The
Kindergarten Bible curriculum introduces students to the Old Testament and the
New Testament, including: God’s creation of the world, the fall of man, God’s
plan for salvation, the life of Christ, His crucifixion, and resurrection.
Phonics/Language Arts
The
Kindergarten Language Arts curriculum is a phonetic-based program to teach
reading, reading comprehension, creative writing/sentence construction, and
pre-cursive handwriting. One or two
letters are introduced each week with focus on their phonetic sounds and
handwriting strokes. Each week two or
more sight words that cannot be decoded phonetically are presented along with
word families that are combined with mastered phonetic sounds to create an
expanding vocabulary. As students grow
in confidence and ability, blends, special sounds, and punctuation are
included. Oral and silent reading skills
are an integral part of the daily routine.
The
Kindergarten mathematics program focuses on number recognition, counting skills
(by ones, fives and tens), patterns, geometric shapes, spatial concepts,
weights and measures, telling time, addition/subtraction and use and
recognition of coins. Hands on and written
activities are utilized daily to challenge the student and to increase their
logical thinking skills.
First Grade
At Liberty Christian School, we believe that all scripture was inspired by God- 2 Timothy 3:16. In the first grade Bible curriculum, the students are encouraged to learn the truths of the Bible and to apply these truths to their daily lives. Through the reading of God’s word, they learn about a relationship with Christ and about applying Truth in their lives and in the classrooms.
The goal of handwriting in first grade is communication.
Good handwriting is an essential skill that requires a coordinated effort of
nearly five hundred muscles. Letter alignment, the slant of letters, spacing,
neatness, and rhythm are important aspects of first grade handwriting. First
graders practice the continuous strokes method to communicate ideas through the
written word. All students in first
grade will use upper and lower case letters appropriately.
History
Students participate in activities that further knowledge of self, family, friends, heroes, historical events, and geography to develop an understanding of the interrelationship all people have in the world, both past and present. The students use maps, globes and simple graphs to recognize the diversity among people, families, and culture. This program fosters an understanding of the relationship people have with each other and the environment in which we live.
Science
In first grade science, the curriculum is used as an inquiry
based program where learning about the natural world allows for the beginning
of experimentation. Students engage in active inquiries, investigations, and
hands on activities to develop conceptual understanding as their scientific
vocabulary expands. Students use scientific and everyday materials to investigate
their world. Students are encouraged to ask questions, find answers, and make
comparisons through scientific investigations.
Spelling
In first grade spelling, students are required to correctly spell words from a pre-determined list. Each week, the students are responsible for ten spelling words. Students will practice the rhythm and movement of words and will play Spelling Bingo every week to enhance the learning of the spelling words.
Reading
In first grade, students begin formal reading instruction. They are expected to apply their decoding skills in their listening/speaking vocabularies. First grade students extend their understanding of the enabling skills of phonemic awareness and word families to move forward in reading at higher levels. The goal of reading instruction in first grade is to develop reading and thinking skills that enable students to become independent, skillful, and accurate oral and silent readers with good comprehension.
Math
In first grade, students use manipulatives and daily drills, including Mad Dog Math, to master addition and subtraction facts through the 18 family. Story problems are introduced and solved by the students when they apply skills and concepts taught. The students learn and understand simple money facts and counting by 1’s, 2’s, 3’s, 5’s, and 10’s. Students understand and use the concept of ones and tens in the place value number system. They measure with simple units including time, length, temperature, and weight. Simple fractions are introduced.
Phonics/Language
The purpose of the first Grade Phonics/Language program is to help students become independent readers and writers. First grade students will learn a variety of comprehension strategies (e.g., activating background knowledge) in order to read and understand grade level text in both fiction and non-fiction. First graders learn word families, a variety of sight words, and letter/sound associations to enable them to develop skills in reading and writing. Students write coherent sentences and paragraphs that develop a central idea and learn to use the writing process (prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, etc.). They write narratives and expository descriptions of familiar objects and experiences.
Bible
Each student is given a Bible to use for the year and with it they learn how to use the Table of Contents and the glossary as needed. Students read a given story from the Scripture and then apply it to second grade life. Application stories are used to show students what kind of behavior pleases God. Lessons are organized into ten units that study the Old and New Testament in chronological order.
Language Arts
Second grade language arts is divided into two parts: grammar and writing chapters are alternated throughout the school year. This gives the students a strong link between these two areas of language arts. The writing process is taught in stages. Students are taught about topic sentences, story webs, and other forms of organizing their thoughts before they begin to write. Students learn the basic proofreading marks to be used in the proofing and revising of their work, and writing is assessed according to the six traits of good writing. Grammar sections include sentence structure and the different types of sentences, parts of speech, using a thesaurus and dictionary, and proper punctuation marks.
Math
Second Grade math teaches the students to understand and be able to perform the basic procedures learned in first grade in addition, subtraction, and beginning multiplication. Through Mad Dog Math students learn to solve problems quickly and memorize the facts up to the 18 family. Each student learns how to regroup with addition and subtraction to the thousands places. They are able to count money, tell time, and read the thermometer. Basic geometric shapes will be learned along with English and metric units of length and weight. Critical thinking skills are used to answer questions and draw conclusions.
Penmanship
Good handwriting is a skill needed for expression and communication. Students are taught pre-cursive and then cursive writing. This seeks to lay the foundation and then broaden the skills through the elementary years. Students are taught strokes and letters that are similar in motion and structure at the same time for ease of learning the letters. Students are taught to hold their pencil correctly, good writing posture, letter alignment, formation and spacing for the penmanship to achieve legibility and neatness.
Spelling
Spelling is a tool for communication, story writing, and effective communication. Words are learned by generalizations that help the students to be confident spellers and story writers. Students also benefit from systematic review. Students can spell many more words than just the ones on the list because of the learning of word groupings. Dictionary skills are also taught as part of the spelling lessons. Alphabetical order, entry and guide words, along with dividing words into syllables, are part of the tools taught.
Science
The goal of learning science is problem solving. Students become aware of conservation, prevention, and good use of natural within the world in which they live. Students learn that they are responsible to care for themselves and also the world that God created. Second grade science has seven major topics of learning: living things, human bodies, earth, space, energy, and motion.
History
Second grade history takes the students back to the beginning of our country and how freedom was won. Students are introduced to the way of life in colonial times along with the hardships that the people endured. Students are taught to value their rights and respect the heritage that has been passed down to them. Maps, globes, tables, and charts are used to help students understand historic data.
Reading
Second grade reading is taught in order that each student develops into confident, eager, fluent reader. They read for pleasure and also for understanding. Comprehension is taught with silent reading, guided discussions, and then oral reading. Students are learning to communicate the author’s message by tone, inflection, pacing, and feelings.
Third Grade
Spelling
The goal of third grade spelling is to produce functional spellers. Each weekly lesson contains spelling words that are focused on a reliable spelling pattern. Generalizations are taught that make it possible to spell words that are not given in the lesson. Dictionary skills, such as using alphabetical order, recognizing entry and guide words, recognizing definitions, word forms, and sample sentences are also part of the course.
History
Third grade surveys American history. The students’ journey through history begins with the framing of the Constitution through settlers moving west, with a focus on the Trail of Tears and the California Gold Rush. The journey continues with a look at the Civil War, railroads, and the Wild West. Geography skills are integrated into the course through a study of physical maps and the regions of the United States.
Penmanship
Third grade allows students to continue the practice of handwriting skills. These skills are reinforced from learning in prior grades. Letters are reviewed in sequence according to similarities in strokes and how the letters are formed. All facets of good cursive, such as correct letter formation, alignment, neatness, slant, and spacing are modeled and practiced.
Spelling
Bible
Math
Reading
Science
Fourth Grade
Language Arts
Since fourth grade is a year of transition from “learning to write and read” to “writing and reading to learn,” assignments are given to help students experience success during this transition. Students use their reading skills to research topics in other curricular areas such as science and history. Finally, to further ensure regular review of English skills, students participate in Mountain Language. Students’ writing is assessed according to the six traits of good writing.
Math
By
fourth grade, mastery of addition and subtraction is expected. Daily
multiplication and division fact drills from the Mad Dog Math program encourage
the same mastery and proficiency. Math lessons emphasize computation as well as
problem solving. Units of study include number theory, computation, geometry,
fractions, and decimals. To ensure continual review of math skills, students
also participate in Mountain Math, a program designed to reinforce prior learning and presents
opportunities for review on a weekly basis so that concepts are retained.
Science includes a variety of content lessons and objectives. Included is a unit on living things where the study of ecosystems is explored. Simple machines are studied with emphasis on force, effort, and the different types of simple machines. Magnetism, electricity, light, and astronomy are also studied.
Spelling
Bible
History
Reading
Fifth Grade
Bible
This
study of God’s Word includes: God’s judgment and grace, building godly
character, obedience, holiness, and growing in grace and knowledge. Students
also spend personal quiet time reading God’s Word and reflecting on it, using a
monthly H.A.B.I.T. guideline provided in the work text.
Math
By
fifth grade mastery of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division
facts is expected. Daily fact drills
from the Mad Dog Math program encourage such mastery. Actual math lessons
emphasize computation as well as problem solving. Units of study include number
theory, computation, geometry, and fractions. To ensure continual review of
math skills, students also participate in Mountain Math.
Spelling
Weekly
lessons focus on specific spelling practices/rules. Assignments encourage
students to practice language development as well as explore related dictionary
skills. As the year progresses, students
select two words to add to their weekly lists. This encourages personal
attention to the mastery of words they encounter.
Language
Arts
Learning
combines the study of grammar with writing skills. Grammar units include:
sentences, nouns, verbs, pronouns, adjectives, and adverbs. Students write
compare-contrast essays, diamante and sense poems, and personal narratives. Writing
is assessed according to the six traits of good writing. Students also participate in a biweekly
program, Mountain Language, to review concepts and skills previously taught.
Lastly, students research and collect information from a variety of sources for
state reports. In weekly media classes boys and girls then use their research
results to create power point presentations which incorporate many techniques to
bring their findings alive.
Science
This
study is focused on: matter, energy, the earth, minerals, rocks, weather,
ecosystems, and systems of the human body. Students are encouraged to branch out on their
own through supplemental resources and discover God’s creation.
History
American
history is the focus at fifth grade. History units survey and explore early
Native American cultures, colonial settlement, America’s road to freedom, and
life in the United States since independence. Students also commit to memory
the names, locations, and capitals of the fifty states. Fifth graders also write state reports and
create floats to depict the theme of the state. Lastly, an added treat is the overnight field
trip on the brig Pilgrim, docked in
Dana Point Harbor. This allows students to role-play the life of 19th
Century hidegathering sailors.
Reading
Reading
lessons reflect these areas: comprehension, vocabulary enrichment, skill work,
and literature discussions. In addition to the text selections read as a class,
students will also read three novels. Outside
leisure reading is encouraged. Lastly, a fun incentive to promote better
reading is our Reading Buddies program. Once a week, each fifth grader reads to
one or two kindergartners or first graders. This encourages them to read with
expression, and it encourages the young ones to learn to read…and enjoy it!