LOWER SCHOOL CURRICULUM GUIDE

Transcription

1 LOWER SCHOOL CURRICULUM GUIDE EARLY CHILDHOOD GRADES PK3-1st The Early Childhood program gives attention to the whole child, facilitating intellectual, social, emotional, and physical development in an enriched environment while instilling the joy of learning. LANGUAGE - Language Arts permeates every area of learning. Three and four year-olds are provided with many experiences in listening and speaking, many opportunities to see how writing and reading are useful and exciting. Five-year-olds refine their understanding of letters to sounds and how those sounds are blended to form words. They extend phonics into everyday use and sharpen sequencing, writing, reading, and listening skills. In first grade, the morning is spent in intense language arts studies. The reading curriculum is taught through the Journey's Basal reading program and supplemented with individualized reading instruction. Through the use of daily journals and Writing Across the Curriculum, students are taught the writing process. MATHEMATICS - Instruction takes the form of manipulative experiences. The teacher is the facilitator as the children explore, take apart, compare, contrast, and discover the meaning of numbers through small and large group activities, art, and games. Math resources include Saxon Mathematics, a wide variety of math manipulatives, and a variety of supplemental resources, including additional practice in problem solving. INTEREST CENTERS - Through daily experiences in centers, children learn to make choices, work with others, control their behavior, and refine skills. Centers include

2 books, listening, blocks, housekeeping, science, manipulatives, handwriting, art, and computers. SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL - Teachers create an environment in which each child feels secure and loved and is guided in self-expression and new accomplishments. In this setting, Pinewood supports habits of cooperation, responsibility, and self-reliance which guides children out of their natural egocentrism toward socialization skills helping them to understand and get along with others. SOCIAL STUDIES and SCIENCE - Children explore their understanding of self, others, and their world through hands-on experiences, special events, music, and art. Some activities which enrich their discoveries include: Science Fun Day, Plays and ballets at area theaters, Pumpkin Patch & Tree Farm trips, In-School Field Trips MUSIC, ART, and DRAMA - Children s natural love of music, art, and drama is infused with activities to help them develop fine motor skills, visual discrimination, growth in the use of language and creative expression, recognition of patterns and rhythms, use of language, and sequencing skills. Students attend weekly music and art classes with drama integrated in both areas. FOREIGN LANGUAGE - In weekly Global Studies classes, students are exposed to the language spoken in the country of study. Students have been exposed to Spanish, Chinese, and French. PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT - Children develop the muscles that are so important in building self-confidence and writing skills. Large muscles are strengthened on our playground with open space and a wealth of child-friendly play structures. Children attend P.E. twice a week for games that encourage sportsmanship, eye-hand coordination, and following directions.

3 LOWER SCHOOL ~ GRADES 2-5 Small classes and challenging academics give young students a head start in school. In Lower School, children learn the skills and habits that create a strong foundation for learning. LANGUAGE - Phonics, vocabulary, reading, writing, spelling and grammar are taught using a variety of methods to give students strong foundations in oral language and literature and facilitate development of thinking skills. In the library, children learn beginning library skills. Language resources include Open Court Reading Series, Accelerated Reader, Write Source, Wordly Wise, World of Language, Macmillan/McGraw-Hill, Elements of Language, Weekly Reader, and children's literature. MATHEMATICS - Students continue to explore math strands introduced in kindergarten including numbers, patterns, sequencing, geometry, measurement, and problem-solving with greater complexity. Manipulatives, memorization, repetition of skills, and applied reasoning are utilized in an incremental approach. Math resources include Saxon Mathematics, a wide variety of math manipulatives, and a variety of supplemental resources including additional practice in problem solving. FINE ARTS - Specialists guide students in creating, perceiving, comparing, and contrasting art. Early childhood art is infused with drama as students express themselves in a variety of ways. Children attend music classes to sing, play Orff instruments, and learn to read notation. Each grade level demonstrates the skills they have developed by performing for their parents and peers.

4 FOREIGN LANGUAGE - In weekly Global Studies classes, students are exposed to the language spoken in the country of study. Students have been exposed to Spanish, Chinese, and French. SCIENCE - Students use a variety of materials and textbooks to investigate topics in earth science, life science, physical science, and health practicing scientific inquiry as they increase their knowledge of the natural world. SOCIAL STUDIES - Geography, culture, communities, and history are topics of exploration as students expand their understanding of cultural and historic patterns. Social Studies resources include Core Knowledge History and Geography, Eyewitness Books, and children s nonfiction literature. COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY - In addition to weekly art, music, P.E., Global Studies, and Idea Lab classes, technology is incorporated into each grade level s curriculum through the use of ipads and the computer lab. CHARACTER EDUCATION - Essential to Pinewood's philosophy of developing the whole child, values education is incorporated into all aspects of Lower School instruction, emphasizing critical thinking skills and cooperative learning. Some of the issues addressed are self-esteem, listening, following directions, accepting consequences, respecting others and the environment, problem-solving, managing feelings, and peer pressure. ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT Field Trips: Medieval Times, Cypress Gardens, State Museum and Zoo, Boone Hall Plantation, Fort Sumter Outdoor Learning Experiences at Barrier Island Education Center and Camp Kanuga Outdoor Mountain School

5 Winter and Spring Musical Programs Class Plays National Spelling Bee, Quiz Bowl, Robotics, Drama, Handbells, Bucket Drumming, Choir, Chess