Kindergarten Curriculum

 

 

 

 

 

Art - The Kindergarten student explores many types of media as they learn about color, line and composition. A variety of projects will help the development of cutting, gluing, drawing & coloring skills.

 

 

Computers - The Kindergarten Computer curriculum is designed to introduce basic skills that help children become familiar with the keyboard, simple word processing and printing. Our program follows Michigan Department of Education Technology Guidelines.

 

 

Language Arts - The Kindergarten Language Arts curriculum focuses on Handwriting, Phonics, Reading and Spelling as independent yet interrelated subjects. As a result, children develop an understanding of sound and letter relationships, names of letters and high frequency words. They listen to a wide selection of literature and text and join in songs, rhymes and poems. Children are encouraged to communicate their ideas in writing (journals), pictures (art) and storytelling (dialogue). The literacy bag program provides an opportunity for parent & child interaction with activities that reinforce LA objectives.

Text: Harcourt Phonics/Trophies/Big Books.

 

 

Mathematics - The Kindergarten Mathematics curriculum builds on a child’s enjoyment in learning about patterns and attributes. Students learn to sort, classify, compare, estimate & count collections of objects. Number activities lead to graphing, ordering and simple addition and subtraction. They become familiar with coin recognition and value and telling time to the hour and the half hour.

Text: MacMillan/McGraw-Hill “Mathematics in Motion.”

 

 

Physical Education - The Kindergarten Physical Education curriculum introduces and fine-tunes motor skills such as skipping, galloping, hopping on one foot and two feet and running in straight lines. Students also work on skills such as dodging and fleeing, balance, body and spatial awareness, rhythms, cooperative learning and good sportsmanship. Basic sports skills such as hand eye coordination and foot eye coordination are also introduced, but the most important objective is to allow the students to practice skills at their own pace, and to enjoy themselves.

 

 

Religion - The Kindergarten Religion curriculum is based on three essential elements—beliefs, story and celebration. The students will celebrate the liturgical seasons and its feast days, and attend mass every week.

Text: “Faith First” by Resources for Christian Living.

 

 

Science - A young child’s curiosity is the perfect environment to explore the scientific processes: observing, comparing, classifying, measuring, and communicating. The students explore such concepts as the weather, seasons, plant & animal life, and physical changes of matter.

Text: Harcourt “Horizons.”

 

 

Social Studies - The Kindergarten Social Studies curriculum introduces the children to the world and people around them.  Children learn about their role as community members, and develop an awareness of time and space, as well as past, present & future.

 

 

 

First Grade Curriculum

 

 

 

Art - First Grade students are exposed to many different mediums such as chalk, crayons and paint. They will learn about primary and secondary colors, and further develop their coloring, painting, cutting and gluing skills.

 

 

Computers -  In the First Grade, students learn left and right hand positions. Students use the mouse, and learn how the “Open”, “Save” and “Print” file menus are used. Children also become familiar with navigating through documents using the “Delete” key, the “Enter” key and arrows. Our program follows Michigan Department of Education Technology Guidelines.

 

 

Language Arts - The First Grade Language Arts curriculum includes Handwriting, Phonics, Spelling and Reading.

In Handwriting, students will learn the proper formation of D’Nealian letters and numbers.  The study of Phonics introduces students to consonants (beginning, medial and ending) as well as the long and short vowels. Blends are also introduced as well as consonant digraphs TH, WH, SH, CH and KN. Commonly known contractions are also discussed.  Reading studies focus on phonetic, whole word, picture clues and other strategies to decode words. Students learn to read fiction as well as expository text. Comprehension skills are introduced, and children are also encouraged to use literary clues to predict story outcomes. Spelling studies focus on spelling correctly using three primary strategies: visual memory, phology (phonetic spelling) and analogy (patterning). Students are taught alphabetical order, sequencing, and word structures (prefixes and suffixes).

Text: McGraw-Hill “Literacy Launch,” Harcourt Brace, MacMillan/McGraw-Hill “Reading.”

 

 

Mathematics - Students learn to add and subtract to and from 18. They learn to recognize numbers up to 99.  Counting money and making change using pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters is also studied. Students measure using standard (metric and English) and non-standard units. Telling the time to the hour and half hour, as well as they days of the week, months of the year are taught. Students also learn simple geometry and fractions. Students will be introduced to adding and subtracting of two digit fractions.

Text: MacMillian/McGraw-Hill “Mathematics in Action.”

 

 

Physical Education - Students participate in organized play to increase fine and gross motor skills. Students also continue working on balance, body and spatial awareness, rhythms, cooperative learning and good sportsmanship.

 

 

Religion - First Grade Religion introduces the students to the Holy Trinity, collectively and individually. The students also understand that they are part of a faith community. Attendance and participation at Mass is required once a week during the school day. Students also learn that prayer can be formal (traditional) as well as informal. Students also participate in classroom and school wide Christian Service projects.

Text: “Faith First” by Resources for Christian Living.

 

 

Science – Students learn to compare, contrast, classify and observe. They also infer, plan, measure, predict and draw conclusions in the scientific areas concerning Plants and Animals, The Earth, Air and Water, Weather and the Seasons, Matter and Energy, and Energy and Force.

Text: Harcourt “Science.”

 

 

Social Studies - Students learn about the communities around them. They also learn to use maps and globes to help learn about the global community.

 

 

 

 

Second Grade Curriculum

 

 

 

Art – Children are exposed to various types of mediums such as pain, chalk, pencil etc. The concepts of perspective, primary and secondary colors, details and elements of composition are introduced. Art is incorporated across the curriculum.

 

 

Computers - Our Second Grade Computer Program exposes the children to keyboarding, word processing, and desktop publishing skills, along with practice in Math, Language Arts and other areas of the curriculum. Our program follows Michigan Department of Education Technology Guidelines.

 

 

Language Arts

Handwriting – The printed alphabet is practiced and perfected in Grade 2, and cursive handwriting is introduced later in the year. We use the D’Nealian style alphabet.

Reading – The children enjoy a wide selection of literature chosen to enhance lesson content. We continue to help the children increase their comprehension, oral, writing, and vocabulary skills.

Text: “Wake the Sun” and “Watch the Wind,” both by McGraw-Hill.

Phonics - Students reinforce their knowledge of basic phonetic skills learned in the First Grade by using vowels, blends, digraphs, compound words, prefixes, and suffixes.

Text: Modern Curriculum Press

Spelling – Our Spelling curriculum combines traditional word lists with writing skills, sentence structure, correct grammar, and punctuation.

Text: McGraw-Hill “Spelling.”

 

 

Mathematics – Our Second Grade Math program reinforces the concepts of addition, subtraction, measurement, geometry, fractions and multiplication.

Text: MacMillan/McGraw Hill “Mathematics in Action.”

 

 

Physical Education - Students participate in organized play to increase fine and gross motor skills. Students also continue working on balance, body and spatial awareness, rhythms, cooperative learning and good sportsmanship.

 

 

Religion - Our Second Grade program focuses on the preparations and reception of two special Sacraments— Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist. The elements of Doctrine, Scripture and Liturgical Seasons are all interwoven.

Text: “Faith First” by Resources for Christian Living.

 

 

Science - Students investigate the natural world, learn about interesting, relevant and exciting science ideas, and link science to mathematics, writing, technology and all other aspects of elementary education. A course provided by Oakland County schools, Growing Healthy, reinforces healthy living through good nutrition and good hygiene.

Text: Harcourt “Life Sciences.”

 

 

Social Studies - The goal of the Social Studies program is to involve children in the understanding of our world through History and Geography.  There is an emphasis on map skills, important people, current events and the use of a wide range of cross-curricular activities.

Text: Harcourt Horizons “All About My Community.”

 

 

Third Grade Curriculum

 

 

Art – Children are exposed to various types of mediums such as pain, chalk, pencil etc. The concepts of perspective, primary and secondary colors, details and elements of composition are reinforced. Art is incorporated across the curriculum.

 

 

Computers - Our Third Grade Computer Program includes keyboarding, word processing, and desktop publishing skills, along with incorporating computer skills with studies in Math, Language Arts and other areas of the curriculum. Our program follows Michigan Department of Education Technology Guidelines.

 

 

Language Arts

English - English is taught through the practice of Daily Oral Language (DOL) and the use of a textbook. The students are taught how to write a sentence, using and able to identify the parts of speech, and then being able to write a paragraph.

Text: McGraw-Hill “English.”

Handwriting – In second grade children learned cursive handwriting. As a third grader, all of their writing is expected to be in cursive. We emphasize neatness and organization on every paper. Practice is important to improvement.

Reading – Students learn and build comprehension skills, vocabulary, and practice their phonics. In addition to the use of the reading texts, the students are required to be reading books of their choosing for testing and reports. Students learn to read and become better readers by reading.

Text:  “Rolling Waves” and “Fill the Sky,” both by McGraw-Hill.

Spelling - Spelling is a daily subject where students learn new words through strategies related to sounds and spelling patterns, particularly vowel sounds. Each weekly unit has sixteen words and four challenge words that are tested on each Friday. The students are encouraged to use correct spelling in all written work.

Text: Steck-Vaughn Spelling “Linking Words to Meaning.”

 

 

Mathematics - Students beginning the third grade are expected to know basic addition and subtraction facts, although we quickly review and reinforce these skills. Students learn multi-digit addition, multi-digit subtraction with borrowing. Multiplication and division facts become the focus around the holidays. These facts must be memorized for the students to be successful. Problem solving, estimation, money, time, fractions, decimals, metric units, and geometry are also included in the curriculum.

Text: MacMillan/McGraw-Hill “Mathematics in Action.”

 

 

Physical Education - Students participate in organized play to increase fine and gross motor skills. Students also continue working on balance, body and spatial awareness, rhythms, cooperative learning and good sportsmanship.

 

 

Religion – The focus of this year is doctrine, scripture and the liturgical season, particularly the teaching of the Creed, the sacraments, love and morality, and Christian prayer.

Text: “Faith First” by Resources for Christian Living.

 

 

Science - Students study plants, animals, the Earth, cycles on Earth and in space, matter, and exploring energy and forces. Opportunities for developing science skills through investigation and experimentation are an integral part of the curriculum.

Text: Harcourt “Science.”

 

 

Social Studies - The social studies program focuses on communities. We will emphasize history, geography, economics, humanities, and citizenship, while making connections from the outside world to the classroom. In addition, lessons about other countries are integrated into the chapters.

Text: Harcourt Horizons “People and Communities.”

Fourth Grade Curriculum

 

 

 

Art – The concepts of perspective, primary and secondary colors, details and elements of composition are reinforced. Children are exposed to various types of mediums such as pain, chalk, pencil and others.

 

Computers - Our Fourth Grade Computer Program includes keyboarding, word processing, and desktop publishing skills, along with incorporating computer skills with other areas of the curriculum. Our program follows Michigan Department of Education Technology Guidelines.

 

Language Arts

English – This class includes both creative and structured writing, grammar and punctuation and oral presentation. Sentence and paragraph structure are emphasized. Creative writing includes both stories and poetry. Grammar and punctuation are presented as separate topics and also applied to the students’ written compositions.

Text: McGraw-Hill “English.”

Handwriting - Students are expected to follow the handwriting guidelines that were presented during their earlier grades. Emphasis is placed upon neatness and legibility. Review and practice of handwriting skills are presented and emphasized when necessary.

Spelling – Spelling is a daily subject in which students learn new words through phonetic patterns. They investigate word meaning and learn to use the words in context. Lessons also include enhancement of proofreading and dictionary skills. Students are expected to use correct spelling on all writing pieces throughout the curriculum.

Text: Steck-Vaughan Spelling “Linking Words to Meaning.”

Reading - This class includes the use of several novels as well as in order to examine literature. The focus is on many different concepts including comprehension, style and genre. Students also learn about the many aspects of reading through book club format. This club gives the students the opportunity to read, write about and discuss books with their peers while learning about elements that make quality literature. Novels are read aloud in class.

Text: “This We Wish” by McGraw-Hill. Novels such as “Charlotte’s Web” and “Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing.”

 

Math – When entering the fourth grade students will review basic facts for addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. During the school year, students will cover problem solving, estimating, geometry, decimals, fractions, double-digit multiplication, and long division. The students will participate in math games, math drills, and use of manipulatives to help insure their success.

Text:  MacMillan/McGraw Hill, “Mathematics in Action.”

 

Physical Education - Students participate in organized play to increase fine and gross motor skills. Students also continue working on balance, body and spatial awareness, rhythms, cooperative learning and good sportsmanship.

 

Religion – The goal of Religion in the Fourth Grade is to help each child move toward a new sense of independence and responsibility within his/her faith. Students will study various topics, a few of which are: God’s works and promises to us, the works and examples of Jesus, The Beatitudes, The Ten Commandments and living a moral life. Lessons will also involve Scripture passages and sharing special intentions daily during religious studies.

Text:  “Faith First” by Resources for Christian Living.

 

Science - The students will study three different units in science. Life science will teach them how to classify living things and also examines ecosystems. Earth science investigates the surface and patterns on the Earth, as well as in space. Physical science focuses on the properties of matter, energy and simple machines

Text: Harcourt “Science.”

 

Social Studies - The Fourth Grade Social Studies curriculum is focused on helping students understand Michigan.  Lessons are designed to explore the history, geography, government and other special features of our state. We also examine the history of Michigan in relation to the rest of the United States. The students participate in both independent and cooperative learning activities to enhance their studies.

Text: “Michigan, Adventures in Time and Place” by McGraw-Hill, and Harcourt Horizons “States & Regions.”

 

 

Fifth Grade Curriculum

 

Art/Fine Arts - In the Fifth Grade this subject is presented as a special class and also as a homeroom subject. Many basic techniques are taught with emphasis on design, perspective, sketching, pottery, drawing application, and related holiday craft projects. Listening to American music and viewing selected American art history samples are presented for appreciation.

 

Computers - In this class students are taught correct typing and word processing skills. They are taught to use home keys and various commands of the computer. In addition to word processing students access the Internet as a reference tool for other classroom subjects such as social studies, religion and science. Our program follows Michigan Department of Education Technology Guidelines.

 

LANGUAGE ARTS

English – The subject consists of four basic areas: 1) written composition, 2) grammar, 3) mechanics and punctuation, and 4) literature. Students review paragraph structure, develop an essay, and write a research paper. The research correlates with the fifth grade science project. Creative composition includes descriptive writing, specialized writing, original poetry and at least one short story. Selections from American literature are often presented as writing models.

Text: McGraw-Hill “English.”

Handwriting – Students are expected to follow the handwriting guidelines that were presented during their earlier grades. Emphasis is placed upon neatness and legibility. Review and practice of handwriting skills are presented and emphasized when necessary.

Reading – Students focus on many different concepts including comprehension, style and genre. Students also learn about elements that make quality literature using the book club format, which provides the opportunity to read, write about and discuss books with their peers. Novels such as “A Year Down Yonder”, “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets”, “Walk Two Moons”, “Bud, not Buddy”, “Number the Stars”, “The Watson’s Go to Birmingham-1963” and “Holes” are examples of the books that are read aloud to the students.  

Text:  “Dreams Go Far” by McGraw-Hill.

Spelling – Units in spelling are presented on a weekly basis by the homeroom teacher along with the writing of genres and forms related to a particular unit. Word analysis, definition, and basic linguistics are also included.

Text: Steck-Vaughan “Linking Words to Meaning.”

 

Math - The math concepts presented from previous years are revisited and reviewed at the beginning of class. Billions place, decimals, multiplication, division, geometry, fractions and mixed numbers, percents, ration and probability are presented.

Text: MacMillan/McGraw-Hill.

 

Physical Education—Students participate in organized play to increase fine and gross motor skills. Students also continue working on balance, body and spatial awareness, rhythms, cooperative learning and good sportsmanship.

 

Religion - This class is about the Seven Sacraments and the Mass. In addition to these two basic components a unit about growing up and approaching adolescence is also included. The physical changes that take place during this phase of development are incorporated with Catholic principles. Character development and positive cognitive thinking are addressed from a “love your neighbor as yourself” Christian perspective.

Text: “Faith First” by Resources for Christian Living.

 

Social Studies – This subject explores the geography, history, and government of the United States. The main emphasis is on the important events that have and continue to shape this country.

Text: “United States History” by Harcourt Horizon.

 

Science – The following units of study are presented in this class: the universe and our solar system, the formation of the earth, the hydrosphere, animal and plant adaptations, weather and climate, matter and energy, and the human body and reproductive health. Because many science concepts are enriched and enhanced through hands-on and interactive experiences, each student is responsible for planning and presenting a science fair project.  A special highlight of fifth grade science is the annual camping field trip.

Text: Harcourt “Science.”