Early Learning Curriculum
Below is an overview of concepts covered at the pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, 1st-2nd, and 3rd-4th grade levels. It is not a comprehensive list of skills or content covered; rather, it is a sampling of the range and type of learning that comprises these grade level curricula.
- Hands-on, participatory learning
- Development, expansion, and articulation of concepts and ideas
- Integration of subjects, topics and skills including incorporation of the arts and technology
- Presentation and performance experience
- Successful collaboration, including the recognition and acceptance of others and their contributions
- Independent thinking, creative problem solving, and respectful communication
- Exposure, experimentation and exploration of a variety of experiences, projects, and discussions
- Opportunities to demonstrate knowledge and skill mastery
- Practice in planning and the development of time management skills
- Cultivation of a global worldview
- Growth of personal responsibility, integrity, and ethical decision making
- Inter-reliant connection between home and school
Our curriculum is challenging and allows students to apply their talents to subjects and problems, becoming original thinkers along the way. We utilize elements of both product (intended outcomes and traditional assessment) and process (learner specific outcomes and non-standard assessment tools) curriculum models. While we hold high expectations for our students, we also respect them as unique learners. Every classroom is a safe environment in which to take intellectual risks.
Below is an overview of concepts covered at the kindergarten, 1st-2nd, and 3rd-4th grade levels. It is not a comprehensive list of skills or content covered; rather, it is a sampling of the range and type of learning that comprises these grade level curricula.
Pre-Kindergarten (3 & 4 Year Olds)
Cooperative and Independent learning skills
- Paying attention
- Following directions
- Actively participating
- Working with focus
- Showing growth in managing emotions
- Handling materials responsibly
- Helping others and speaking politely to others
- Eagerly exploring new ideas and concepts
- Developing tools to be a good friend
- Understanding themselves as individuals
- Using words to solve problems
Language Arts
Receptive/Expressive language
- Understanding and responding to spoken language including directions
- Developing oral vocabulary
- Reciting finger plays, songs, nursery rhymes, reader's theater
- Listening to and understanding stories
- Expressing individual needs, feelings, and ideas
- Modulating voice when communicating
Reading
- Turning pages in a book from right to left
- Making predictions
- Recognizing lowercase and uppercase letters
- Recognizing letters through sound prompts
- Participating in rhyming
- Blending and segmenting sounds
Writing
- Recognizing and writing first name
- Developing mature writing grip
- Communicating ideas through pictures and words
- Copying letters and words
Social Studies
- Building respect for others and self
- Identifying characteristics of families
- Various units such as woodland animals and fairy tales
- Exploring travel and trip destinations
- Participating in service projects
Math
- Building patterns
- Recognizing numerals
- Recognizing shapes
- Measuring objects
- Counting objects with one to one correspondence
- Comparing and contrasting number values in various forms
- Ordering numbers
- Identifying, names, and manipulating shapes and units of measure
- Combination and separation of sets
- Developing math related vocabulary
Science
- Exploring objects creatively
- Recycling
- Studying animal types and characteristics
- Investigating color, light, and shadows
- Developing units incorporating children’s interests
Spanish
- Communicating in Spanish and to develop awareness, respect and appreciation for other cultures
- Listening to authentic songs, poems and stories in Spanish
- Singing, moving, dancing, and playing games in Spanish
- Role-playing in Spanish using puppets, objects and materials from everyday life
- Learning about the people, customs and traditions of Spanish-speaking cultures with activities such as tasting foods and making art
- Participating in cross-curricular activities such as math and science while speaking or writing Spanish
- Communicating simple messages in Spanish to peers and others
- Reading and writing basic vocabulary and phrases in Spanish
Arts
Creative Movement
- Recognizing movement as a key component of experiential learning
- Exploring creative movement
- Using dance to strengthen understandings in learning
- Strengthening bodies and minds through movement
- Building relationships with peers by working together
- Learning and creating a variety of dances
Music
- Using music as a tool for teaching content, memorization, making historical and cultural connections and for enjoyment of listening and singing
- Growing deeper musical understandings
- Building singing skills
- Playing a variety of instruments
- Creating original musical arrangements and learn musical concepts around melody, harmony, rhythm, form and musical expression.
Theatre
- Imagining and creating through dramatic play
- Using drama to build understanding and empathy around a variety of subjects
- Enjoying performing
Visual Arts
- Creating a variety of visual arts projects
- Integrating and exploring subject matter studied such as science, social studies, language arts and math.
- Exploring a wide variety of materials and forms in two and three dimensions.
- Displaying and exhibiting work
Kinetic Wellness
- Movement exploration: up, down, in, out, around, through, over, and under
- Gross motor movements
- Introduction to ball skills: tossing, throwing, catching, kicking
- Hiking/nature walks
- Chase, tag, parachute play
- Dancing and singing
- Balance activities/yoga
- Following game directions
- Bones, germs, healthy foods
Kindergarten
Language Arts
Receptive/Expressive language
- Developing and using vocabulary in oral expression
- Listening for a purpose
- Learning songs, rhymes, poems, reader's theater
- Extending, responding to stories heard
- Communicating individual needs, feelings, and ideas
- Interpreting and answering questions to show understanding of material heard
- Modulating tone when speaking
Phonemic Awareness
- Recognizing and generating rhymes
- Identifying and manipulating syllables
- Identifying beginning and ending sounds in words
- Manipulating phonemes in words of three or more sounds
Reading
- Identifying alphabet letters by name and sound
- Decoding words
- Recognizing sight words
- Interpreting and answering questions to show understanding of material
- Differentiating between fact and opinions
Writing
- Using mature pencil grip
- Forming written letters correctly
- Showing an understanding of spacing between words
- Applying knowledge of phonics to spell words
- Developing sentence sense including using capital letters and punctuation
- Keeping a daily journal
Spanish
- Communicating in Spanish and to develop awareness, respect and appreciation for other cultures
- Listening to authentic songs, poems and stories in Spanish
- Singing, moving, dancing, and playing games in Spanish
- Role-playing in Spanish using puppets, objects and materials from everyday life
- Learning about the people, customs and traditions of Spanish-speaking cultures with activities such as tasting foods and making art
- Participating in cross-curricular activities such as math and science while speaking or writing Spanish
- Communicating simple messages in Spanish to peers and others
- Reading and writing basic vocabulary and phrases in Spanish
Social Studies
- Investigating holidays
- Developing an understanding of similarities and differences in cultures
- Understanding entrepreneurship
- Gaining awareness and caring for others
- Giving to others through service
Math
- Sorting sets of mixed objects using attributes
- Identifying 2 and 3-dimensional shapes
- Identifying tools to measure length and temperature
- Demonstrating calendar skills including knowing days of the week, months
- Recognizing value of coins
- Telling time to the hour
- Counting forwards and backwards
- Counting by 2's, 5's, 10's
- Reading and writing numerals
- Understanding place value
- Performing addition and subtraction
- Understanding the commutative property
- Developing math related vocabulary
Science
- Studying the human body
- Examining composition of the earth
- Investigating the effects of weather
- Exploring space
Cooperative and Independent learning skills
- Paying attention and resisting distractions
- Following directions
- Actively participating
- Managing emotions
- Handling materials responsibly
- Speaking politely to others
- Allowing others to speak without interrupting
- Approaching new tasks with enthusiasm
- Assuming responsibility for actions
- Respecting others
Music
- Using music as a tool for teaching content, memorization, making historical and cultural connections and for enjoyment of listening and singing
- Growing deeper musical understandings
- Building singing skills
- Playing a variety of instruments
- Creating original musical arrangements and learn musical concepts around melody, harmony, rhythm, form and musical expression.
Creative Movement and Yoga
- Recognizing movement as a key component of experiential learning
- Exploring and using movement to strengthen understandings in learning
- Developing and refining locomotor and non-locomotor skills
- Strengthening bodies, minds, and spirit through grounded yoga sequences
- Building relationships with peers by working together
Visual Arts
- Creating a variety of visual arts projects
- Integrating and exploring subject matter studied such as science, social studies, language arts and math.
- Exploring a wide variety of materials and forms in two and three dimensions.
- Displaying and exhibiting work
STEAM
- STEAM is a curriculum with an interdisciplinary and applied approach weaving together five specific fields of study: science, technology, engineering, arts and math.
- Students become engaged as scientists to better understand the engineering design process which results in a solution to solve a problem.
- Students will incorporate various uses of technology to sort data as well as to help create.
- The STEAM curriculum works from a hands-on project based learning lens.
- Teamwork among the students is integrated throughout every facet of the program.
Theatre
- Imagining and creating through dramatic play
- Using drama to build understanding and empathy around a variety of subjects
- Enjoying performing
Kinetic Wellness
- Mastering motor movements through various games, challenges
- Balance
- Ball tracking
- Jumping
- Throwing with the opposite foot forward
- Introduction to germs, hygiene, wellness through games and visuals
- Introduction to the concept of sportsmanship
1st and 2nd Grades
Language Arts
Receptive/Expressive language
- Developing and using new vocabulary in oral expression
- Recognizing multiple meanings for words
- Determining the meaning of unknown words on the basis of context
- Making predictions
- Recalling facts and summarizing information
- Using inflection when speaking
Reading
- Creating and extending rhyming
- Decoding words using phonics rules, reading strategies, and context rules
- Applying knowledge of letter-sound correspondence and spelling patterns to decode unfamiliar words
- Reading accurately
- Reading a variety of texts and genres for information and pleasure
- Recalling facts
- Identifying main ideas and supporting details
Writing
- Using correct sizing and formation of letters
- Spacing correctly between words
- Writing legibly
- Spelling words correctly in written work
- Brainstorming ideas for written pieces
- Using a variety of resources to research topics
- Practicing using correct punctuation, capitalization, and grammar
- Identifying and using correct parts of speech
- Writing in complete sentences
- Using description and creative phrasing
- Proofreading work
Spanish
- Communicating in Spanish and to develop awareness, respect and appreciation for other cultures
- Listening to authentic songs, poems and stories in Spanish
- Singing, moving, dancing, and playing games in Spanish
- Role-playing in Spanish using puppets, objects and materials from everyday life
- Learning about the people, customs and traditions of Spanish-speaking cultures with activities such as tasting foods and making art
- Participating in cross-curricular activities such as math and science while speaking or writing Spanish
- Communicating simple messages in Spanish to peers and others
- Reading and writing basic vocabulary and phrases in Spanish
Social Studies
- Acquiring understanding of ancestors
- Understanding the concept of government, rules, laws
- Reading maps, graphs, time-lines
- Locating continents, oceans
- Serving communities responsibly
Math
- Understanding number system
- Showing proficiency in solving addition and subtraction facts
- Distinguishing place value
- Comparing shapes and identifying symmetry
- Counting money
- Telling time accurately
- Using data to problem solve
- Solving and creating number stories
- Regrouping in addition and subtraction
- Using weight, length, and volume
- Working with fractions
Science
- Practicing experiments and the scientific method
- Using prediction and observation skills
- Measuring and manipulating solids and liquids appropriately
- Investigating habitats, plants, soil, organisms
- Understanding physical and chemical change
- Studying life cycles
- Discovering constellations
- Examining ocean adaptations
- Exploring dinosaurs
Cooperative and Independent learning skills
- Understanding values such as effort, cooperation, loyalty, responsibility, liberty, and fairness
- Persevering when working
- Completing work which reflects focus and effort
- Finishing assignments
- Working independently
- Identifying and managing emotions
- Knowing how to interact successfully with others
- Eagerly exploring new topics and ideas
- Helping others in the school community
Music
- Using music as a tool for teaching content, memorization, making historical and cultural connections and for enjoyment of listening and singing
- Growing deeper musical understandings
- Building singing skills
- Playing a variety of instruments
- Creating original musical arrangements and learn musical concepts around melody, harmony, rhythm, form and musical expression.
Creative Movement and Yoga
- Recognizing movement as a key component of experiential learning
- Exploring and using movement to strengthen understandings in learning
- Developing and refining locomotor and non-locomotor skills
- Strengthening bodies, minds, and spirit through grounded yoga sequences
- Building relationships with peers by working together
Visual Arts
- Creating a variety of visual arts projects
- Integrating and exploring subject matter studied such as science, social studies, language arts and math.
- Exploring a wide variety of materials and forms in two and three dimensions.
- Displaying and exhibiting work
STEAM
- STEAM is a curriculum with an interdisciplinary and applied approach weaving together five specific fields of study: science, technology, engineering, arts and math.
- Students become engaged as scientists to better understand the engineering design process which results in a solution to solve a problem.
- Students will incorporate various uses of technology to sort data as well as to help create.
- The STEAM curriculum works from a hands-on project based learning lens.
- Teamwork among the students is integrated throughout every facet of the program.
Theatre
- Imagining and creating through dramatic play
- Using drama to build understanding and empathy around a variety of subjects
- Enjoying performing
Kinetic Wellness
- Movement sequences and patterns
- Moving adeptly in confined areas.
- Ball tracking skills: throwing and catching
- Introduction to team games and group challenges
- Brain training to understand how muscles move
- Discovery of respiratory, muscular, skeletal systems through games, apps and visuals
- Nutrition
- Emotional and social skills associated with play, games, low-key competition
3rd and 4th Grades
Language Arts
Reading
- Reading aloud fluently, proficiently, and with expression
- Comparing texts and material read
- Interpreting and answering questions based on text read
- Comprehending ideas
- Generating questions
- Summarizing
- Using context clues to aid understanding
- Using inferential reasoning
- Studying word roots
- Enriching and applying vocabulary
Writing
- Forming cursive letters correctly
- Spelling proficiently
- Expressing ideas clearly in written work
- Applying grammar skills
- Using organizers and applying proofreading and editing skills
- Taking notes
- Researching independently
- Writing for specific purposes
- Building multi-paragraph research pieces
Spanish
- Communicating in Spanish and to develop awareness, respect and appreciation for other cultures
- Listening to authentic songs, poems and stories in Spanish
- Singing, moving, dancing, and playing games in Spanish
- Role-playing in Spanish using puppets, objects and materials from everyday life
- Learning about the people, customs and traditions of Spanish-speaking cultures with activities such as tasting foods and making art
- Participating in cross-curricular activities such as math and science while speaking or writing Spanish
- Communicating simple messages in Spanish to peers and others
- Reading and writing basic vocabulary and phrases in Spanish
Social Studies
- Investigating Georgia History
- Learning about regions of the United States
- Identifying contributions of immigrants to the United States
- Researching history of design, patents
- Exploring Greek and Roman mythology
- Contemplating empowerment of others
- Studying civil rights
- Understanding citizenship
- Examining economics
- Participating in "pay it forward" service projects
Math
- Knowing addition, subtraction, multiplication, division facts
- Adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing multi-digit numbers
- Applying facts and number operations to multi-step problems
- Estimating logically
- Applying problem solving strategies
- Interpreting and creating graphs
- Determining minimum, maximum, range, and median for a set of data
- Making change with money
- Understanding fractions, decimals, percent
- Applying operations to decimals and fractions
- Converts fractions, decimals
- Identifying area, perimeter, angles, rays, lines, line segments
Science
- Conducting experiments and applying scientific method
- Organizing information and drawing conclusions
- Documenting and communicating observations accurately
- Examining rocks, minerals, erosion
- Testing chemicals and magnetism
- Investigating motion and design
- Researching landforms
- Identifying energy sources
- Exploring conservation and ecosystems
Cooperative and Independent learning skills
- Working with focus to complete tasks in a timely manner
- Persevering without quitting
- Coming to class prepared
- Pursuing deeper understanding of material
- Actively listening to others
- Finding solutions during differences of opinion with others
- Staying motivated even when things do not go well
- Showing leadership qualities
- Recognizing and showing appreciation for others
Music
- Using music as a tool for teaching content, memorization, making historical and cultural connections and for enjoyment of listening and singing
- Growing deeper musical understandings
- Building singing skills
- Playing a variety of instruments
- Creating original musical arrangements and learn musical concepts around melody, harmony, rhythm, form and musical expression.
Creative Movement and Yoga
- Recognizing movement as a key component of experiential learning
- Exploring and using movement to strengthen understandings in learning
- Developing and refining locomotor and non-locomotor skills
- Strengthening bodies, minds, and spirit through grounded yoga sequences
- Building relationships with peers by working together
Visual Arts
- Creating a variety of visual arts projects
- Integrating and exploring subject matter studied such as science, social studies, language arts and math.
- Exploring a wide variety of materials and forms in two and three dimensions.
- Displaying and exhibiting work
STEAM
- STEAM is a curriculum with an interdisciplinary and applied approach weaving together five specific fields of study: science, technology, engineering, arts and math.
- Students become engaged as scientists to better understand the engineering design process which results in a solution to solve a problem.
- Students will incorporate various uses of technology to sort data as well as to help create.
- The STEAM curriculum works from a hands-on project based learning lens.
- Teamwork among the students is integrated throughout every facet of the program.
Theatre
- Imagining and creating through dramatic play
- Using drama to build understanding and empathy around a variety of subjects
- Enjoying performing
Kinetic Wellness
- Self-assessment in skill and fitness levels with iPads
- Understanding of fitness concepts and use in daily life
- Connections between basic body systems and movements
- Large and small group invasion activities
- Creating new games, coding games
- Defining strategies and reflection on strategies after games
- Skill development in soccer, volleyball, basketball
- Awareness and understanding of running form and pace
- Bring the seven traits of a Galloway Scot into discussion and performance
- Acceptance, grace and compassion in winning, losing and playing one’s best