PRIMARY GRADES CURRICULA

Kindergarten
First Grade
Second Grade

Language Arts:
The language arts curriculum is based on reading, writing, listening and speaking.  The goal is to develop lifelong readers with an emphasis on reading for meaning.  Age and level appropriate materials and the computer are used to teach concepts about print and phonics (letter identification, sound and word families).  Writing is used to encourage progression from the spoken to the written word.

Mathematics:
The mathematics curriculum encourages exploration, investigation, and problem solving.  It emphasizes manipulation of concrete objects, recognition of numerals, number concepts, measurement of time and money, and the promotion of computer literacy.

Religion:
It is the goal of the religious education program to present our Catholic faith accurately, authentically and consistently with the age and readiness of the child.  Emphasis is based on developing a positive awareness of self.  Students learn and creation, religious signs and symbols and are exposed to the season in the liturgical year.  Understanding how God acts as a loving parent is stressed.

Prayers:  Sign of the Cross, Blessing Before Meals, Hail Mary, Our Father

Science:
Science concepts are explored by using the five senses during the manipulation of materials or direct observation.  Special emphasis is placed on the properties of living and non-living things; plants and animals; what is a mammal; the human body; weather; force and motion; and the nature of matter, in particular air and water.

Social Studies:
Special emphasis is placed on the awareness of self within the family and the community, seasonal tradition, culture differences, current and historical events.  Basic map skills are introduced.

Art:
The goals of the curriculum are to provide students with the opportunity to explore a variety of two and three dimensional media to experience the ability to create representations of thoughts and feelings, and to expand their understanding of color and shapes.

Music:
Various aspects of music are introduced through song and movement activities.  Songs are introduced in relation to special holidays and units of study as well as part of a study of different genres:  classical, jazz, rock and country.

Media:
By listening to stories read aloud, a variety of authors and writing styles are experienced.  Emphasis is placed on the jobs of those responsible for the books.  Simple organization of materials is explained.

Language Arts:
The reading program is them based using literature to develop skills in listening, reading, writing and speaking.  Reading instruction centers on the use of phonics, grammar and context clues, and background knowledge to promote meaningful reading experiences.  Computer programs are used to assist children to developing their comprehension, spelling and writing skill.  Keyboard and word processing skills are introduced.  Poetry, fiction and nonfiction stories are discussed.  Manuscript handwriting is taught.

Mathematics:
A combination of hands-on, textbook and computer materials are used to develop problem solving strategies.  Number sense and computational skills are reinforced in addition and subtraction.  Other areas studied include:  place-value, time, money, geometry and measurements.

Religion:
The focus is on living as Jesus taught us to live.  The curriculum covers learning that God give us the world and Jesus; Jesus gives us the Church; and the Church is an integral part of our life.  Bibles stories from the Old Testament are learned.  Saints are described a s friends of Jesus.

Prayers:  Glory Be, Our Father, Hail Mary, and a simple offertory prayer.  Prayers learned previously are reviewed.

Science:
Science concepts are explored using observation, demonstrations, and hands-on learning activities.  The curriculum covers the study of living things and the earth’s land and water.  Constancy and change are emphasized in the areas of weather and the seasons and the health of the human body.  Properties of magnets are also investigated.

Social Studies:
The focus is on the uniqueness of people, family and community.  Emphasis is placed on respect, making choices and the theory of cause and effect.  Basic map skills are reviewed.

Art:
The work of famous artists is introduced.  The opportunity to explore a variety of two and three dimensional media to experience the ability to create representations of thoughts and feelings.

Music:
Various aspects of music through song and movement activities.  Songs are introduced in relation to special holidays and units of study as well as part of a study of different genres: classical, jazz, and rock and country.

Media:
The study of individual authors is conducted throughout the year.  Learning about the organization of the library into fiction and non-fiction components is continued.

Physical Education:
Our physical education curriculum is comprised of basic locomotor and nonlocomotor skills, spatial awareness skills, balance activities, rhythms and dance, educational gymnastics, and basic sports skills such as throwing, catching, striking, chasing, fleeing and dodging. Each physical skill is presented in a manner that will foster independent thinking, cooperation, sportsmanship and fair play. Students will have P.E. twice a week for 45 minutes each time.

Language Arts:
The reading program is theme based using literature to study reading, spelling, and writing skills, and to develop comprehension and listening skills.  Grammar skills are developed.  Formal phonics instructions centers on word attack strategies.  Context clues are also used as a strategy.  Letter writing skills and researching strategies are addressed.  Manuscript handwriting is reviewed and cursive is introduced.  Keyboard and word processing skills are developed.  Poetry and other genre are used.  Writing is done for a variety of purposes utilizing various strategies.

Mathematics:
Mathematical concepts are taught in order to solve a wide variety of problems founded in real world situations.  A review of addition and subtraction, place-value and estimation is followed by emphasis on double and triple-digit addition and subtraction with and without regrouping. Other areas studied include:  money, time, geometry, measurement, fractions, calculator operations and computer applications.  Simple multiplication and division are introduced.  Practice pages introducing a standardized testing format.

Religion:
The focus is on a Christian moral life.  Emphasis is placed on all of the sacraments, especially Reconciliation and Eucharist.  First Eucharist and Reconciliation are celebrated this year.  Parts of the Mass, God’s gifts to us and how to take care of them are also studied.

Prayers:  Act of Contrition, evening prayer and a simple communion prayer.  Prayers learned in previous years are reviewed.  The children learn the 10 Commandments.

Science:
Science concepts are explored using observation, demonstrations and hands-on learning activities.  The curriculum covers the interactions of living things, light and color, and the states of matter. Other areas of investigation include dinosaurs and fossils, and how germs effect our bodies.

Social Studies:
Government and community organizations are studied extensively.  Group membership, various communities, land forms, bodies of water, early American history, citizenship and multicultural interactions are covered.  There is an emphasis on geography skills, including reading maps, charts, globes, grid, pictographs, and time lines.  Students also learn to make logical predictions and determine cause and effect.

Art:
The goals of the curriculum are to provide students with the opportunity to explore a variety of two and three dimensional medial to experience the ability to create representations of thoughts and feelings, and to expand their understanding of color and shape.

Music:
Various aspects of music are introduced through song and movement activities.  Songs are introduced in relation to special holidays and units of study as well as part of a study of different genres:  classical, jazz, rock and country.

Media:
The variety of illustrations shown in Caldecott winners is shared.  Spelling the parts of the book and the names of the people involved in producing a book is practiced during the second part of the school year.  The electronic card catalog and its print counterpart is introduced as a tool that can be used to find information in any Media Center.

Physical Education
Our physical education curriculum is comprised of basic locomotor and nonlocomotor skills, spatial awareness skills, balance activities, rhythms and dance, educational gymnastics, and basic sports skills such as throwing, catching, striking, chasing, fleeing and dodging. Each physical skill is presented in a manner that will foster independent thinking, cooperation, sportsmanship and fair play. Students will have P.E. twice a week for 45 minutes each time.