOLE CHILD BY:• Introducing students to a myriad of experiences

• Helping them start to understand that all subjects relate to

each other—and that everything they learn relates to themselves

• Building on their strengths and challenges with a focus on goal setting

• Helping them learn how to work well with others

• Kindling their delight in learning

moundsparkacademy.org/lowerschool PREK–12 UNDER ONE ROOFThe MPA Community is about connections. All of our

students, PreK-12, joyfully coexist in 246,000 square feet

of school space on the 32-acre MPA campus in Maplewood.

Pairing assemblies, cross-divisional classroom activities,

and simple hallway interactions connect Upper, Middle, and

Lower School students every day.

CHARACTER HAPPENS AT MOUNDS PARK• CHAMP is a K–4 Program which strives to guide students to act with

respect and integrity and prepares them to live in a diverse community

where they will make choices that reflect empathy and acceptance

• Students focus on seven CHAMP traits: Respect, Responsibility,

Friendship, Integrity, Self-Control, Compassion, and Cooperation

• Character education is integrated into every aspect of the MPA curriculum

• Grade levels study different CHAMP traits and present them to their peers

at Lower School CHAMP assemblies

moundsparkacademy.org/CHAMP

Conflict Manager ProgramCharacter development in Lower School culminates with a conflict

management program in which 4th graders are trained to manage any issues that arise on the playground. Each day, the rotating 4th grade Conflict Managers introduce themselves to Lower School students at lunch and wear orange vests so they are easy to find. They facilitate in resolving all verbal conflicts during recess.

LOWER SCHOOLAfter SchoolClubs & Activities

3 all-schoolpairing assemblies

A JOYFUL PLACE TO LEARNWhole child education. It’s a concept that is easily clichéd and often presented without a clear definition. Not here. Our teachers are

passionate about introducing our Lower School students to a wide variety of topics, all with incredible depth. Lessons are integrated

around central themes that touch on all the major disciplines, including Math, Science, Social Studies, Language Arts, Health, and Physical

Education. World Language is taught several times a week, Music and Art classes occur on alternating days, and Drama and Technology

classes take place twice a week. A commitment to hands-on, experiential learning means that our students are out of their desks, getting

their hands dirty, taking risks, exploring, innovating, and developing a strong foundation for the rest of their academic journey.

Visit our Lower School curriculum page for more information about day-to-day life in Lower School classes.

www.moundsparkacademy.org/lowerschoolcurriculum

Chess, Dynamic Cartoons, Fencing, French, Extreme Lego, Karate, Piano Lessons, Simply Science, Spanish, Yoga

Theatre1–12

Visual Art K–12

MusicPreK–12

Design Thinking, Innovation and STEM curriculum beginning in 1st Grade

K, 1, 2, 3, 4

books in the MPA Library