Curriculum

• Identification and review of letters, sounds, digraphs, clusters, and blends
  
• Daily, formal reading according to individual ability beginning in October
  
• Phonetic introduction to reading using a
  
• multi-sensory approach to word-attack skills
  
• Reinforce perceptual skills
  
• Junior Great Books

The reading program is a unique and carefully designed program which allows advanced groupings with great emphasis on phonics, vocabulary, and comprehension.

• Development of listening skills
  
• Listening to books and poetry
  
• Printing letters/words with D'Nealian method
  
• Proofreading
  
• Beginning expository/creative writing
  
• Formal spelling

The English program is a comprehensive structured program incorporating all aspects of language arts. It includes a strong combination of grammar, creative writing, and expository writing in all grades.

• Acquaintance with Library
  
• Choosing and signing out books
  
• Care of books
  
• Reading stories
  
• Location of fiction and nonfiction books

Library classes prepare all students for research work. All classes have weekly scheduled Library visits and have daily access to the Library.

• One-to-one correspondence
  
• Patterning with numbers/shapes
  
• Relationship of set to numbers
  
• Extensive use of math manipulatives
  
• Reading/writing numbers to 100
  
• Graphing
  
• Calendar skills
  
• Money
  
• Time to hour, half-hour
  
• Problem solving
  
• Addition to 18; introduction to subtraction
  
• Introduction to fractions/measurements
  
• Place value to hundreds
  

The mathematics program is accelerated and stresses logical thinking, conceptual understanding, and problem solving, as well as accurate computation. Timed tests of basic facts are given daily.

• Our community: discussions, related projects, community service, field trips
  
• Holidays and holiday customs around the world
  
• Community guests–career exploration
  
• Farm

The social studies program includes a very strong “research” program of expository writing in the content areas, especially history and geography. Correlated field trips enrich studies.

• Development of listening skills
• Following directions in Spanish
• Beginning conversation
• Songs, games
• Acting out activities
• Use of visual aids and manipulatives to reinforce content area vocabulary
• Beginning decoding skills
• Introduction to writing

Spanish is required at all levels with emphasis on conversation and correct accent.

• Exercises developing flexibility, balance, and strength
  
• Physical fitness skills
  
• Perform sequence of auditory instructions
  
• Beginning ball handling skills, throwing catching, and dribbling
  
• Play cooperatively with classmates
  
• Parachute games
  
• Teamwork, sportsmanship, cooperation

The physical education program is a sequential development of physical, mental, and emotional fitness through basic, creative movement. This includes skill development, sportsmanship, and aspects of mental, social, and physical health.

• Personal good health practices
  
• Basic hygiene
  
• Personal safety practices–grade/age appropriate
  
• Five senses

Health is integrated into the curriculum to promote a healthy lifestyle.

• Life Science
  
  • Planting seeds/gardening
  • Trees
  • Animals
• Physical Science
  
  • Wood and paper
• Earth Science
  
  • Clouds
• Scientific process skills
• Lab and safety rules
• Introduction to lab equipment
• Care and use of a microscope

Sciences classes are based on exploration in Life Science, Physical Science, and Earth Science and includes coordinated lab experiences at all grade levels.

• Drawing and painting from imagination
  
• Exploring various mediums
  
• Patterns
  
• Teacher-directed activities designed to
  
  • build a strong foundation in
  • listening, following directions,
  • developing fine motor and
  • perceptual skills

Art is incorporated into classroom activities as well as in formal instruction. Creativity is encouraged.

• Sensitivity to pulse in music
  
• Movement games-reaction training
  
• Creative movement
  
• Differentiation of high/low; up/down
  
• Differentiation of fast/slow
  
• Differentiation of vocal qualities: speak, sing, whisper, shout
  
• Development of independent singing
  
• Singing games and repertoire
  
• Beginning skills in playing Orff instruments
  
• Recognition of timbres
  

Music classes are based on the Orff-Schulwerk approach, integrating movement, speech, song, instrumental play, and creative dramatics. Creative thinking is encouraged and developed through improvisation.

• Respect for self and others, including
  
  • Courtesy/manners
  • Kindness and dedication to high academic and moral standards
  • Honesty/integrity
  • Tolerance
  • Social skills, friendships
  • Preventing verbal/physical abuse
• Responsibility to self and others, including
  
  • Independent thinking
  • Service to others
  • A commitment to excellence
• Community service
  • Visits to hospitals, nursing homes, etc.
  • Bake sale to benefit NSPCA
  • UNICEF
  • Recycling
  • Make-A-Wish

• Phonics in reading and writing, regular consonants, short and long vowels
  
• Digraphs and blends
• Continuing development of perceptual skills, vocabulary, structural analysis and comprehension
• Promote independent reading
• Oral reading twice daily
• Junior Great Books

The reading program is a unique and carefully designed program which allows advanced groupings with great emphasis on phonics, vocabulary, and comprehension.

• D’Nealian manuscript handwriting skills
  
• Grammar: nouns, verbs, adjectives, complete sentences, usage, punctuation
• Spelling words and dictation
• Expository and creative writing
• Dictionary skills
• Introduction to “research,” including paragraph writing

The English program is a comprehensive structured program incorporating all aspects of language arts. It includes a strong combination of grammar, creative writing, and expository writing in all grades.

• Acquaintance with Library
  
• Choosing and signing out books
  
• Care of books
  
• Reading stories
  
• Location of fiction and nonfiction books

Library classes prepare all students for research work. All classes have weekly scheduled Library visits and have daily access to the Library.

• Continue place value to hundreds
• Geometric shapes, congruency, lines of symmetry
• Time–Calendar–Money
• Measurement, including temperature, perimeter, area
• Odd/even numbers
• Patterning
• Graphing
• Fractions
• Computation: addition/subtraction with/without regrouping
• Quick recall of addition/subtraction facts

The mathematics program is accelerated and stresses logical thinking, conceptual understanding, and problem solving, as well as accurate computation. Timed tests of basic facts are given daily.

• Environmental awareness; similarities and differences; city/country
  
• Conservation and pollution
• Holidays
• Beginning map skills
• Citizenship

The social studies program includes a very strong “research” program of expository writing in the content areas, especially history and geography. Correlated field trips enrich studies.

• Development of listening skills
• Following directions in Spanish
• Vocabulary building
• Use of songs and games to motivate students to use the language and improve pronunciation 
• Acting out simple conversations
• Cultural awareness
• Introduction to basic grammer

Spanish is required at all levels with emphasis on conversation and correct accent.

• Physical fitness skills
  
• Directionality (left and right, up and down, forward and backward)
  
• Eye/hand coordination ‑ ball handling
  
• Creative movement
  
• Manipulative skills (bean bags, hoops)
  
• Self‑development skills
  
• Cooperative play
  

The physical education program is a sequential development of physical, mental, and emotional fitness through basic, creative movement. This includes skill development, sportsmanship, and aspects of mental, social, and physical health.

• Personal good health practices
  
• Basic hygiene
  
• Personal safety practices
  
• Teeth and dental health

Health is integrated into the curriculum to promote a healthy lifestyle.

• Life Science
  
  • Gardening
  • Plants
  • Insects
• Physical Science
  
  • Solids and liquids
  • Balance and motion
• Earth Science
  
  • Air and weather
  • Pebbles, sand, and silt
• Scientific process skills
• Lab and safety rules
• Introduction to lab equipment
• Care and use of a microscope

Sciences classes are based on exploration in Life Science, Physical Science, and Earth Science and includes coordinated lab experiences at all grade levels.

• Emphasis on creative and self-directed work/following directions
• Painting
  
• Collage
  
• Cutting and pasting
  
• Design
  
• Experimenting with style/mediums, primary/secondary colors
• Use of mixed mediums

Art is incorporated into classroom activities as well as in formal instruction. Creativity is encouraged.

• Sensitivity to pulse in music
  
• Differentiation of pulse and rhythm
  
• Movement games-reaction training
  
• Creative movement
  
• Kodaly rhythmic notation
  
• Differentiation of high/low; upward/downward melodic contour
  
• Curwen hand signals (Sol-Mi-La)
  
• Symbolization of same/different phrases
  
• Simple bordun accompaniments on Orff instruments
  
• Classification of instrumental timbres
  

Music classes are based on the Orff-Schulwerk approach, integrating movement, speech, song, instrumental play, and creative dramatics. Creative thinking is encouraged and developed through improvisation.

• Respect for self and others, including
  
  • Courtesy/manners
  • Kindness and dedication to high academic and moral standards
  • Honesty/integrity
  • Tolerance
  • Social skills, friendships
  • Preventing verbal/physical abuse
• Responsibility to self and others, including
  
  • Independent thinking
  • Service to others
  • A commitment to excellence
• Community service
  • Visits to hospitals, nursing homes, etc.
  • Bake sale to benefit NSPCA
  • UNICEF
  • Recycling
  • Make-A-Wish

• Continuing development and practice of basic reading, word attack skills, phonics, vocabulary, structural analysis
  
• Increasing emphasis on comprehension, interpretation, figurative language
  
• Reading for pleasure and information
  
• Use of reference materials
  
• Oral reading twice daily
  
• Junior Great Books

The reading program is a unique and carefully designed program which allows advanced groupings with great emphasis on phonics, vocabulary, and comprehension.

• Handwriting, including manuscript transition to cursive
• Capitalization, simple punctuation, sentence structure, grammar, introduction to parts of speech, dictionary usage
• Spelling
  
• Expository and creative writing
  
• Composition-imaginative and factual
  
• Poetry
  
• Introduction to note-taking

The English program is a comprehensive structured program incorporating all aspects of language arts. It includes a strong combination of grammar, creative writing, and expository writing in all grades.

Continuation of skills learned in Kindergarten and Grade 1 in addition to:

• Introduce the use of call numbers and specific areas of the Library
• Using online library catalog
• Parts of a book: copyright; publisher; copyright date
• Use of encyclopaedias and other research sources
• Literary genres
• Use of online databases

Library classes prepare all students for research work. All classes have weekly scheduled Library visits and have daily access to the Library.

• Quick recall of basic facts; multi-digit computation with/without regrouping in addition/subtraction
  
• Problem solving; estimation with 10’s/100’s
  
• Place value to hundred-thousands
  
• Graphing
  
• Roman numerals
  
• Computation with money and time
  
• Geometry: area, perimeter
  
• Probability
  
• Squares/square roots
  

The mathematics program is accelerated and stresses logical thinking, conceptual understanding, and problem solving, as well as accurate computation. Timed tests of basic facts are given daily.

• Communities and how they change
  
• Geographical features/influences
  
• Government
  
• Citizenship
  
• Map skills
  
• Environmental awareness
  

The social studies program includes a very strong “research” program of expository writing in the content areas, especially history and geography. Correlated field trips enrich studies.

• Development of listening skills
• Continuing vocabulary building
• Introduction of basic grammatical concepts through meaningful context
• Acting out simple conversations
• Reading of short dialogues
• Forming simple questions and sentences to express feelings and to describe people, things, and activities
• Spanish-speaking countries
• Regular verb conjugation and its application

Spanish is required at all levels with emphasis on conversation and correct accent.

• Perform locomotor and non‑locomotor skills successfully
  
• Sequential skills development in soccer, basketball, volley, tennis, kickball
  
• Relays
  
• Physical fitness skills
  
• Cooperative play
  
• Lead-up games
  
• Safety
  

The physical education program is a sequential development of physical, mental, and emotional fitness through basic, creative movement. This includes skill development, sportsmanship, and aspects of mental, social, and physical health.

• Personal good health practices
  
• Personal safety practices
  
• Good nutrition
  
• Major internal organs: brain, heart, lungs, stomach
  

Health is integrated into the curriculum to promote a healthy lifestyle.

• Life Science
  
  • Gardening
  • Plants
  • Insects
• Physical Science
  • Solids and liquids
  • Balance and motion
• Earth Science
  • Air and weather
  • Pebbles, sand, and silt

• Scientific process skills
• Lab and safety rules
• Introduction to lab equipment
• Care and use of a microscope

Sciences classes are based on exploration in Life Science, Physical Science, and Earth Science and includes coordinated lab experiences at all grade levels.

• Emphasis on creative and self-directed work/following directions
• Painting
  
• Collage
  
• Cutting and pasting
  
• Design
  
• Experimenting with style/mediums, primary/secondary colors
• Use of mixed mediums

Art is incorporated into classroom activities as well as in formal instruction. Creativity is encouraged.

• Sensitivity to pulse in music
  
• Differentiation of pulse and rhythm
  
• Movement games-reaction training
  
• Creative movement
  
• Kodaly rhythmic notation
  
• Differentiation of high/low; upward/downward melodic contour
  
• Curwen hand signals (Sol-Mi-La)
  
• Symbolization of same/different phrases
  
• Simple bordun accompaniments on Orff instruments
  
• Classification of instrumental timbres
  

Music classes are based on the Orff-Schulwerk approach, integrating movement, speech, song, instrumental play, and creative dramatics. Creative thinking is encouraged and developed through improvisation.

• Respect for self and others, including
  
  • Courtesy/manners
  • Kindness and dedication to high academic and moral standards
  • Honesty/integrity
  • Tolerance
  • Social skills, friendships
  • Preventing verbal/physical abuse
• Responsibility to self and others, including
  
  • Independent thinking
  • Service to others
  • A commitment to excellence
• Community service
  • Visits to hospitals, nursing homes, etc.
  • Bake sale to benefit NSPCA
  • UNICEF
  • Recycling
  • Make-A-Wish

• Continuing development of word attack skills
  
• Increasing emphasis on
  
  • Drawing inferences
  • Interpretation/comprehension
  • Critical thinking
  • Oral expression
• Independent reading of quality literature
  
• Story elements: character, setting, problem, solution
  
• Oral reading twice daily
  
• Junior Great Books
  

The reading program is a unique and carefully designed program which allows advanced groupings with great emphasis on phonics, vocabulary, and comprehension.

• Creative writing/poetry
  
• Expository writing for research papers
  
  • Sentence/paragraph structure
  • Organizational skills
  • Note-taking for rough draft
• Spelling and dictation sentences
  
• Oral presentations
  
• Penmanship
  
• Punctuation/capitalization
  
• Parts of speech
  
• Essay format for test questions
  

The English program is a comprehensive structured program incorporating all aspects of language arts. It includes a strong combination of grammar, creative writing, and expository writing in all grades.

Continuation of skills learned in Kindergarten and Grade 1 in addition to:

• Introduce the use of call numbers and specific areas of the Library
• Using online library catalog
• Parts of a book: copyright; publisher; copyright date
• Use of encyclopaedias and other research sources
• Literary genres
• Use of online databases

Library classes prepare all students for research work. All classes have weekly scheduled Library visits and have daily access to the Library.

• Computation, including money and time
• Multi-digit addition, subtraction, multiplication, division
• Place value to hundred millions
• Problem solving, logic, probability
• Roman numerals, time
• Polygons
• Measurement/area/liquid measure/perimeter/reading scales
• Fractions, decimals, equivalent (addition, subtraction, multiplication)
• Percentages
• Exponents
• Squares, square roots
• Estimating; averaging, rounding
• Making change
• Metric and English system

The mathematics program is accelerated and stresses logical thinking, conceptual understanding, and problem solving, as well as accurate computation. Timed tests of basic facts are given daily.

• Local, state, federal government; citizenship
• Ancient civilizations
• Communities
• American history
• Timelines, graphs, tables, charts
• Conservation issues
• Geography; map and globe skills
• American ideals, symbols, holidays, commerce, economy
• Introduction to essay test-taking

The social studies program includes a very strong “research” program of expository writing in the content areas, especially history and geography. Correlated field trips enrich studies.

• Continuing vocabulary building
• Asking and answering questions
• Acting out stories
• Describing people, places, and things
• Expressing likes, dislikes, and preferences
• Reading of short passages
• Writing of short paragraphs
• Spanish-speaking countries
• Continuation of regular verb conjugation
• Introduction to irregular verb conjugation

Spanish is required at all levels with emphasis on conversation and correct accent.

• Perform locomotor and non‑locomotor skills
  
• Receptive motor skill development
  
• Creative movement
  
• Cooperative play
  
• Lead‑up games skill instruction: basketball, volleyball, badminton, hockey, football, soccer
  
• Limited physical fitness testing
  
• Physical fitness
  
• Exercise
  
• Decision making

The physical education program is a sequential development of physical, mental, and emotional fitness through basic, creative movement. This includes skill development, sportsmanship, and aspects of mental, social, and physical health.

• Personal health, hygiene, safety practices
  
• Good nutrition
  
• Skeletal system–location, purpose
  
• Medical discoverers: Pasteur, Salk, etc.
  
• Muscular system
  

Health is integrated into the curriculum to promote a healthy lifestyle.

• Life Science
  
  • Life structures
  • Human Body
• Physical Science
  • Physics of sound
  • Magnetism and electricty
• Earth Science
  • Water
  • Earth materials

• Scientific process skills
• Lab and safety rules
• Introduction to lab equipment
• Care and use of a microscope

Sciences classes are based on exploration in Life Science, Physical Science, and Earth Science and includes coordinated lab experiences at all grade levels.

Continuation of skills learned in Grade 2, plus:

• Integrated fine arts
  
• Art appreciation
  
• Still life
  
• Self-portraits
  
• Elements of design
  
• Variety of mediums
  

Art is incorporated into classroom activities as well as in formal instruction. Creativity is encouraged.

• Sensitivity to pulse in music
  
• Differentiation of pulse and rhythm
  
• Movement games-reaction training-folk dance
  
• Creative movement
  
• Kodaly rhythmic notation
  
• Question/answer technique
  
• Curwen hand signals (Do-Re-Mi-Fa-Sol-La-Ti-Do)
  
• Musical alphabet-treble clef lines and spaces
  
• Canon
  
• Symbolization of simple forms (AB, ABA)
  
• Simple bordun accompaniments on Orff instruments
  
• Classification of instrumental timbres
  

Music classes are based on the Orff-Schulwerk approach, integrating movement, speech, song, instrumental play, and creative dramatics. Creative thinking is encouraged and developed through improvisation.

• Respect for self and others, including
  
  • Courtesy/manners
  • Kindness and dedication to high academic and moral standards
  • Honesty/integrity
  • Tolerance
  • Social skills, friendships
  • Preventing verbal/physical abuse
• Responsibility to self and others, including
  
  • Independent thinking
  • Service to others
  • A commitment to excellence
• Community service
  • Visits to hospitals, nursing homes, etc.
  • Bake sale to benefit NSPCA
  • UNICEF
  • Recycling
  • Make-A-Wish

• Daily oral reading, literature discussion
  
• Independent reading in a variety of genres
  
• Reading short stories, poetry, drama, mythology
  
• Structured reading and skill building
  
• Increasing emphasis on inferential skills, contextual
  
• vocabulary and comprehension–literal to critical
  
• Junior Great Books
  

The reading program is a unique and carefully designed program which allows advanced groupings with great emphasis on phonics, vocabulary, and comprehension.

• Vocabulary and spelling
  
• Oral presentations
  
• Study skills
  
• Grammar, including parts of speech and word usage
  
• Punctuation and capitalization
  
• Penmanship
• Creative writing, including poetry
  
• Analogies
  
• Use of dictionary and reference books
  
• Paragraphs and multi-paragraph essays
  
• Composition and report writing
  
• Writing process, including proofreading, editing, and revising

The English program is a comprehensive structured program incorporating all aspects of language arts. It includes a strong combination of grammar, creative writing, and expository writing in all grades.

Continuation of skills learned in Grade 2 and Grade 3, plus:

• Independent research skills
• Storytelling
  
• Guidelines for using other libraries in the community
  

Library classes prepare all students for research work. All classes have weekly scheduled Library visits and have daily access to the Library.

• Roman numerals, numeration
  
• Computation, including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of fractions and decimals
  
• Equivalent decimals, percents, fractions
  
• Geometry including geometric solids, perimeter area, volume, lines, angles, circles
  
• Measurement–U.S. customary and metric
  
• Problem solving, word problems
  
• Reading and drawing charts, graphs, tables
  
• Ratio, proportion, probability and chance
  
• Exponents and square roots
  
• Introduction of integers
  

The mathematics program is accelerated and stresses logical thinking, conceptual understanding, and problem solving, as well as accurate computation. Timed tests of basic facts are given daily.

• Local, state, federal government; citizenship
  
• Ancient civilizations
  
• African Americans/slavery
  
• Communities
  
• American history
  
• Timelines, graphs, tables, charts
  
• Conservation issues
  
• Geography; map and globe skills
  
• American ideals, symbols, holidays, commerce, economy
  
• Introduction to essay test-taking
  

The social studies program includes a very strong “research” program of expository writing in the content areas, especially history and geography. Correlated field trips enrich studies.

• Continuing vocabulary building
• Requesting and providing information on a number of topics
• Acting out stories
• Holding short dialogues
• Expressing wants and making requests
• Reading of longer passages
• Writing of short paragraphs

Spanish is required at all levels with emphasis on conversation and correct accent.

Continuation of skills learned in Grade 3, plus:

• Physical fitness testing
  
• Specialized perceptual motor development
  
• Physical fitness testing
  
• Intricate rope jumping skills
  
• Throwing, catching, kicking, dribbling
  
• Conflict resolution

The physical education program is a sequential development of physical, mental, and emotional fitness through basic, creative movement. This includes skill development, sportsmanship, and aspects of mental, social, and physical health.

• Personal health, hygiene, safety practices
  
• Good nutrition
  
• Digestive system
  
• Circulatory system
  

Health is integrated into the curriculum to promote a healthy lifestyle.

Continuation of:

• Life Science
  
  • Life structures
  • Human Body
• Physical Science
  • Physics of sound
  • Magnetism and electricty
• Earth Science
  • Water
  • Earth materials

• Scientific process skills
• Lab and safety rules
• Introduction to lab equipment
• Care and use of a microscope

Sciences classes are based on exploration in Life Science, Physical Science, and Earth Science and includes coordinated lab experiences at all grade levels.

Continuation of skills learned in Grade 3, plus:

• Drawing/sketching
• Still life; landscapes
• Printing
• Reproduction of design
• Perspective
• Watercolor, pastels
• Illustration

Art is incorporated into classroom activities as well as in formal instruction. Creativity is encouraged.

• Sensitivity to pulse in music
  
• Differentiation of pulse and rhythm
  
• Reaction training-folk dance-creative movement
  
• Kodaly rhythmic notation
  
• Question/answer technique
  
• Curwen hand signals
  
• Musical alphabet-treble clef lines and spaces
  
• Soprano recorder
  
• Canon
  
• Symbolization of simple and extended forms (AB, ABA, AABA, ABC, Rondo)
  
• Simple bordun, moving bordun, tonic and chord accompaniments on Orff instruments
  
• Classification of instrumental timbres
  

Music classes are based on the Orff-Schulwerk approach, integrating movement, speech, song, instrumental play, and creative dramatics. Creative thinking is encouraged and developed through improvisation.

• Respect for self and others, including
  
  • Courtesy/manners
  • Kindness and dedication to high academic and moral standards
  • Honesty/integrity
  • Tolerance
  • Social skills, friendships
  • Preventing verbal/physical abuse
• Responsibility to self and others, including
  
  • Independent thinking
  • Service to others
  • A commitment to excellence
• Community service
  • Visits to hospitals, nursing homes, etc.
  • Bake sale to benefit NSPCA
  • UNICEF
  • Recycling
  • Make-A-Wish

• Structured reading with skill building
  
• Reading classics, short stories, plays
  
• Reading/studying novels
  
• Emphasis on inferential skills
  
• Reading correlated with other curricular areas
  
• Independent reading
  
• Daily oral reading/discussion
  
• Junior Great Book
  

The reading program is a unique and carefully designed program which allows advanced groupings with great emphasis on phonics, vocabulary, and comprehension.

Continuation of skills learned in Grade 4, plus:

• Composition and report writing
  
• Spelling with sentence dictation
  
• Vocabulary-introduction to word derivation
  
• Creative writing-fantasy and fact; poetry
  
• Grammar-nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions
  
• Punctuation, capitalization, penmanship
  
• Dictionary skills
  
• Study skills and organization
  
• Oral language - speech

The English program is a comprehensive structured program incorporating all aspects of language arts. It includes a strong combination of grammar, creative writing, and expository writing in all grades.

Continuation of skills learned in Grade 2 and Grade 3, plus:

• Independent research skills
• Storytelling
  
• Guidelines for using other libraries in the community
  

Library classes prepare all students for research work. All classes have weekly scheduled Library visits and have daily access to the Library.

Continuation of skills learned in Grade 4, plus:

• Computation, including: properties, numeration, geometry, problem solving, rational numbers, Roman numerals, decimals, metric measurement, area and perimeter, review of fundamental operations; whole number, fractions, decimals, estimation, statistics, percentage, prime numbers, square root, integers
  
• Use of compass and protractor

The mathematics program is accelerated and stresses logical thinking, conceptual understanding, and problem solving, as well as accurate computation. Timed tests of basic facts are given daily.

• United States history, government, economy
  
• States and capitals
  
• Geography and research skills, including atlas, graphs, diagrams, tables
  
• Early explorers and American heroes
  
• Major current events
  
• Test-taking skills, outlining
  
• Motivation/attitudes of people
  
• Propaganda
  
• Religious freedom/persecution
  
• Citizenship
  

The social studies program includes a very strong “research” program of expository writing in the content areas, especially history and geography. Correlated field trips enrich studies.

• Continuing vocabulary building
• Continuing development of conversational skills in a variety of topics
• Describing people, places, things, and activities using the correct verb forms in the present tense, present progressive, noun/adjective agreement, and expressions of comparison
• Introduction to past tense
• Discussing obligations, schedules, and plans
• Comparing cultures
• Short presentation using vocabulary about school, sports, family
• Comparing the different cultures of Spanish-speaking countries

Spanish is required at all levels with emphasis on conversation and correct accent.

Continuation of skills learned in Grade 4, plus:

• Skill instruction: volleyball, basketball, tennis
  
• Physical fitness testing
  
• Growth and development
  
• Muscular system - location, purpose
  
• Cardio and strength training through game playing

The physical education program is a sequential development of physical, mental, and emotional fitness through basic, creative movement. This includes skill development, sportsmanship, and aspects of mental, social, and physical health.

• Personal health, hygiene, safety practices
  
• Good nutrition
  
• The brain and nervous system
  
• Effects of smoking, drugs, and alcohol on the body
  
• Body changes and puberty
  

Health is integrated into the curriculum to promote a healthy lifestyle.

• Life Science
  
  • Environments
  • Food and nutrition
• Physical Science
  • Mixtures and solutions
• Earth Science
  • Solar energy

• Scientific process skills
• Lab and safety rules
• Introduction to lab equipment
• Care and use of a microscope

Sciences classes are based on exploration in Life Science, Physical Science, and Earth Science and includes coordinated lab experiences at all grade levels.

Continuation of skills learned in Grade 4, plus:

• Chalks, other mediums
• Maps
  
• Scale drawing
  
• Contour, abstract, concrete drawing
  
• Illustrative writing
  
• Depth perception, shadowing,
  
• 3-dimensional patterning
  

Art is incorporated into classroom activities as well as in formal instruction. Creativity is encouraged.

• Sensitivity to pulse in music
  
• Reaction training-folk dance-creative movement
  
• Kodaly rhythmic notation
  
• Question/answer technique
  
• Musical alphabet-treble clef lines and spaces
  
• Soprano recorder
  
• Canon
  
• Symbolization of extended and larger forms (AB, ABA, AABA, ABC, Rondo, Theme and Variations)
  
• Simple bordun, moving bordun, tonic and chord accompaniments on Orff instruments
  
• Classification of instrumental timbres
  

Music classes are based on the Orff-Schulwerk approach, integrating movement, speech, song, instrumental play, and creative dramatics. Creative thinking is encouraged and developed through improvisation.

• Respect for self and others, including
  
  • Courtesy/manners
  • Kindness and dedication to high academic and moral standards
  • Honesty/integrity
  • Tolerance
  • Social skills, friendships
  • Preventing verbal/physical abuse
• Responsibility to self and others, including
  
  • Independent thinking
  • Service to others
  • A commitment to excellence
• Community service
  • Visits to hospitals, nursing homes, etc.
  • Bake sale to benefit NSPCA
  • UNICEF
  • Recycling
  • Make-A-Wish