Transitional Kindergarten – 6th Grade

Along with the core subject classes, our elementary students have several enrichment classes throughout the week. These include Physical Education, Chapel, Music, Art, Computer, Library, and Spanish. Each of these is taught by teachers who specialize in these areas. All subjects are taught to meet and/or exceed California State Standards with biblical integration.

  • TK
  • Kindergarten
  • 1st
  • 2nd
  • 3rd
  • 4th
  • 5th
  • 6th
TK Curriculum & Academics

 

STUDENT/
TEACHER
RATIO:		 • 20:2 (TK includes Instructional Aide).
 

SPIRITUAL & EDUCATIONAL

 
BIBLE: • Emphasis on biblical truths and the Bible as God’s word.
• Students learn more about God and how to apply biblical knowledge in their daily lives.
• Aid students in recognizing Christ as their personal Savior.
• Knowledge, wisdom, and understanding comes from a life grounded in the Scripture.
CHAPEL: • 1 Day a Week learning biblical truths through flannel stories, puppets, and acting out stories.
 

ACADEMICS

 
MATHEMATICS: • Classify, sort, patterns, shapes, and colors.
• Learning superlatives: biggest, smallest, tallest, longest.
• Number recognition 0-10, one-to-one correspondence, count and match numerically.
• Introduction to math concepts, such as simple addition, subtraction, greater than, less than.
LANGUAGE ARTS &
READING:		 • Letter and sound recognition.
• Receptive and expressive language development: expanding vocabulary and learning to answer using complete sentences.
• Listening to stories: comprehension through memory recall and sequencing story events through dictation and sequencing story picture cards.
SCIENCE &
SOCIAL STUDIES:		 • Physical, life, and earth sciences, investigation and experimentation.
• Learn science through hypotheses and observations.
• Learn and understand good citizenship.
• Recognize national and state symbols/icons and match simple descriptions of working people.
• Calendar, days, weeks, and months in proper order.
ART: •Creative art is teacher-directed; it teaches students to use their imagination while focusing on small motor development to hold and use writing instruments and scissors correctly
• Students use creative art to help reinforce concepts and skills, such as memory recall and sequencing story events through illustrations.
MOTOR DEVELOPMENT:  • Focus on developing large motor muscle groups.
• Students participate in obstacle courses focusing on balance, coordination, and flexibility.
• Group activities, such as parachute play to strengthen upper-body development and working with peers to foster social skills in activities, such as bean bag toss and ball games.
HOMEWORK: • None
 

ENRICHMENT CLASS

 
MUSIC: • Students explore variations in rhythm, learn vocabulary used in basic concepts of music, and experience percussion instruments alongside instruction of different types of dance with music.
Kindergarten Curriculum & Academics

 

STUDENT/
TEACHER
RATIO:		 • 22:2 (Kindergarten includes Instructional Aide).
 

SPIRITUAL & SOCIAL

 
BIBLE: • God tells us His great story (meta-narrative) in the Bible.
• God’s Word is truth.
• The great story is the gospel of Jesus Christ and our need of saving faith through Him.
• Knowledge, wisdom, and understanding comes from a life grounded in the Scriptures.
• Becoming a spiritually formed disciple of Jesus is impossible without knowing God’s Word.
• Developing a vital and authentic Christian worldview requires study, worship, and disciplined practice.
• Textbook: Bible Purposeful Design (ACSI).
CHAPEL: • 35-45 Minutes, 1 Day a Week (With all elementary student body).
 

ACADEMICS

 
MATHEMATICS: • Instructional emphasis: representing, relating, and operating on whole numbers initially with sets of objects. Describing shapes and space.
• Number and Operations: represent, count, and write 0 to 20 and beyond. Addition, subtraction, geometry, positions, measurement, and data.
• Textbook: Go Math (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt).
LANGUAGE ARTS &
READING:		 • Preparing to read: sounds and letters, phonemic awareness, phonics and fluency, word knowledge.
• Reading and responding: comprehension and strategies, inquiry.
• Language Arts: spelling, vocabulary, writing process strategies, writer’s craft, English language conventions, grammar, usage, mechanics, listening, speaking, viewing, penmanship, basic computer skills.
• Textbook: Open Court Reading Program-Workbooks (Sounds and Letter Skills, Language Arts Skills), decodable booklets (SRA/McGraw-Hill).
• Special Activities: Bowers Kidseum, Crab Lab, and Ocean Institute.
SCIENCE &
SOCIAL STUDIES:		 • Physical Sciences, Life Sciences, Earth Sciences, Investigation and experimentation.
• Learning & Working Now & Long Ago: Understand that being a good citizen involves acting in certain ways, recognize national and state symbols and icons, match simple description of work people do, calendar, days, weeks, and months in proper order, understand that history relates to events, people, and places of other times.
• Special activity: Centennial Farms.
HOMEWORK: • 5 minutes per night.
 

ENRICHMENT CLASSES

 
COMPUTER: At Grace we love to have fun with technology. During our weekly sessions in the computer lab we explore technology and teach students to use it in a fun, safe and responsible way. Whether the kids are learning math, language arts, or science, we use technology to enhance the classroom experience.
• Basic computer components and their uses.
• How to open, print & save a file.
• Internet basics and safety.
• Pixie drawing program.
SPANISH: Our Spanish curriculum is an interactive curriculum using mainly music, games and fun activities to make learning a positive experience. Our curriculum also includes a Christian program in Spanish. This involves activities such as coloring and some workbook activities to reinforce Christian principals and to express God’s love. The students will also learn some Sunday school and Christmas songs throughout the year.
• Learn basic listening and speaking skills such as using common social greetings and simple repetitive phrases.
• Learn to ask and answer simple questions using simple sentences.
• Students will begin to speak with a few words by using single words or phrases.
• Be able to respond to simple directions.
• Basic greeting skills, basic personal introduction skills, the Spanish alphabet, colors, parts of the body, numbers 1 – 20, expressing simple emotions, animals, food items and meals of the day, special holidays and traditions.
ART: Our Art Program focuses on the basic elements and principles of Art encompassing past and present artists with various styles and techniques. Each student will create their own Art portfolio with the collection of all their art work throughout the year. Students use sketchbooks every class for design, practice, discovery, and exploration. All classes meet once a week for 45 minutes. Each month is dedicated to a specific artist, skill or theme, and creative projects are varied according to the grade level. It is believed that Art develops critical thinking and problem solving skills that will empower students throughout their lives. Our goal is to expose and educate students to appreciate the diversity in all art forms. Every year we build upon the skills and introduce new medium and tools.
• Students are introduced to the elements and principles of Art.
• Use of lines & shapes in their drawings.
• Learning to use and identify the basic tools in art, such as scissors, glue, paint, etc.
• Students learn to express themselves through art.
• Emphasis is on children’s book art with stories by Eric Carle, “Pete the Cat,” “A Beautiful Oops,” among others.
LIBRARY: The main objectives of our Library Program are to encourage students to develop a love of reading, assisting student in selecting books appropriate to their age and reading levels based on Lexile reading scores, and to provide opportunities to build reading comprehension through the Reading Counts Program.
• Learn the parts of a book.
• Fiction & non-fiction genres.
• Develop reading comprehension.
• Learn appropriate book selection.
MUSIC: In our Music Program, students will learn the art of performance as they prepare for two or more performances during the year. Through performing, students will gain self-confidence, stage presence, plus musical and theater experience. Students will be taught how to audition and will play theater games to develop skills. During the rehearsal process for the spring musical, students learn to project, acting, & re-acting. Students will also begin the foundation on which they will build, year after year, the tools needed in which to learn how to read music. These tools include, identifying rhythms, notes, & dynamic markings. The process by which they will learn is mostly playing musical games and activities. In addition, students will learn how to properly sing, including breath control.
PHYSICAL
EDUCATION:		 The Physical Education Program focuses on fitness and health concepts, skill development and sportsmanship. The goal is to provide each student the tools needed to lead healthy and active lifestyles with a positive attitude.
• Focus is on balance, coordination, flexibility, & motor skills, as well as manipulative skills.
• Presidential Fitness Program.

First Grade Curriculum & Academics

 

STUDENT/TEACHER RATIO: • 20:1 (21-24 students includes an instructional aide)
 

SPIRITUAL & SOCIAL

 
BIBLE: • Getting students to recognize their need of Christ as their personal Savior.
• Encourage Christ likeness in students & how to apply Bible knowledge to daily lives.
• Provide a systematic plan for the practice of Bible skills.
• Connect the Bible to events with historical events & correlate other subjects with Bible teaching.
• Textbook: Purposeful Design.
• Special Activities: ACSI Bible Verse Memorization.
CHAPEL: • 35-45 Minutes, 1 Day a Week (With all elementary student body).
 

ACADEMICS

 
MATHEMATICS: • Emphasis on addition, subtraction, multiplication, & division.
• Patterns, number theory, and place value.
• Measurements, time, & money.
• Touch on geometry, algebra, probability, statistics, & technology.
• Lots of hands-on activities, manipulatives, & “Mad-Dog Math”.
• Textbook: Go Math.
LANGUAGE ARTS & READING: • Focus on phonemic awareness, sounds and spellings, blending, dictation and spelling, reading Big Books, writing, and workshops.
• Preparing to read lesson formats: Warming up activities, phonemic awareness activities, and letter knowledge.
• In the last 4 Big Books, children will have more of an emphasis on reading comprehension skills. Will do independent writing activities and research.
• Emphasis in many activities that focus on independent and collaborative writing exercises, vocabulary skills, grammar, usage & mechanics, listening, speaking, viewing skills, & penmanship.
• Textbooks: Open Court Reading Program (SRA/McGraw Hill)-Each student has own Phonics Skills workbook, Comprehension & Language Arts Workbooks. Learning Headquarters Writing Program.
SPELLING & HANDWRITING: • Spelling program strengthens reading and writing ability.
• Spelling strategies, such as word sorting by phonetic pattern.
• Developing vocabulary through word study.
• Uses the writing process to compose original stories pervade the books.
• Handwriting emphasizes methods to produce legible handwriting. The keys to legibility are: Shape, size, spacing, and slant. Each of these concepts are taught in the handwriting program.
• Textbooks: Spelling, Grade 1 by Purposeful Design (ACSI) & Handwriting, Grade 1 (Zaner-Bloser).
SCIENCE: • Unit One: Emphasis on Life Sciences-Animals.
• Unit Two: Emphasis on Physical Science-Movement & Machines.
• Unit Three: Life Science-Human Body.
• Unit Four: Earth & Science.
• Each unit has a Christian emphasis with many hands-on activities and experiments.
• Textbook: Purposeful Design (ACSI).
SOCIAL STUDIES: • Program covers all California standards.
• 6 units covering the following subjects: Rules & Responsibilities, Expanding Children’s Geographic World, Our Nation’s Symbols & Holidays, Changes-Now & Long Ago, Developing Cultural Awareness, and Expanding Children’s Economic World.
HOMEWORK: • 10 minutes per night & 20 minutes of reading per night.
 

ENRICHMENT CLASSES

 
COMPUTER: At Grace we love to have fun with technology. During our weekly sessions in the computer lab, we explore technology and teach students to use it in a fun, safe and responsible way. Whether the kids are learning math, language arts or science, we use technology to enhance the classroom experience.
• Expand on the features of previous programs.
• Keyboarding basics.
• Microsoft Word.
• Internet navigation and safety.
SPANISH: Our Spanish curriculum is an interactive curriculum using mainly music, games and fun activities to make learning a positive experience. Our curriculum also includes a Christian program in Spanish. This involves activities such as coloring and some workbook activities to reinforce Christian principals and to express God’s love. The students will also learn some Sunday school and Christmas songs throughout the year.
• Learn basic listening and speaking skills such as using common social greetings and simple repetitive phrases.
• Learn to ask and answer simple questions using simple sentences.
• Students will begin to speak with a few words by using single words or phrases.
• Be able to respond to simple directions.
• Basic greeting skills, basic personal introduction skills, the Spanish alphabet, colors, parts of the body, numbers 1 – 20, expressing simple emotions, animals, food items and meals of the day, special holidays and traditions.
ART: Our Art Program focuses on the basic elements and principles of Art encompassing past and present artists with various styles and techniques. Each student will create their own Art portfolio with the collection of all their art work throughout the year. Students use sketchbooks every class for design, practice, discovery, and exploration. Each month is dedicated to a specific artist, skill or theme, and creative projects are varied according to the grade level. It is believed that Art develops critical thinking and problem solving skills that will empower students throughout their lives. Our goal is to expose and educate students to appreciate the diversity in all art forms. Every year we build upon the skills and introduce new medium and tools.
• Students are able to recognize & discuss different art works, express feelings with pattern & design, and recognize subject matter like portrait, landscape, & still life.
LIBRARY: The main objectives of our Library Program are to encourage students to develop a love of reading, help students select books appropriate to their age and reading levels based on Lexile reading scores, and to provide opportunities to build reading comprehension through the Reading Counts Program.
• Learn parts of a book.
• Fiction & Non-Fiction, & literary genres.
• Learn appropriate book selection and develop reading comprehension.
MUSIC: In our Music Program, students will learn the art of performance as they prepare for two or more performances during the year. Through performing, students will gain self-confidence, stage presence, plus musical and theater experience. Students will be taught how to audition and will play theater games to develop skills. During the rehearsal process for the spring musical, students learn to project, acting, & re-acting. Students will also begin the foundation on which they will build, year after year, the tools needed in which to learn how to read music. These tools include, identifying rhythms, notes, & dynamic markings. The process by which they will learn is mostly playing musical games and activities. In addition, students will learn how to properly sing, including breath control. Students will also focus more on difficult aspects of music theory.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION: The Physical Education Program focuses on fitness and health concepts, skill development and sportsmanship. The goal is to provide each student the tools needed to lead healthy and active lifestyles with a positive attitude. Includes Presidential Fitness Program.
• Balance, coordination, flexibility, & motor skills, as well as manipulative skills.

 

Second Grade Curriculum & Academics

 

STUDENT/TEACHER RATIO: • 20:1 (21-24 students includes an instructional aide)
 

SPIRITUAL & SOCIAL

 
BIBLE: • Students learn the Bible is God’s Word & recognize their need of a personal Savior.
• Teaching students to apply Bible knowledge to daily lives.
• Connecting Bible events to historical events.
• Study character traits of various people in the Bible and application to student’s life.
• Teaching positive character traits from a Christian perspective.
• Textbooks: Purposeful Design.
CHAPEL: • 35-45 Minutes, 1 Day a Week (With all elementary student body).
 

ACADEMICS

 
MATHEMATICS: • Use addition and subtraction within 100 to solve one and two step word problems.
• Use mental strategies to fluently add and subtract within 20.
• Determine if group of objects is odd or even.
• Find total number of arrays.
• Understand place value and use properties of operations to add and subtract.
• Measure and estimate in standard units.
• Time and money.
• Represent and interpret data-graphs.
• Reason with shapes and their attributes.
• Textbook: Go Math, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
LANGUAGE ARTS & READING: • Emphasis on phonemic awareness, phonics, and word knowledge, comprehension skills and strategies, inquiry skills & strategies, writing & language arts skills & strategies.
• Writing emphasis is on writing clear, coherent sentences & summaries as a response to literature & learning the steps to write interesting and concise expository, narrative and opinion writings.
• Textbooks: Open Court Reading, Grade 2 (SRA McGraw-Hill), Writing Program-Learning Headquarters.
SPELLING & HANDWRITING: • Emphasis on strategies to strengthen spelling through phonetic patterns.
• Developing vocabulary through word study and the writing process.
• Textbook: Spelling, Grade 2 Purposeful Design (ACSI).
SCIENCE: • Life Science (plants, vertebrates, invertebrates, habitats).
• Physical Science (energy, light, heat).
• Senses & Earth Science.
• Textbooks: Science, Grade 2, Purposeful Design Publications (ACSI).
• Special Activities: Environmental Nature Center, Fossils Program through Discovery Science Center, Long Beach Aquarium.
SOCIAL STUDIES: • Expanding map skills from the neighborhood to the world.
• Making & carrying out laws.
• People who supply our food (basic economics of production & consumption).
• Family ancestry (timelines of where & when ancestors have come to our country).
• Curriculum: http://www.history.ctaponline.org/.
HOMEWORK: • 20 Minutes Per Night – Spelling, Grammar, Review Math Facts, 10 Minutes of Reading.
 

ENRICHMENT CLASSES

 
COMPUTER: At Grace we love to have fun with technology. During our weekly sessions in the computer lab, we explore technology and teach students to use it in a fun, safe and responsible way. Whether the kids are learning math, language arts, or science, we use technology to enhance the classroom experience.
• Expand features of previous programs.
• Increase keyboarding proficiency.
• Microsoft PowerPoint & Microsoft Word.
SPANISH: Our Spanish curriculum is an interactive curriculum using mainly music, games and fun activities to make learning a positive experience. Our curriculum also includes a Christian program in Spanish. This involves activities such as coloring and some workbook activities to reinforce Christian principals and to express God’s love. The students will also learn some Sunday school and Christmas songs throughout the year.
Students will continue to build on their basic listening and speaking skills.
Start to conjugate some verbs such as “to be” and introduce themselves with more detail, express feelings, ask questions about the weather, communicate basic needs and desires.
• Continue to study colors.
• Practice counting in Spanish.
• Learn many calendar concepts, i.e. months, days of the week, & seasons.
• Begin to learn opposites, parts of the body, members of the family, different types of animals School, household and food items will also be introduced.
• They will be able to tell their birthdays.
• Describe their family and some professions.
• Some geography, culture, and traditions of Latin America will be a part of the curriculum to understand and appreciate its people.
• Learn Pledge of Allegiance.
• Bible verses & reading Bible stories in Spanish to reinforce Christian principles.
• Learn to express God’s love in Spanish.
ART: Our Art Program focuses on the basic elements and principles of Art encompassing past and present artists with various styles and techniques. Each student will create their own Art portfolio with the collection of all their art work throughout the year. Students use sketchbooks every class for design, practice, discovery, and exploration. Each month is dedicated to a specific artist, skill or theme, and creative projects are varied according to the grade level. It is believed that Art develops critical thinking and problem solving skills that will empower students throughout their lives. Our goal is to expose and educate students to appreciate the diversity in all art forms. Every year we build upon the skills and introduce new medium and tools.
• Students are introduced to collage, rubbings, space, symmetry, balance, & use of warm & cool colors.
• Learn to compare different art works and understand different types of art.
LIBRARY: The main objectives of our Library Program are to encourage students to develop a love of reading, teach students how to access information in any library setting through the Dewey Decimal System, help students select books appropriate to their age and reading levels based on Lexile reading scores, & to provide opportunities to build reading comprehension through the Reading Counts Program.
• Learn parts of a book Fiction & Non-Fiction, & literary genres.
• Fiction and Non-Fiction.
• Research skills and literary genres.
• Develop reading comprehension.
MUSIC: In our Music Program, students will learn the art of performance as they prepare for two or more performances during the year. Through performing, students will gain self-confidence, stage presence, plus musical and theater experience. Students will be taught how to audition and will play theater games to develop skills. During the rehearsal process for the spring musical, students learn to project, acting, & re-acting. Students will also begin the foundation on which they will build, year after year, the tools needed in which to learn how to read music. These tools include, identifying rhythms, notes, & dynamic markings. The process by which they will learn is mostly playing musical games and activities. In addition, students will learn how to properly sing, including breath control. Students will be able to read music by the end of the school year.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION: The Physical Education Program focuses on fitness and health concepts, skill development and sportsmanship. The goal is to provide each student the tools needed to lead healthy and active lifestyles with a positive attitude.
• Continued focus on developmental skills & the introduction of a variety of simple ball games & activities.
• Presidential Fitness Program.

 

Third Grade Curriculum & Academics

 

STUDENT/TEACHER RATIO: • 20:1 (21-24 students includes an instructional aide)
 

SPIRITUAL & SOCIAL

 
BIBLE: • Third graders learn to live the Bible, as well as know the Bible.
• Learn Biblical doctrines.
• Study Old & New Testaments.
• Learn a weekly Bible verse.
• Teachings of Scripture are incorporated into each subject as students learn to apply biblical truths to real-life learning and develop Godly character.
• Textbook: Following Christ, Grade 3 (BJU Press).
SOCIAL: • Emphasis on Christian character development & Biblical conflict resolution.
• Students are encouraged to incorporate Christian character into their daily lives and acknowledge it in others.
• Our school-wide focus is on demonstrating and maintaining a positive mental attitude.
• Focus on further developing students’ group & independent study habits, organizational skills, as well as instilling academic and social responsibilities is a key component to third grade that will serve students through their school years and beyond.
CHAPEL: • 35-45 Minutes, 1 Day a Week (With all elementary student body).
 

ACADEMICS

 
MATHEMATICS: • Primary objectives & emphasis include addition, subtraction, regrouping, multiplication, division, & place value of whole numbers.
• Study decimals, fractions, money, measurement, basic geometry, probability, and problem solving.
• Supplemental hand-on activities include Mad Dog Math, manipulatives, & games to help students grasp mathematical concepts.
• Textbook: Go Math (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt).
• Special Activities: ACSI Math Olympics.
LANGUAGE ARTS & READING: • Reading program is designed to promote students not only to learn to read, but to read to learn. We will use strategies that provide a supportive environment to excite, encourage, and engage students in the art and love of reading.
• Open Court reading anthologies help to inspire students by presenting a diversity of genre-realism & fantasy, poetry & biographies, historical fiction & folktales.
• Phonics, sight word recognition, sentence structures, use of context vocabulary development, and comprehension are all emphasized in our program.
• Open Court is a very balanced literacy program that includes shared, guided, and independent reading.
• Third Grade also incorporates several literature novels into the reading program.
• Emphasis on writing clear, coherent & focused sentences & paragraphs that develop a central idea, while demonstrating a command of English grammar, sentence structure, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, & penmanship.
• English grammar, usage & mechanics taught & mastered.
• Directed spelling instruction that strengthens reading & writing skills through phonetic patterns & vocabulary study.
• Textbooks: Open Court Reading Program (SRA/McGraw-Hill), Comprehension & Language Arts Skills, Spelling & Vocabulary Skills, English/Grammar-Houghton-Mifflin, Spelling (ACSI) Easy Grammar Grade 3, by Wanda C. Phillips, Ed.D.
• Special Activities: ACSI Speech Meet.
HANDWRITING: • 100 minutes of reading per week.
• Introduction of proper cursive handwriting using the correct strokes, shapes, sizes, and slant required.
• Mastery of cursive handwriting will result in all work being completed in cursive handwriting by the completion of third grade.
• Textbook: Handwriting, Grade 3 (Zaner-Bloser).
SOCIAL STUDIES: • A California Standards based hands-on curriculum which enables third grade students to research local American Indians, the history of Orange County, and our local city and community from a Christian perspective.
• Third grade students investigate their role as an American citizen, as well as discover important national landmarks, symbols, and American heroes.
• Students participate in valuable map skill lessons that enable them to read, question, and interpret various types of maps.
• Textbooks: California Department of Education & Geography Daily Skills, Grade 3 (Evan Moor).
• Special Activities: Rawhide Ranch, The Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo, & Native American Field Trips.
SCIENCE: • ACSI Purposeful Design Science Program centers on the acknowledgement that the world in which we live belongs to God, Who created & upholds it.
• Students can perceive a degree of the amazing complexity & orderliness of God’s world through scientific inquiry.
• Concrete learning experiences in the science lab enrich the students’ knowledge of the creation & will affirm their faith.
• Emphasis on the study of the different Ecosystems, Rocks & Soils, Properties of Matter, Laws of Motion, Electricity, Magnets, the Human Body, & the Solar System.
• Textbooks: Purposeful Design, Grade 3 (ACSI).
HOMEWORK: • 30 minutes per night.
 

ENRICHMENT CLASSES

 
COMPUTER: At Grace we love to have fun with technology. During our weekly sessions in the computer lab, we explore technology and teach students to use it in a fun, safe, and responsible way. Whether the kids are learning math facts, studying insect life cycles, or completing a research project, we use technology to enhance the classroom experience.
• Increase keyboarding proficiency.
• Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint.
• Expand on the features of previously learned program.
• Computer coding.
• Internet navigation and safety.
SPANISH: Our Spanish curriculum is an interactive curriculum using mainly music, games and fun activities to make learning a positive experience. Our curriculum also includes a Christian program in Spanish. This involves activities such as coloring and some workbook activities to reinforce Christian principals and to express God’s love. The students will also learn some Sunday school and Christmas songs throughout the year.
• 3rd to 6th graders will expand on already acquired basic listening & communication skills & build on vocabulary they already know.
• Students will learn to write simple phrases & compose a simple letter.
• The teacher will introduce simple verb construction & practice creating phrases.
• Students are exposed to a range of action verbs taken from the Verbos flash cards.
• Some grammar will be introduced, such as past, present, & future; however, goal is not to overwhelm students with grammar, but to encourage them to acquire good pronunciation, comprehension, & communication skills by the time they complete elementary school.
• As with 2nd grade, curriculum includes learning The Pledge of Allegiance, learning Bible verses, & read Bible stories in Spanish to reinforce Christian principals & to express God’s love in Spanish.
ART: Our Art Program focuses on the basic elements and principles of Art encompassing past and present artists with various styles and techniques. Each student will create their own Art portfolio with the collection of all their art work throughout the year. Students use sketchbooks every class for design, practice, discovery, and exploration. Each month is dedicated to a specific artist, skill or theme, and creative projects are varied according to the grade level. It is believed that Art develops critical thinking and problem solving skills that will empower students throughout their lives. Our goal is to expose and educate students to appreciate the diversity in all art forms. Every year we build upon the skills and introduce new medium and tools.
• Students are introduced to tints, shades, & neutral colors.
• Works include color mixing, cityscapes, & seascapes.
• En-capture life, rhythm, & movement to be able to describe elements in art work.
• Identify artists from their community, country, and state.
LIBRARY: The main objectives of our Library Program are to encourage students to develop a love of reading, teach students how to access information in any library setting through the Dewey Decimal System, help students select books appropriate to their age and reading levels based on Lexile reading scores, & to provide opportunities to build reading comprehension through the Reading Counts Program.
• Dewey Decimal system, parts of a book, Fiction & Non-Friction, & Literary genres.
• Learn to write book reviews, peer reading, & research skills.
• Develop reading comprehension.
MUSIC: In our Music Program, students will learn the art of performance as they prepare for two or more performances during the year. Through performing, students will gain self-confidence, stage presence, plus musical and theater experience. Students will be taught how to audition and will play theater games to develop skills. During the rehearsal process for the spring musical, students learn to project, acting, & re-acting. Students will also begin the foundation on which they will build, year after year, the tools needed in which to learn how to read music. These tools include, identifying rhythms, notes, & dynamic markings. The process by which they will learn is mostly playing musical games and activities. In addition, students will learn how to properly sing, including breath control. Students will also learn to identify different styles of music in addition to instrument identification.
Third grade has an additional weekly recorder class. Students are reinforcing the knowledge gained in second grade, reading notes and building on that. They learn fingering, breath control, and dynamics and note values. The curriculum is called “Recorder Karate.” This is a highly motivational system, that after students have mastered a song they are tested. If they pass, they earn a belt in the fashion of earnings belts in karate.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION: The Physical Education Program focuses on fitness and health concepts, skill development and sportsmanship. The goal is to provide each student the tools needed to lead healthy and active lifestyles with a positive attitude.
• Continued focus on developmental skills with a variety of simple ball games as well as the introduction of different sports.
• Presidential Fitness Program.

Fourth Grade Curriculum & Academics

 

STUDENT/TEACHER RATIO: • 20:1 (21-24 students includes an instructional aide)
 

SPIRITUAL & SOCIAL

 
BIBLE: • Emphasis on Bible Truths & that the Bible is God’s Word.
• Aid students in recognizing their need of Christ as personal Savior.
• Students learn more about God & how to apply Bible knowledge to daily lives.
• Textbook: Bible Purposeful Design (ACSI).
CHAPEL: • 35-45 Minutes, 1 Day a Week (With all elementary student body).
 

ACADEMICS

 
MATHEMATICS: • Mad Dog Math and timed math facts tests.
• Place value in addition and subtraction to one million.
• Multiplication by 1-2 digit numbers and division by 1 digit numbers.
• Factors, multiples, and patterns.
• Fractions: equivalence, comparison, addition, subtraction, and multiplication.
• Fractions and decimals relation to one another.
• Geometry, measurement, data: 2 dimensional figures, angles, and measurement units.
• Algebra: perimeter and area.
• Textbook: Go Math (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt).
LANGUAGE ARTS & READING: • Reading comprehension: comprehension, inquiry, and prediction strategies.
• Literary response and analysis of literary elements.
• Vocabulary: context clues, Latin/Greek roots, reference skills, usage.
• Writing Strategies (multiple-paragraph composition: narrative, informative, persuasive).
• Writing Process (prewriting, drafting, revising, editing).
• Penmanship (cursive writing).
• English language conventions: parts of speech, capitalization, and punctuation.
• Research report and technology.
• Literature novels (3 a year, plus a Summer Reading Log).
• Book Reports (3 a year).
• Textbook: Open Court Reading Program, Easy Grammar, and Word Wisdom Vocabulary.
• Field Trip – Performing Arts production.
SCIENCE: • Earth Science: Lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and study of the universe.
• Physical Science: Energy, heat, light, sound, motion, force, and matter.
• Life Science: God’s design, order, diversity, ecosystems, and food chains.
• Science Method and Lab: inquiry, hypothesis, investigation, observation, conclusion.
• Field Trip – Orange Country Zoo.
SOCIAL STUDIES: • Physical geographic features of California.
• California Indians.
• Spanish exploration.
• Spanish missions and ranchos.
• Mexican-American War.
• Gold Rush.
• Statehood of California.
• Christian economic, social, and political history of California.
• California today.
• California mission research and project.
• Special Event: Sacramento and Yosemite Trip.
• Field Trips–San Juan Capistrano Mission, Walk Through California, Heritage Hill.
HOMEWORK: • 40 minutes per night, plus 20 minutes of nightly reading for Reading Log.
 

ENRICHMENT CLASSES

 
COMPUTER: At Grace we love to have fun with technology. During our weekly sessions in the computer lab, we explore technology and teach students to use it in a fun, safe and responsible way. Whether the kids are learning math facts, studying insect life cycles, or completing a research project, we use technology to enhance the classroom experience.
• Increase keyboarding proficiency & Integration of all Microsoft programs.
• Integration of all computer programs by completing multimedia projects.
• Computer coding.
SPANISH: Our Spanish curriculum is an interactive curriculum using mainly music, games and fun activities to make learning a positive experience. Our curriculum also includes a Christian program in Spanish. This involves activities such as coloring and some workbook activities to reinforce Christian principals and to express God’s love. The students will also learn some Sunday school and Christmas songs throughout the year.
• 40 Minutes, 1 day a week.
• Students will continue to build on their basic listening and speaking skills.
• Start to conjugate some verbs such as “to be” and introduce themselves with more detail, express feelings, ask questions about the weather, communicate basic needs and desires.
• Continue to study colors.
• Practice counting in Spanish.
• Learn many calendar concepts, i.e. months, days of the week, & seasons.
• Begin to learn opposites, parts of the body, members of the family, different types of animals.
• School, household and food items will also be introduced.
• They will be able to tell their birthdays.
• Describe their family and some professions.
• Some geography, culture, and traditions of Latin America will be a part of the curriculum to understand and appreciate its people.
• Learn Pledge of Allegiance.
• Bible verses & reading Bible stories in Spanish to reinforce Christian principles.
• Learn to express God’s love in Spanish.
ART: Our Art Program focuses on the basic elements and principles of Art encompassing past and present artists with various styles and techniques. Each student will create their own Art portfolio with the collection of all their art work throughout the year. Students use sketchbooks every class for design, practice, discovery, and exploration. Each month is dedicated to a specific artist, skill or theme, and creative projects are varied according to the grade level. It is believed that Art develops critical thinking and problem solving skills that will empower students throughout their lives. Our goal is to expose and educate students to appreciate the diversity in all art forms. Every year we build upon the skills and introduce new medium and tools.
• Focus includes mission architecture, positive & negative space, & figure drawings.
• Complimentary colors.
LIBRARY: The main objectives of our Library Program are to encourage students to develop a love of reading, teach students how to access information in any library setting through the Dewey Decimal System, help students select books appropriate to their age and reading levels based on Lexile reading scores, & to provide opportunities to build reading comprehension through the Reading Counts Program.
• Dewey Decimal system, parts of a book, Fiction & Non-fiction, & literary genres.
• Learn to write book reviews, peer reading, & research skills.
• Develop reading comprehension.
MUSIC: In our Music Program, students will learn how to properly sing, including breath control. Students will learn how to sing harmony. In addition, students will learn the art of performance as they prepare for two or more performances during the year. Through performing, students will gain self-confidence, stage presence, plus musical and theater experience. During the rehearsal process for the spring musical, students learn to project, acting, & re-acting. Students will continue learning the tools needed to read music. The tools include, identifying rhythms, notes, & dynamic markings. The process by which they will learn is mostly playing musical games and activities. Students will also learn to identify different styles of music in addition to instrument identification. Fourth Grade has an additional 30 minutes per week for recorder. Fourth grade students pick up where they left off in Third Grade recorder and play more advanced music. Students will learn more notes, different music styles and more difficult rhythms.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION: The Physical Education Program focuses on fitness and health concepts, skill development and sportsmanship. The goal is to provide each student the tools needed to lead healthy and active lifestyles with a positive attitude. Presidential Fitness Program is included.
• Continued focus on developmental skills, and games, as well as developing skills necessary to participate in sports.

 

Fifth Grade Curriculum & Academics

 

STUDENT/TEACHER RATIO: • 20:1 (21-24 students includes an instructional aide)
 

SPIRITUAL & SOCIAL

 
BIBLE: • Emphasis on Bible Truths & that the Bible is God’s Word.
• Aids students in recognizing their need of Christ as personal Savior.
• Students learn more about God & how to apply Bible knowledge to daily lives.
• Prayer & Memory Verse.
• Textbook: Bible Purposeful Design (ACSI).
CHAPEL: • 35-45 Minutes, 1 Day a Week (with all Elementary student body).
 

ACADEMICS

 
MATHEMATICS: • Fluency with Whole Numbers and Decimals: Place Value, Multiplication & Expressions, Division of Whole Numbers, Add & Subtract Decimals, Multiplication & Division of Decimals.
• Operations with Fractions: Add & Subtract with Unlike Denominators, Multiply & Divide Fractions.
• Geometry and Measurement: Algebra (Patterns & Graphing), Conversion and Units of Measure, Geometry and Volume.
• Timed Tests: Multiplication and Division Facts.
• Textbook: Go Math (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt).
LANGUAGE ARTS & READING: • Reading Comprehension: Comprehension, Inference, Prediction Strategies.
• Literary Response & Analysis of Literary Elements.
• Vocabulary Development: Context, Latin/Greek Roots, Reference Skills, Usage.
• Writing Strategies: Multiple-paragraph Composition, Narrative, Persuasive, Informative, Response to Literature, Book Report.
• Research Report and Use of Technology in Research.
• Oral Presentation.
• Writing Process: Prewriting, Drafting, Revising, Editing.
• English Language Conventions: Parts of Speech, Punctuation, Capitalization.
• Literature Novels.
• Weekly Reading Logs, Summer Reading Log.
• Textbook: Open Court Reading Program, Word Wisdom (Zaner-Bloser), Easy Grammar (Easy Grammar Systems), Spelling (Purposeful Design).
SCIENCE: • Physical Science: Measuring Matter, Changing Matter, Force & Work, Electricity & Magnetism.
• Life Science: Natural Cycles, Life Cycles, Ecological Succession.
• Earth & Space Science: Earth’s Processes, Natural Resources, Weather & Climate, Sun, Earth, & Moon.
• Human Body: Transitions, Disease.
• Investigative Labs, Experiments, Use of Microscope, Science Notebook.
• Textbook: Science (Purposeful Design).
• Special Event: Science Camp at Palomar.
SOCIAL STUDIES: • United States History from a Christian perspective, U.S. Geography, States & Capitals.
• New World Explorer, American Indians, Colonial Era, Great Awakening, French & Indian War, American Revolution, Birth & Growth of a New Nation, U.S. Constitution, Westward Movement, Civil War, New Frontiers, Age of Progress, Beyond our Borders, World Wars, Freedom & Responsibility.
• Explorer Research Report and State Research Report.
• Textbook: History of the United States in Christian Perspective (A Becka Book), USA Studies Weekly (America Legacy).
• Special Events: Riley’s Farm; Star of India.
HOMEWORK: • 50 minutes per night; Reading Log: 140 minutes per week.
 

ENRICHMENT CLASSES

 
COMPUTER: At Grace we love to have fun with technology. During our weekly sessions in the computer lab, we explore technology and teach students to use it in a fun, safe and responsible way. Whether the kids are learning math facts, studying insect life cycles, or completing a research project, we use technology to enhance the classroom experience.
• Integration of all programs by completing multimedia projects.
• Increase keyboarding proficiency.
• Computer coding.
• Learning how to use the internet and social media in a safe, responsible, and respectful way.
SPANISH: Our Spanish curriculum is an interactive curriculum using mainly music, games and fun activities to make learning a positive experience. Our curriculum also includes a Christian program in Spanish. This involves activities such as coloring and some workbook activities to reinforce Christian principals and to express God’s love. The students will also learn some Sunday school and Christmas songs throughout the year.
• Students will continue to build on their basic listening and speaking skills.
• Start to conjugate some verbs such as “to be” and introduce themselves with more detail, express feelings, ask questions about the weather, communicate basic needs and desires.
• Continue to study colors.
• Practice counting in Spanish.
• Earn many calendar concepts, i.e. months, days of the week, & seasons.
• Begin to learn opposites, parts of the body, members of the family, different types of animals.
• School, household and food items will also be introduced.
• They will be able to tell their birthdays.
• Describe their family and some professions.
• Some geography, culture, and traditions of Latin America will be a part of the curriculum to understand and appreciate its people.
• Learn Pledge of Allegiance.
• Bible verses & reading Bible stories in Spanish to reinforce Christian principles.
• Learn to express God’s love in Spanish.
ART: Our Art Program focuses on the basic elements and principles of Art encompassing past and present artists with various styles and techniques. Each student will create their own Art portfolio with the collection of all their art work throughout the year. Students use sketchbooks every class for design, practice, discovery, and exploration. Each month is dedicated to a specific artist, skill or theme, and creative projects are varied according to the grade level. It is believed that Art develops critical thinking and problem solving skills that will empower students throughout their lives. Our goal is to expose and educate students to appreciate the diversity in all art forms. Every year we build upon the skills and introduce new medium and tools.
• Create a piece of art from various regions of the United States.
• Students are introduced to perspective, contour drawing, assemblage, & original art.
LIBRARY: The main objectives of our Library Program are to encourage students to develop a love of reading, teach students how to access information in any library setting through the Dewey Decimal System, help students select books appropriate to their age and reading levels based on Lexile reading scores, & to provide opportunities to build reading comprehension through the Reading Counts Program.
• Dewey Decimal system, parts of a book, Fiction & Non-Fiction, literary genres.
• Learn to write book reviews & research skills.
• Peer reading & develop reading comprehension.
• Integrated time into Reading & Social Studies.
MUSIC: In our Music Program, students will learn how to properly sing, including breath control. Students will learn how to sing harmony. In addition, students will learn the art of performance as they prepare for two or more performances during the year. Through performing, students will gain self-confidence, stage presence, plus musical and theater experience. Students will be taught how to audition and will play theater games to develop skills. During the rehearsal process for the spring musical, students learn to project, acting, & re-acting. Students will continue learning the tools needed to read music. The tools include, identifying rhythms, notes, and dynamic markings. The process by which they will learn is mostly playing musical games and activities. By the end of the school year, students will be able to write a short original song. Fifth and Sixth Grade has an additional 30 minutes each week of bells and chimes. Students learn how to play the hand bells & perform for the Christmas Program and 6 th Grade Promotion, allowing students to gain self-confidence and a sense of belonging because it takes the whole group to successfully perform.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION: The Physical Education Program focuses on fitness and health concepts, skill development and sportsmanship. The goal is to provide each student the tools needed to lead healthy and active lifestyles with a positive attitude. Presidential Fitness Program included.
• Students participate in different sports/games, as well as learning the major muscles groups and stretches to prepare for physical activity.

 

Sixth Grade Curriculum & Academics

 

STUDENT/TEACHER RATIO: • 20:1 (21-24 students includes an instructional aide)
 

SPIRITUAL & SOCIAL

 
BIBLE: • Emphasis on Bible Truths & that the Bible is God’s Word.
• Aids students in recognizing their need of Christ as personal Savior.
• Students learn more about God & how to apply Bible knowledge to daily lives.
• Prayer & Memory Verse.
• 6th grade emphasis: New Testament.
• Textbook: Bible Purposeful Design (ACSI).
CHAPEL: • 35-45 Minutes, 1 Day a Week (With all elementary student body).
 

ACADEMICS

 
MATHEMATICS: • Numbers: Integers, Factors & Multiples, Rational Numbers, Operations with Fractions, Operations with Decimals, Representing & Applying Ratios &Rates, Percent.
• Equivalent Expressions: Equivalent Numerical Expressions, Equivalent Algebraic Expressions, Equations & Relationships, Relationships in Two Variables.
• Geometry: Area & Polygons, Distance & Area in Coordinate Plane, Surface Area & Volume of Solids.
• Measurement & Data: Displaying, Analyzing, & Summarizing Data.
• Textbook: CA Go Math Middle School Grade 6 (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt).
LANGUAGE ARTS & READING: • Reading Comprehension: Comprehension, Inference, Prediction Strategies.
• Literary Response & Analysis of Literary Elements.
• Vocabulary Development: Context, Latin, Latin/Greek Roots, Reference Skills, Usage.
• Writing Strategies: Multiple-paragraph Composition, Narrative, Informative, Persuasive/Argumentative, Response to Literature, Book Report.
• Research Report and Use of Technology in Research.
• Oral Presentation.
• Writing Process, Prewriting, Drafting, Revising, Editing.
• English Language Conventions: Parts of Speech, Punctuation, Capitalization.
• Literature Novels.
• Weekly Reading Logs.
• Textbooks: Literature & Language Arts (Holt), Word Wisdom (Zaner-Bloser), Easy Grammar (Easy Grammar Systems), Spelling (Purposeful Design).
SCIENCE: • Earth & Space Science: Oceans in Motion, Rock Records, Violent Motions, Astronomy.
• Physical Science: Periodic Table of Elements, States of Matter, Fluids, Laws of Motion.
• Life Science: Classification, Cell Processes, Heredity & Genetics.
• Human Body: Interaction of Systems, Body Stewardship.
• 6-week Drug Education Program (DUILA) taught by OC Sheriff’s Department.
• Investigative Labs, Experiments, Use of Microscopes, Science Notebook.
• Textbook: Science (Purposeful Design).
• Special Events: Week-long Science Camp at Catalina, Bottle Rocket Launch.
SOCIAL STUDIES: • Historical and Social Sciences Analysis: Timelines, Point of View, Research, Interpretations, Spatial Thinking/Maps, Graph Interpretation, Primary & Secondary Sources.
• World History in Biblical Context.
• Ancient Civilizations: Mesopotamia, Egypt, Israel, India, China, Japan, Persia, Greece, Rome.
• Ancient Civilization Research Report.
• Textbooks: Heritage Studies 6 (BJU Press), World History Studies Weekly (American Legacy Publishing).
• Special events: Archaeological Dig, Making Papyrus, Mummification of Chicken, Walk Though Ancient World Program.
HOMEWORK: • 60 minutes per night / Reading Log: 160 minutes per week.
 

ENRICHMENT CLASSES

 
COMPUTER: At Grace we love to have fun with technology. During our weekly sessions in the computer lab, we explore technology and teach students to use it in a fun, safe and responsible way. Whether the kids are learning math facts, studying insect life cycles, or completing a research project, we use technology to enhance the classroom experience.
• Integration of all programs by completing 6th grade end of year video.
• Increase keyboarding proficiency.
• Computer coding.
• How to use the internet and social media in a safe, responsible and respectful way.
SPANISH: Our Spanish curriculum is an interactive curriculum using mainly music, games and fun activities to make learning a positive experience. Our curriculum also includes a Christian program in Spanish. This involves activities such as coloring and some workbook activities to reinforce Christian principals and to express God’s love. The students will also learn some Sunday school and Christmas songs throughout the year.
• Students will continue to build on their basic listening and speaking skills.
• Start to conjugate some verbs such as “to be” and introduce themselves with more detail, express feelings, ask questions about the weather, communicate basic needs and desires.
• Continue to study colors.
• Practice counting in Spanish.
• Learn many calendar concepts, i.e. months, days of the week, & seasons.
• Begin to learn opposites, parts of the body, members of the family, different types of animals.
• School, household and food items will also be introduced.
• They will be able to tell their birthdays.
• Describe their family and some professions.
• Some geography, culture, and traditions of Latin America will be a part of the curriculum to understand and appreciate its people.
• Learn Pledge of Allegiance.
• Bible verses & reading Bible stories in Spanish to reinforce Christian principles.
• Learn to express God’s love in Spanish.
ART: Our Art Program focuses on the basic elements and principles of Art encompassing past and present artists with various styles and techniques. Each student will create their own Art portfolio with the collection of all their art work throughout the year. Students use sketchbooks every class for design, practice, discovery, and exploration. Each month is dedicated to a specific artist, skill or theme, and creative projects are varied according to the grade level. It is believed that Art develops critical thinking and problem solving skills that will empower students throughout their lives. Our goal is to expose and educate students to appreciate the diversity in all art forms. Every year we build upon the skills and introduce new medium and tools.
• Apply the rules of 2-point perspective.
• Identify and produce artwork using the elements of art.
LIBRARY: The main objectives of our Library Program are to encourage students to develop a love of reading, teach students how to access information in any library setting through the Dewey Decimal System, help students select books appropriate to their age and reading levels based on Lexile reading scores, & to provide opportunities to build reading comprehension through the Reading Counts Program.
• Research skills.
• Integrated time into Language Arts & Social Studies blocks.
MUSIC: In our Music Program, students will learn how to properly sing, including breath control. Students will learn how to sing harmony. In addition, students will learn the art of performance as they prepare for two or more performances during the year. Through performing, students will gain self-confidence, stage presence, plus musical and theater experience. Students will be taught how to audition and will play theater games to develop skills. During the rehearsal process for the spring musical, students learn to project, acting, & re-acting. Students will continue learning the tools needed to read music. The tools include, identifying rhythms, notes, and dynamic markings. The process by which they will learn is mostly playing musical games and activities. By the end of the school year, students will be able to write a short original song. Fifth and Sixth Grade has an additional 30 minutes each week of bells and chimes. Students learn how to play the hand bells & perform for the Christmas Program and 6 th Grade Promotion, allowing students to gain self-confidence and a sense of belonging because it takes the whole group to successfully perform.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION: The Physical Education Program focuses on fitness and health concepts, skill development and sportsmanship. The goal is to provide each student the tools needed to lead healthy and active lifestyles with a positive attitude. Includes Presidential Fitness Program.
• Participate in different sports/games, as well as learning the major muscles groups and stretches to prepare for physical activity.