CULTURAL EXPERIENCES
Exploring the World Through Culture and Connection
At Cambridge, our Rising 4s through Kindergarten students embark on an enriching journey around the globe each school year. Through our beloved cultural studies unit, children are immersed in the languages, traditions, and daily life of countries such as India, France, Great Britain, Kenya, Australia, Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Japan, Mexico, Sweden, and Italy.
Over several weeks, each class dives deeply into a few featured countries, exploring key elements of their culture through hands-on, sensory-rich experiences. Children learn greetings and phrases in new languages, taste traditional dishes, explore music and art, and take part in customs and celebrations that bring the world into the classroom in meaningful, joyful ways.
A highlight of this unit is the opportunity to learn from native speakers--often parents from our own school community--who visit to share stories, artifacts, photos, and personal insights. These presentations give children a powerful connection to real people and lived experiences, deepening their understanding and empathy.
Our students engage in creative projects that extend their learning and spark their imaginations. From building dioramas of the Eiffel Tower, Machu Picchu, and the Leaning Tower of Pisa to creating miniature Japanese gardens or Brazilian carnival masks, these projects give children a tangible way to connect with global cultures while building skills across multiple domains.
This globally focused unit is one of the most anticipated and cherished parts of our curriculum. It not only broadens children’s horizons, but also fosters open-mindedness, cultural appreciation, and the ability to see the world--and themselves--with greater perspective.
Exploring the World Through Culture and Connection
At Cambridge, our Rising 4s through Kindergarten students embark on an enriching journey around the globe each school year. Through our beloved cultural studies unit, children are immersed in the languages, traditions, and daily life of countries such as India, France, Great Britain, Kenya, Australia, Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Japan, Mexico, Sweden, and Italy.
Over several weeks, each class dives deeply into a few featured countries, exploring key elements of their culture through hands-on, sensory-rich experiences. Children learn greetings and phrases in new languages, taste traditional dishes, explore music and art, and take part in customs and celebrations that bring the world into the classroom in meaningful, joyful ways.
A highlight of this unit is the opportunity to learn from native speakers--often parents from our own school community--who visit to share stories, artifacts, photos, and personal insights. These presentations give children a powerful connection to real people and lived experiences, deepening their understanding and empathy.
Our students engage in creative projects that extend their learning and spark their imaginations. From building dioramas of the Eiffel Tower, Machu Picchu, and the Leaning Tower of Pisa to creating miniature Japanese gardens or Brazilian carnival masks, these projects give children a tangible way to connect with global cultures while building skills across multiple domains.
This globally focused unit is one of the most anticipated and cherished parts of our curriculum. It not only broadens children’s horizons, but also fosters open-mindedness, cultural appreciation, and the ability to see the world--and themselves--with greater perspective.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE EXPOSURE
A Bilingual Foundation for Lifelong Learning
At Cambridge, language learning is seamlessly woven into the fabric of our curriculum. Every classroom is supported by a native Spanish speaker, and more than 80% of our teachers and administrators are fluent in Spanish--creating a rich, immersive bilingual environment for all children.
We follow a bilingual two-way immersion (TWI) model, where both English and Spanish are used purposefully throughout the day. This approach benefits children from all language backgrounds and supports full language development in both languages over time.
Research shows that early exposure to a second language provides significant cognitive advantages. Bilingual children often demonstrate stronger creative thinking, problem-solving skills, and mental flexibility. For gifted learners, learning in two languages offers an added layer of intellectual challenge and stimulation, supporting deeper cognitive growth.
Language learning begins in our Infant Room, where children are gently introduced to both English and Spanish through songs, stories, and nurturing conversation. By age three, many children are comfortably engaging in Spanish for up to half of their day. As they move into Pre-K and Kindergarten, Spanish language exposure increases, preparing them to become confident, capable bilingual communicators.
A Bilingual Foundation for Lifelong Learning
At Cambridge, language learning is seamlessly woven into the fabric of our curriculum. Every classroom is supported by a native Spanish speaker, and more than 80% of our teachers and administrators are fluent in Spanish--creating a rich, immersive bilingual environment for all children.
We follow a bilingual two-way immersion (TWI) model, where both English and Spanish are used purposefully throughout the day. This approach benefits children from all language backgrounds and supports full language development in both languages over time.
Research shows that early exposure to a second language provides significant cognitive advantages. Bilingual children often demonstrate stronger creative thinking, problem-solving skills, and mental flexibility. For gifted learners, learning in two languages offers an added layer of intellectual challenge and stimulation, supporting deeper cognitive growth.
Language learning begins in our Infant Room, where children are gently introduced to both English and Spanish through songs, stories, and nurturing conversation. By age three, many children are comfortably engaging in Spanish for up to half of their day. As they move into Pre-K and Kindergarten, Spanish language exposure increases, preparing them to become confident, capable bilingual communicators.