Special Area Subjects
Christian Education
Preschool-First Grade
These grades utilize classroom “teaching time” with their teachers. The idea of “loving everyone and treating all people with respect” is woven into their days, often drawing on their own “real life” experiences of home and school.
Second Grade-Fifth Grade
These four grades each meet once weekly. The lessons are based on the Southwestern Association of Episcopal Schools' Religion Curriculum and is divided into two strands. The first strand deals with major Holy Days and seasons of the Chruch Year. The second strand is based on themes. The themes for Second and Third Grades are drawn from the New Testament (Mine Eyes Have Seen Thy Salvation), while the themes for Fourth and Fifth Grades come from the Old Testament (A Light to the Nations: God's Covenant People).
Middle School
Together, students have the opportunity to investigate a variety of topics such as the points of transition within the Christian Faith including baptism, marriage, and death; explore the major world religions; and study Biblical themes and discuss how they relate to their own lives in the 21st century.
Library
Students have access throughout the day every school day, and on scheduled days and times during summer months. The internal Accelerated Reader (AR) levelling system is used by every student beginning in Kindergarten. AR sets an individualized reading range for each student. S/he is required to read books with her/his own reading range. Color-coded books allow students to readily identify appropriately levelled reading material. The reading range of a student continues to change as his/her reading and fluency levels increase.
Students begin learning basic library skills at the Early Childhood level and continue to build on those skills as they progress through each grade level. The skills acquired are transferrable to any public or school library.
Preschool and Pre-K
Stories come to life with nursery rhymes and stories designed to introduce early childhood students to a variety of genres and library skills such as author, illustrator, fiction, and non-fiction. Many of the stories are interactive which requires students to develop the most basic critical thinking skills such as explaining, comparing, and questioning. Students will have the opportunity to continue developing listening and motor skills. At this grade level, they are introduced to the circulation process and purpose of a library.
Kindergarten
Kindergarten Library time includes stories with more of a plot, conflict, and resolution. While weekly story time is still designed to continue learning different genres, they are exposed to library terms such as book spine, cover, author, illustrator, genre, fiction, and non-fiction. Critical thinking skills continue to develop and expand on new skills such as sequencing and hypothesizing. While Kindergarten does not yet take Accelerated Reader tests, they learn how to navigate the Oak Hall coding system to define different reading levels that will be matched to the individual reader’s skills in the following grades.
First Grade
First Grade enjoys weekly story time designed to reinforce and more clearly identify different texts and genres. We expand a bit on the two main categories, fiction and non-fiction. Students learn to differentiate between real world and fantasy. Many of the stories are interactive which requires students to significantly enhance critical thinking skills such as generalizing and evaluating, while they continue to develop good listening skills.
Second Grade
Second Grade students still have weekly story time, but at this grade level, the students are encouraged to hone their critical thinking skills and guided to determine the outcome of a story before they have heard the ending. Many of the stories are interactive which requires students to develop higher level critical thinking skills such as analyzing, interpreting, inferring and reasoning while they continue to develop skills to learn to be a respectful audience. Students learn to navigate the library to search for different types of books to meet their own reading needs.
Third – Fifth Grades
Upper elementary grades visit the library as a class at scheduled times to coordinate with their homeroom teachers’ classroom curriculum. They learn library skills in the Oak Hall Library that can be used later in other libraries. Individual and collaborative projects provide opportunities to utilize previously learned critical thinking skills as they navigate the Dewey Decimal System, searching for materials by call numbers and genre. They learn how to use the online catalog system to find materials needed for specific class projects.
Motor Development/Physical Education
Motor Development
We believe that promoting daily physical activity and healthy habits is a core component of our School's mission. We strive to create an environment that promotes self-confidence, leadership qualities, teamwork, and sportsmanship in each student.
Preschool and Pre-K
The primary emphasis of the Motor Development curriculum for Early Childhood is to build on key motor and coordination skills and appropriate developmental progression while emphasizing age appropriate listening and behavior skills. We promote that being active can be fun while working on activities like throwing and catching, hopping, skipping, jumping, running, swaying, twisting, and maneuvering through obstacles, as well as developing spatial awareness, balance and control, ball control, hand eye coordination, body control, cooperative play, listening skills, the ability to start and stop on signal, and patience. Motor development class also crosses over with the classroom curriculum in many of our activities by incorporating numbers, colors, and matching games and activities.
Kindergarten and First Grade
Motor Development continues to be an important part of our students' curriculum. Building on what they have experienced in Early Childhood, Motor Development at this level strives to create an environment where students feel safe building on key motor and coordination skills. The program asks students to demonstrate appropriate developmental progression while emphasizing age appropriate listening and behavior skills, including cooperative play. Students have fun working towards mastering spacial awareness, balance, throwing and catching, hopping, skipping, jumping, running, swaying, twisting, maneuvering through obstacles, ball control, hand eye coordination, and body control. Kindergarten and First Grade are introduced to the basic skills of team sports, especially those that they can begin participating in through area associations like the YMCA.
Physical Education
Second through Fifth Grade
Students continue to broaden and build on key motor and coordination skills, while demonstrating age appropriate developmental progression. The program builds a deepening knowledge of fundamental skills and techniques used in individual and team sports. Some sports that are introduced include running, basketball, baseball, softball, soccer & kickball, flag football, volleyball, badminton, tennis, gymnastics, cricket, hockey, and lacrosse.
Music
Wherever possible the 7 elements of music are reinforced across all Grade levels, these are: temp; timbre; melody; rhythm; harmony; dynamics; and, form.
A combination of drama and musical theater takes place at each grade level with every class performing in the Christmas programs. Second through Middle School students put on a Broadway-style production in Spring every year.
Preschool and Pre-K
Students in our early childhood program begin to express music through movement, participate in song and experience different rhythm and beats. As they mature through pre-Kindergarten to First Grade, they begin to integrate unit concepts through identifying sounds and engage in performances.
Kindergarten
Students experience rhythm as they are introduced to unpitched percussion instruments such as rhythm sticks, tambourine, boomwhackers and maracas, etc. They are introduced to tempo and melody along with vocal exploration. Students are introduced to the instrument families. In addition, Kindergarten students take part in performances which helps build confidence and develop concert etiquette.
First Grade
Students experience rhythm, pitch, basic music theory and notation, and a variety of music and movement activities. They also learn more about orchestral families and composers. In addition, First Grade students explore cultural music, take part in performances, and gain hands-on instrumental experience. Confidence-building and performance etiquette is addressed through participation in performances.
Second Grade
Second-Grade students experience rhythm, pitch, elements of basic music theory and notation, and a variety of singing and movement activities. Students continue to learn about orchestral families, study composers and their music, and explore cultural music. An emphasis is placed on the music of Beethoven. Participating in performances helps students gain confidence and develop concert etiquette.
Third Grade
In addition to rhythm, pitch, elements of basic music theory, and a number of singing and movement activities Third Grade students use rhythm instruments and Orff instruments. Students are introduced to the recorder and they complete a curriculum that helps them learn to play simple songs while learning to read notated music. Third Grade students will work towards being able to produce music with body, voice, and instruments. They are exposed to a wide variety of music and musical styles. Like the younger grades, students learn about orchestral families, cultural music, composers, and their music. In addition, Third Grade participates in multiple performances.
Fourth Grade
Fourth Grade continue to develop their understanding of rhythm, pitch, and the basic elements of music theory. Their study of the orchestral focuses on the four families (strings, woodwind, brass, and percussion). Fourth Grade study Bach and his music, explore cultural music, and have opportunities to further develop instrumental and vocal experience. Fourth Grade is the first year in which students have the opportunity to audition for honor choir and perform at “Circle the State with Song”. Honor choir is an extracurricular activity and practices are before school two days a week. Participation in two in-school concerts/musical theater performances continues in Fourth Grade.
Fifth Grade
Students in Fifth Grade experience many aspects of music theory and performance through activities. They study composers and their music, cultural music, and have accelerated experience on the Orff instruments. They are exposed to music from all over the world and have numerous performance opportunities. Fifth Grade have the opportunity to audition for honor choir and perform at “Circle the State with Song”. Honor choir is an extracurricular activity and practices are before school two days a week. Participation in two in-school concerts/musical theater performances continues in Fifth Grade.
Science
First Grade
The First Grade Science program uses the Quirkles Science and Literacy curriculum that is aligned with the National Science Standards. First Graders visit the science lab once a week for a science lesson and a hands-on activity to help create a love for scientific inquiry. First Grade students are introduced to key Earth, Physical, and Life science concepts, such as types of energy, growth and development of organisms, variation of traits, and the Earth and the solar system.
Second Grade
Science in Second Grade continues to use the Quirkles Science and Literacy curriculum to reinforce a strong foundation of science concepts begun in First Grade. Again, these concepts are aligned with the National Science Standards. Second Graders visit the Science lab once a week for a lesson that is reinforced by a hands-on activity, together this combination of seeing, reading and doing, help nurture the students’ interest in science. Key Earth, Physical, and Life science concepts introduced at the Second Grade level include states of matter, chemical reactions, heat energy, ecosystems, interdependent relationships of organisms, biodiversity, landforms, maps, and plate tectonics.
Third Grade
In Third Grade Science the students move on to a new program. The Fuddlebrook School Science series which is still aligned to the National Science Standards develops the skills students have learned previously and focuses on continuing to create and reinforce a strong foundation in scientific concepts. Third Grade students work on contact and non-contact forces, life cycles, social interaction of organisms, traits and genetics, adaptations, ecosystems, and weather and climate. Lessons on these topics are again reinforced by hands on activities.
Fourth Grade
The Fourth Grade Science program uses the Pearson Interactive Science series. Fourth Graders visit the science lab four days a week for in-depth studies and hands-on activities. Science concepts taught in Fourth Grade are energy and heat, motion, electricity, plants and animals, ecosystems, and Earth’s resources. Robotics is introduced at this level and classes are conducted once a week during Science class.
Fifth Grade
The Science program in Fifth Grade continues the use of the Pearson Interactive Science series. Fifth Graders visit the science lab every day. Classes are a combination of in-depth studies and hands-on activities. Science concepts taught in Fifth Grade are properties of matter, forces and motion, growth and survival, ecosystems, the water cycle and weather, and Earth and space. Robotics is continued once a week during Science class with Fifth Grade students participating in two robotic challenge days coordinated by the Noble Research Institute.
Technology
We start with the very basics of computer knowledge and usage and advance to knowledge of the Microsoft Office Suite. We also use the years between Second and Fifth Grade to learn and develop keyboarding skills. Every student will also go through the Common Sense Media’s Digital Citizenship Curriculum beginning in first grade and building towards completion in fourth grade with a quick overview in Fifth Grade.
Kindergarten
Student will learn how to use an external mouse and learn about the basic parts of the computer. Students will use Reading Eggs and Math Seeds software.
Reading Eggs reading software helps in the process of teaching students to read, as well as supplements instruction they receive in school and at home. In its lessons, it systematically cover all of the key literacy areas of instruction.
Mathseeds math software teaches students the core math and problem solving skills needed to be successful at school with fun, highly interactive and rewarding lessons. Mathseeds combines highly structured lessons with fun motivational elements that keep children engaged.
First Grade
Students will learn about basic computer terminology and the basic components of the computer. How to log on, log off, and shut down the computer.
Students will go through the Common Sense Media’s Digital Citizenship Curriculum. The following topics will be covered in this interactive program: Internet Safety; Privacy and Security; Relationships and Communication; Information Literacy and Creative Credit; and, Copyright.
Students will also expand on what they used last year, in First Grade, using the Reading Eggs and Mathseeds Software along with Lexia Reading Software. If a student is new to the programs they will start the year by completing a placement test in each program.
Reading Eggs reading software helps in the process of teaching students to read, as well as supplements instruction they receive in school and at home. In its lessons, it systematically cover all of the key literacy areas of instruction.
Mathseeds math software teaches students the core math and problem solving skills needed to be successful at school with fun, highly interactive and rewarding lessons. Mathseeds combines highly structured lessons with fun motivational elements that keep children engaged.
Lexia Reading Core5 provides literacy instruction for students of all abilities. Lexia’s research-proven program provides explicit, systematic, personalized learning in the six areas of reading instruction, targeting skill gaps as they emerge, and providing teachers with the data and student-specific resources they need for individual or small-group instruction.
Second Grade
Students will build on the Common Sense Media’s Digital Citizenship Curriculum that was introduced in First Grade. The following areas will be reviewed: Internet Safety; Privacy and Security; and, Relationships and Communication. New topics will be covered such as Cyberbullying and Digital Drama, Digital Footprint and Reputation, and Information Literacy.
Students will be introduced and begin to learn basic typing / keyboarding skills focusing on letters, cap locks, tabbing, how use the Shift key to create capital letters and become familiar with “home row”.
Students will use and continue to build on what they were learning last year in Reading Eggs by moving on to the next program, Reading Eggspress. This program is designed to build reading, spelling and comprehension skills.
Third Grade
Students will build on the Common Sense Media’s Digital Citizenship Curriculum that was introduced in first grade. The following areas will be reviewed: Internet Safety; Privacy and Security; Relationships and Communication; Cyberbullying and Digital Drama; Digital Footprint and Reputation; and, Information Literacy. New topics will be covered such as Self-image and Identity, and Creative Credit and Copyright.
Students will expand on their basic typing/keyboarding skills. They will be introduced to numbers and function keys used in keyboarding. Students will be introduced to Microsoft Word 2013 and use the program in keyboarding Lessons 1-20
Fourth Grade
Students will build on the Common Sense Media’s Digital Citizenship Curriculum that was introduced in First Grade. The following areas will be reviewed: Internet Safety; Privacy and Security; Relationships and Communication; Cyberbullying and Digital Drama; Digital Footprint and Reputation; Self-image and Identity; Information literacy; and, Creative Credit and Copyright.
Students will continue working on typing/keyboarding skills. Students will pick up lessons where they left off at the end of Third Grade continuing to use Microsoft 2013. Students will be introduced and will gain a basic understanding of Microsoft Publisher and PowerPoint. They will be assigned various beginner projects to be presented to their peers upon completion.
Fifth Grade
Students will go through a quick and condensed version of the Common Sense Media’s Digital Citizenship Curriculum, this will be peer taught and will cover approximately the first two weeks of school. This is designed to refresh the student’s memory of the importance of good digital citizenship and what we expect of our students when online.
Students will strive for mastery of typing/keyboarding skills. Students will pick up lessons where they left off at the end of fourth grade, continuing to use Microsoft 2013. The goal is for the students to have completed Lessons 1-33 by the end of Fifth Grade.
With the implementation of the new iPads in Fifth Grade students will also use the iPad version of the Microsoft office suite to work on projects and lessons in and outside of technology class.
Students will learn about Stop-Motion Animation using the iPad and will create a class movie to be shared at a Hoot and Holler in late spring.