Pre-Kindergarten

 

The Pre–Primary program has as its focus the development of the whole child in a nurturing, play–oriented environment. The curriculum encourages spiritual, cognitive, social, physical, and emotional growth through meaningful, developmentally appropriate learning experiences. These experiences are designed to provide the child with a rich knowledge base, well–developed language skills, listening comprehension, and attention management skills. Of utmost importance is the development in the child of a positive attitude toward learning and toward himself as a learner. These cognitive foundations will prepare him for the later intellectual demands associated with formal academics.

Recent brain research emphasizes the importance of forming patterns and helping children understand the connections to learning. Our Pre–Primary curriculum is designed around thematic units chosen for their relevance to the young child’s world and with the interests of boys in mind. These units integrate language experiences, math concepts, social studies, science, music, art, and movement, thereby providing the connections vital to cognitive growth.

At Berchmans Academy, we are committed to each child as an individual with a unique personality and with unique needs. We strive to provide an accepting, stimulating environment where children feel safe and free to explore the world around them.

Our belief, based on the research of Jean Piaget and supported by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), is that children develop and learn best through play. Children learn concepts through kinesthetic and tactile experiences, which often happens when they play. In addition to being a natural activity for children, play helps them learn social skills, promotes their emotional development, and allows them to exercise their creativity. Our pre–primary classroom is well–equipped with materials that encourage imagination, care of self, independence, grace and courtesy, and socialization – including blocks, books, math manipulatives, practical life activities, paint, dramatic play, and sensory activities. Hands–on, concrete experiences provide the foundation upon which abstractions will grow.

Highlights of Pre-Kindergarten include Turtle-Aid, the Polar Express Field Trip, and 

Kindergarten

In Kindergarten, children begin in earnest to be readers, writers, and mathematicians. They grow daily in the exercise of each of these skills as they become active learners in the school community. The classroom environment, rich in materials to stimulate the child’s natural sense of wonder, encourages learning as a whole—integrated and meaningful.

The curriculum includes four main subject areas: language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science. These subjects are integrated through unifying themes that spark curiosity and engage the child in active exploration.

MATHEMATICS

Mathematical literacy is a priority at Berchmans Academy. Our K-8 mathematics curriculum is rigorous, problem-based, and research-driven. Students are engaged in carefully crafted and sequenced mathematics problems that are scaffolded to support students as they develop number sense, gain comfort with different approaches, and cultivate the skills and insight to evaluate the reasonableness of their answers. Students are engaged in opportunities to build their mathematical understanding by interpreting the significance of their answers, noticing patterns, making generalizations, explaining their reasoning verbally and in writing, and listening to the reasoning of others. The goal is to give students just enough background and tools to solve initial problems successfully, and then set them to increasingly sophisticated problems as their expertise increases.

 

The big ideas in kindergarten include: representing and comparing whole numbers, initially with sets of objects; understanding and applying addition and subtraction; and describing shapes and space. Significant time in kindergarten math is devoted to numbers.

LANGUAGE ARTS

The language arts program encompasses oral language, listening, reading, and writing. Activities in the classroom encourage children to share their ideas and experiences. Communicating with each other fosters good listening skills. Having ideas one wants to share leads naturally to a desire to record them. This is done in a variety of ways: with paint and art materials, with graphs, in dictated stories, and in writing with invented spelling.

Story time is a part of every day. Listening to the traditional children’s literature as well as well– written and illustrated contemporary stories activates the imagination and the desire to read. A multi–sensory approach is used in the introduction of decoding strategies and skills. This visual, auditory, and kinesthetic approach leads the children into the reading and writing of patterned words quickly and effectively.

Throughout the Primary reading program, and beginning in Kindergarten, strategies are taught to ensure that thinking takes place during the process of reading. The first strategy introduced at this level is that of inquiry. This is preparation for engaging the child’s mind in active thinking when the reading process begins.

Writing begins as storytelling through pictures that can be shared with others. With some knowledge of consonant and vowel sounds, the child soon begins to label parts of the picture. From this evolves the construction of sentences written with invented spelling. Invented spelling is a natural state of the writing process. It will disappear naturally as reading and writing continue.

The Kindergarten reading curriculum incorporates the following components: age–appropriate whole–class instruction; small–group placement determined by assessed skill level; ongoing assessment to monitor progress and guide pacing. Multiple entry points and varied lesson plans allow each child to progress at a pace that is appropriate to his development. Our reading curriculum is infused with themed topics that capture the imagination of children and are presented through a variety of genres: (1) nonfiction – cultural diversity, biography, social studies, and science; (2) fiction – poetry, folktales, fables, legends, myths, detective stories, and science fiction.

Research has suggested that strong writing instruction has profound effects on standardized test scores. Our Kindergarten students participate in guided and shared writing daily, with a focus on early composition and handwriting skills.

SOCIAL STUDIES

Social studies is taught in the context of thematic units. The child, his family, his friends, and his school community, along with community helpers are the focus of the first semester’s activities. Holidays, fire safety, and manners are additional units.

 

Units on Louisiana and the world provide opportunities for lessons in geography, learning about their culture, and learning about the animals and habitats that surround them. They also perform their own traditional Courir du Mardi Gras Celebration at the end of the unit.

 

SCIENCE

The children are encouraged to use all their senses as they observe and explore the natural world around them. They are introduced to basic scientific concepts through the study of plants and animals, weather and the seasons, and the five senses. The body unit allows for the student to learn their different body parts  as well as what their bodies are made of. Students also study the planets to learn about our solar system, orbiting, and gravity. They are given opportunities to develop process skills such as predicting, patterning, inferring, and drawing conclusions; and they become familiar with fundamental scientific language. They work cooperatively in groups to explore, experiment, and discover. Work is hands–on, with a focus on using all five senses.

 

RELIGION

The religion program is designed to help the child develop a positive self–image. It emphasizes the uniqueness of each child and is focused on God’s creation and the joy of life. The program also introduces the concept of community in family, school, and Church.

 

ART

There are many opportunities for self–expression with clay, crayons, paint, and collage materials. Fine motor skills are developed through the use of scissors and other art tools.

MUSIC

Kindergarten music class is filled with opportunities to sing, reproduce rhythms, and play rhythm instruments. Movement is an integral part of the experience.

 

SPANISH

An aural–oral approach, with the aid of visuals (pictures, puppets, blocks, classroom objects), continues to be used in Kindergarten Spanish. Students review body parts, greeting, leave taking, colors, numbers, fruits, and animals and add to their vocabulary in these areas. Animated poems and songs continue to be important mnemonic aids.

 

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Physical education in Kindergarten focuses on the development of body awareness, motor coordination, strength, and eye–hand coordination. Games with minimal organization develop the values of fair play, group participation, and cooperative play.

First Primary

 

LANGUAGE ARTS

The First Primary reading curriculum incorporates the following components: age–appropriate whole–class instruction; small–group placement determined by assessed skill level; ongoing assessment to monitor progress and guide pacing.

 

The curriculum is infused with themed topics that capture the imagination of children and are presented through a variety of genres: (1) nonfiction – cultural diversity, biography, social studies, and science; (2) fiction – poetry, folktales, fables, legends, myths, detective stories, and science fiction.

WRITING

Writing and illustrating stories begin almost immediately in First Primary, building on the foundation laid in kindergarten. There is time to write daily and to share one’s writing with classmates. Each child keeps his own writing folder.

In the second semester of First Primary, a formal study of the English language is integrated with the student’s writing. This includes types of sentences, punctuation, and the subject and predicate of a sentence. Nouns, verbs, adjectives, and their correct use are also studied. Spelling lessons are introduced on this level and continue throughout the primary grades. 

STUDY and RESEARCH SKILLS

The children begin to use the dictionary in first grade. They also make frequent use of technology as a research tool.

Mathematics

Mathematical literacy is a priority at Berchmans Academy. Our K-8 mathematics curriculum is rigorous, problem-based, and research-driven. Students are engaged in carefully crafted and sequenced mathematics problems that are scaffolded to support students as they develop number sense, gain comfort with different approaches, and cultivate the skills and insight to evaluate the reasonableness of their answers. Students are engaged in opportunities to build their mathematical understanding by interpreting the significance of their answers, noticing patterns, making generalizations, explaining their reasoning verbally and in writing, and listening to the reasoning of others. The goal is to give students just enough background and tools to solve initial problems successfully, and then set them to increasingly sophisticated problems as their expertise increases.

SOCIAL STUDIES

In First Primary, students study the history and architecture of their historic school. They create a virtual tour and share their video with their Berchmans brothers and family members. Students explore the relationship of their own life timelines and biographies to historical timelines and biographies. They also study the impact of the American cowboy and the Railroad on our country’s history. They then expand their study of their community by exploring the landmarks and government of the town of Grand Coteau and St. Landry Parish.

Students explore these topics through literature, songs, audio–visual materials, computer technology, and field trips. Students read, listen, discuss, write about, and create projects based on what they are studying.

SCIENCE

Students in First Primary work in groups in science centers, developing the skills of measuring, observing, predicting, and communicating in scientific language. They study animal habitats, life cycles, and are able to distinguish between the various animal groups. Students study and learn to identify plants on their school’s campus. Our 250–acre campus provides a natural laboratory of the boys to explore the flora and wildlife native to this area of Louisiana. An ongoing study of ecology and recycling is also part of the First Primary science curriculum and they tend to their own section of the garden by growing vegetables from seeds. This year long unit ends when the vegetables are harvested and brought to the Dining Hall. First Primary students explore the properties of light and sound through hands on experiments and investigations. They study the bones, teeth, and muscles in the human body. They learn physical science concepts through a science module focusing on balance and motion and analyze the use of simple machines. This unit on forces giveswill also give them a new understanding of the invisible pushes and pulls that operate in the world around them through activities that focus on engineering, investigation and discovery.

RELIGION

First Primary focuses on the theme of the Holy Trinity. The students deepen their awareness of God as a loving, forgiving Father. The children learn that Jesus, the Son of God, is our friend and brother. The Holy Spirit is seen as our source of strength, peace, and joy. Participation in the Church community is explored through units on the sacraments of Baptism and Holy Eucharist. This course also lays the groundwork for the study of morality as the children learn that they are responsible to love and care for all God’s gifts of creation.

ART

The curriculum moves the children naturally through lessons that introduce the elements and principles of art and the use of various media. Work with paper, clay, paints, and pastels offers many opportunities for exploration and creativity. They are also given instruction in analyzing art and are encouraged to express their own ideas about what they see.

MUSIC

First Primary music class offers students the opportunity to sing and reproduce rhythms in a variety of ways, including playing rhythm instruments. Basic musical keyboard geography is introduced. Students are introduced to identification of the basics of music, including the notes on a staff, clefs and rhythmic notation. Samples of popular classics are played to expose the students to the works of the great masters. An atmosphere of learning through fun is maintained.

SPANISH

In First Primary Spanish the students review and expand skills learned in earlier years. They listen to stories written in English that incorporate Spanish words. They expand their mastery of numbers in Spanish. They have units on holidays, weather, seasons, months, food, and pets. At this level, the approach is still aural– oral.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

The goal of the physical education program for First Primary is to establish a basic foundation in motor skills and physical fitness. Gross motor skills, body awareness, and coordination are developed through movement games and activities using balls, hoops, and jump ropes. Running games and stretching exercises increase strength, flexibility, and endurance. Fair play and good sportsmanship are stressed.

Second Primary

 

LANGUAGE ARTS

The Second Primary reading curriculum incorporates the following components: age–appropriate whole–class instruction; small–group placement determined by assessed skill level; ongoing assessment to monitor progress and guide pacing. Multiple entry points and varied lesson plans allow each child to progress at a pace that is appropriate to his development.

 

The instructional focus of Second Primary Reading is to complete a basic phonics sequence and to continue emphasizing vocabulary, comprehension, and fluency instruction. Students make a gradual shift from “learning to read” to “reading to learn.”

 

The reading curriculum is infused with themed topics that capture the imagination of children and are presented through a variety of genres: (1) nonfiction – cultural diversity, biography, social studies, and science; (2) fiction - poetry, folktales, fables, legends, myths, detective stories, and science fiction. Stories are engaging, inspiring, informing and boy–friendly.

WRITING

Students write every day in their journal. They are taught the writing process and take many pieces through to publication. They learn how words work to develop spelling skills that go beyond the weekly spelling test. 

STUDY and RESEARCH SKILLS

In Second Primary, learning to take notes on important information is incorporated into the second semester’s instruction. Instruction in the use of the dictionary continues as well as web-based research. Students also complete research and science projects. Frequent use of technology as a research tool is encouraged.

MATHEMATICS

Mathematical literacy is a priority at Berchmans Academy. Our K-8 mathematics curriculum is rigorous, problem-based, and research-driven. Students are engaged in carefully crafted and sequenced mathematics problems that are scaffolded to support students as they develop number sense, gain comfort with different approaches, and cultivate the skills and insight to evaluate the reasonableness of their answers. Students are engaged in opportunities to build their mathematical understanding by interpreting the significance of their answers, noticing patterns, making generalizations, explaining their reasoning verbally and in writing, and listening to the reasoning of others. The goal is to give students just enough background and tools to solve initial problems successfully, and then set them to increasingly sophisticated problems as their expertise increases.

The goal of achieving mathematical literacy for students at Berchmans is a priority. By today‘s definition, mathematical literacy is having a range of sophisticated mathematical knowledge and skills that extend beyond basic calculation skills. A carefully mapped out sequence of instruction interweaves concepts and the presented skills throughout the curriculum. The curriculum is structured to provide multiple exposures to topics and frequent opportunities to review and practice skills. Students explore mathematical concepts and reasoning through various hands-on activities, math tools, and math games. Problem solving and reasoning are heavily emphasized in the program. Students also learn to master basic math facts with automaticity. Skills covered at this grade include: place value, money, telling time, fractions, geometric shapes, data analysis, measurement, multi-digit addition and subtraction algorithms, and introduction to multiplication.

SOCIAL STUDIES

Students embark on a trip around the world as they engage in a year–long theme: “Where in the World is Second Grade?” Students explore the climate, biomes, habitats, animals, plants, people, customs, and landmarks of each continent and ocean. Boys will communicate with students from the International Sacred Heart network. The boys will study all seven continents in their exploration of the world. The boys take visual field trips frequently to the country that they are studying.

SCIENCE

Science instruction in Second Primary engages the boys in the wonder and study of the natural world. It provides activity–based, hands–on experiences related to both physical and life sciences, such as studying soils and soil changes, plants, animals, and foods. It encourages the children to discover and construct science concepts and to apply these concepts to real life. It develops responsible personal behavior and  a sense of stewardship, while promoting growth in understanding of the interdependence of humans and the environment. Students learn basic research skills and use the results to plan and present a project on habitats.

On the Berchmans Academy nature trail and in the school’s garden, students in Second Primary study the development of plants from seed to maturity. They observe, measure, and graph, and become aware of the basic needs of plants.

Another focus is earth science – air and weather. Students engage in experimentation and learn how to document their observations. They create a weather station on campus.

The digestive system is studied which involves the breakdown of food into smaller and smaller components. The large and small intestine along with the stomach, mouth and esophagus are studied with the process of the energy and nutrients. Food and nutrition are a hands–on study that the boys partake in.

RELIGION

Instruction in the sacraments is presented in preparation of First Holy Eucharist and First Reconciliation for Catholic students. The students participate in a First Communion liturgy. Their understanding of the Trinity grows as God is presented as a loving Father who forgives them, Jesus the Son who gives the gift of Himself and the Holy Spirit who calls us to serve others. The study of morality continues as the children learn the nature of sin and its effect.

ART

This curriculum moves the children naturally through lessons that introduce the elements and principles of art and the use of various media. Work with paper, clay, paints, and pastels offers many opportunities  for exploration and creativity. Students are also given instruction in analyzing art and are encouraged to express their own ideas about what they see.

MUSIC

Singing, clapping, stomping, and playing rhythm instruments are continued in Second Primary music  class. Keyboard geography is refreshed. The concepts of rhythm, tempo, meter, pitch, and harmony are introduced. Samples of popular classics are played to expose the students to the works of the great masters. An atmosphere of learning through fun is maintained.

SPANISH

In Second Primary Spanish the students review and expand skills learned in earlier years. They listen to stories written in English that incorporate Spanish words. They expand their mastery of numbers in Spanish. They have units on holidays, weather, seasons, months, food, and pets. At this level, the approach is still aural–oral.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

The goal of the physical education program for Second Primary is to establish a basic foundation in motor skills and physical fitness. Gross motor skills, body awareness, and coordination are developed through movement games and activities using balls, hoops, and jump ropes. Running games and stretching exercises increase strength, flexibility, and endurance. Fair play and good sportsmanship are stressed.

Third Primary

 

LANGUAGE ARTS

Practice in reading/thinking strategies continues, and the students add to their critical thinking skills the ability to distinguish between fact and opinion. Through units on the novel, the students also begin to study character traits, story structure and elements (character, setting, conflict), and the author’s purpose and technique.

 

The development of reading strategy skills is incorporated throughout the reading curriculum. Students have individualized reading time and whole group instruction. Through units using novels, the students study story structure and elements (character, setting, conflict) and the author‘s purpose and technique. Students read novels of different genres. Selected novels are read together and discussed in class. Students are allowed some freedom in choosing an on-level book of their choice to participate in peer led book clubs. This allows the students to practice communicating their thoughts, respecting all points of view, and engage in authentic dialogue. Students present independent book talks and creative projects. 

 

WRITING and GRAMMAR

In Third Primary, writing continues as a daily activity through journal prompts, narrative stories, argumentative essays, and informational research papers. Students receive instruction in planning, writing a first draft, revising, and editing. The study of sentences, parts of speech, and punctuation is reviewed and expanded in the Third Primary. Students have individual writing time, small group workshops, and whole group instruction. Spelling lessons and daily practice in cursive writing begins. The technique of writing dialogue is introduced, and practice in letter writing continues. Various poetic forms are introduced, and students practice writing them in Creative Writing. Using direct instruction for handwriting, students continue to develop handwriting skills, including cursive writing.

STUDY and RESEARCH SKILLS

Practice in note–taking continues, and students apply this skill to research as they are introduced to the computer and online search engines. Instruction in the use of the dictionary becomes more sophisticated, and with frequent and consistent practice, students increase their skills in using this reference tool effectively. Students also make frequent use of technology as a research tool.

MATHEMATICS

Mathematical literacy is a priority at Berchmans Academy. Our K-8 mathematics curriculum is rigorous, problem-based, and research-driven. Students are engaged in carefully crafted and sequenced mathematics problems that are scaffolded to support students as they develop number sense, gain comfort with different approaches, and cultivate the skills and insight to evaluate the reasonableness of their answers. Students are engaged in opportunities to build their mathematical understanding by interpreting the significance of their answers, noticing patterns, making generalizations, explaining their reasoning verbally and in writing, and listening to the reasoning of others. The goal is to give students just enough background and tools to solve initial problems successfully, and then set them to increasingly sophisticated problems as their expertise increases.

Mathematics instruction in the Third Primary builds on what the students already know. They are assisted in sharpening and clarifying concepts, in coming to understand how these concepts relate to one another, and in developing skills to make more effective use of the concepts.

The lesson sequences give adequate opportunity for skill practice and mastery. Games are used as a vital part of the program. They give students a chance to develop mathematical skills and understanding in real situations in which they are motivated to succeed. Real–life problem–solving continues in Third Primary.   It allows students to discover the power of their own mathematical common sense and innate capacity for reasoning.

Opportunity is also provided for sharing and assisting one another. This social aspect of the program increases the ability to communicate mathematically.

The computational skills stressed at this level are adding and subtracting numbers within 1,000, fractions, single–digit multiplication and division, multi–digit multiplication algorithms, measurement, graphing, perimeter and area, telling time to the minute, and elapsed time.

SOCIAL STUDIES

The Third Primary program begins with instruction on Louisiana history. Students study the history, government, customs, culture, and geography of Louisiana. This is followed by an in–depth study of Acadians. Students also cover the Colonial period of American history leading up to the American Revolution. The reading of historical novels and imaginative non–fiction works make the history come alive for the students. Finally, students experience a unit on early Native Americans.

SCIENCE

The science program in the Third Primary capitalizes on a child’s natural curiosity and sense of wonder. The curriculum is experiential in nature, fostering student observation and inquiry. The program stimulates the imagination and develops logical thinking skills. It shows children the importance of science in their daily lives. The children learn the procedures and skills of scientific inquiry, and hands–on activities encourage exploration and discovery of fundamental scientific concepts. Students often work together in small ‘lab’ groups to perform experiments that develop scientific skills.

Students study animal life by building natural habitats for live animals, observing the animals’ daily activities, and document their observations in a student notebook.

Our 250–acre campus provides a natural laboratory of the boys to explore the flora and wildlife native to this area of Louisiana.

RELIGION

Third Primary religion focuses on Christ, the Church, and the dignity of each individual. Through the Apostles Creed the students learn the traditional marks of the Catholic Church and some of the beliefs held by Catholics. All seven sacraments are studied, and students explore a variety of ministries within the Church. The discussion of morality at this level presents the Ten Commandments, Jesus’ law of love, and the corporal and spiritual works of mercy as guides to live by.

ART

As in all Primary grades, instruction in the elements of art and in the use of various media directs the     art activities undertaken by the children as they work with paper, clay, paints, and pastels. Aesthetic perception, creative expression, art heritage, and aesthetic valuing are encouraged as students explore the principles of art.

MUSIC

Singing is continued in Third Primary, but with attention to pitch, tone, technique and diction. More complex rhythmic notation is reproduced by clapping and with a variety of rhythm instruments. Keyboard geography is reinforced by having students actually play very simple melodies on the piano. The concepts of rhythm versus meter, pitch versus noise, dynamics, melodic direction, and harmony are touched on throughout the year. Samples of popular classics are played to expose the students to the works of the great masters. An atmosphere of learning through fun is maintained.

SPANISH

Third Primary students review and expand the programs of the previous years. They also learn terms connected with family and home. Students associate words with body movements and spend much of the beginning weeks listening and physically responding. They then begin to listen to and tell stories in the target language. Students will develop fluency in speech and learn to read very small stories.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Third Primary physical education focuses on physical fitness, movement experience, social skills and team sports. Students engage in a variety of activities, and organized drills promote skill development. Fair play and good sportsmanship are stressed.

Fourth Primary

 

LANGUAGE ARTS

All the skills and strategies of reading comprehension which have been introduced in the Primary grades are practiced daily in the Fourth Primary through the reading of poetry, fiction, and non–fiction. Browsing, predicting, summarizing, questioning, note–taking, and clarifying are used to develop comprehension skills. As independence in reading increases, students are encouraged to read for knowledge as well as for entertainment. Students have individualized reading time, small group guided reading, teacher-led read alouds, and whole class novel study.

 

WRITING and GRAMMAR

Writing skills are practiced daily in all subject areas. Students continue to refine the paragraph writing skills learned in Third Primary. During independent writing time, students work alone or with partners to improve upon first drafts by utilizing the writing process. Individual conferences with the teacher provide guidance and direction. 

 

Integration of grammar and writing skills involves the teaching of correct usage and the mechanics of writing within the context of a writing activity. Parts of speech are reviewed in depth, and rules for punctuation and capitalization are mastered.

 

To provide students with a strong control of the English language, a formal study of vocabulary is part of the Fourth Primary language arts program. Each unit introduces age-appropriate terms that have multiple definitions & parts of speech. Using context clues to decipher meaning is a core component of vocabulary acquisition. Students receive direct instruction in spelling, and continued practice with cursive penmanship.

 

MATHEMATICS

Mathematical literacy is a priority at Berchmans Academy. Our K-8 mathematics curriculum is rigorous, problem-based, and research-driven. Students are engaged in carefully crafted and sequenced mathematics problems that are scaffolded to support students as they develop number sense, gain comfort with different approaches, and cultivate the skills and insight to evaluate the reasonableness of their answers. Students are engaged in opportunities to build their mathematical understanding by interpreting the significance of their answers, noticing patterns, making generalizations, explaining their reasoning verbally and in writing, and listening to the reasoning of others. The goal is to give students just enough background and tools to solve initial problems successfully, and then set them to increasingly sophisticated problems as their expertise increases.

The Fourth Primary mathematics program builds on the foundation laid in the previous primary classes and works toward a firm understanding of the significance and use of numbers and a mastery of the basic operations.

Instruction stresses solving more sophisticated problems and making reasonable estimates. Students are encouraged to communicate mathematically and to share with and assist one another.

The computational skills stressed at this level are general multi–digit multiplication, division by one–digit divisors, patterns and sequences, addition and subtraction of fractions, rounding and estimation, and an introduction to mixed numbers and decimals.

Emphasis is placed on mastering basic facts to facilitate greater overall computation skills. Students are encouraged to deepen their understanding of concepts with the usage of manipulatives, real-world problem solving, and collaborative projects.

 

SOCIAL STUDIES

In the Fourth Primary, students continue to develop their map skills, with a focus on latitude, longitude, and the reading of physical and demographic maps, and with an in–depth knowledge of landforms and bodies of water and how they affect the political boundaries, society, and economics of each region, country or continent studied.

Students study regions of the United States, learning our country’s geography and regional cultures and history. States’ locations and their capitals are mastered at this level. U.S. presidents are also studied in Fourth Primary. Students research and complete projects on the unique characteristics and demographics of an assigned state, along with an in–depth discovery of one chosen former President. All research projects include oral presentations.

Citizenship, the meaning, responsibilities and privileges of a citizen, is studied with a deeper conceptual point of view. Students also learn basic concepts concerning American government structure, including presidential elections, and branches of government.

SCIENCE

The science program in the Fourth Primary builds on the sense of wonder and desire to explore that are encouraged in the lower grades. The program utilizes technology to organize and present research findings. Students sharpen their skills of observation and prediction, and in attempting to offer explanations, they learn to communicate in scientific terms. Students explore topics in life, physical, and earth science, with an in–depth study of scientific reasoning and technology of models and designs. Students investigate chemical reactions and their effects. They construct cars and investigate Newton’s laws of motion and the way they apply to everyday life.

RELIGION

Morality, the Beatitudes, and family life are the subjects of the Fourth Primary religion program. Moral values are fostered by reflection and discussion of the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes, and family rules. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is emphasized, with stress on God’s mercy and forgiveness. God’s gift of life is discussed. Each student is encouraged to become an active participant in his own church’s celebrations and in the Christian life of the school community.

ART

Instruction in the elements of art and the use of various media become more sophisticated on this level. Aesthetic perception, creative expression, and aesthetic valuing are encouraged as students explore the principles of art.

MUSIC

In Fourth Primary music class, the basic physics of music are demonstrated by comparison of various stringed instruments, contrasted with rhythm instruments. Melodic direction and harmony are reviewed with more detail. Students are introduced to using Kodaly as an aid to reading melodic notation on the board. The importance of dynamics is discussed. The concepts of basic form and vocal blending are introduced. Listening to popular classics punctuates the year.

SPANISH

Fourth Primary Spanish reviews and expands the previous years’ programs, adding the fundamentals of verb conjugation and written translation. Vocabulary is expanded through the addition of adjectives and imperatives. Students practice usage through animated songs, guided conversations, oral presentations based on visuals that they have created, student choreography, and written exercises. Emphasis is on comprehension of spoken conversation and use of sentences in writing and speaking.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Fourth Primary physical education is designed to ensure physical fitness and to teach the fundamentals of team games and individual sports. The activities for Fourth Primary students improve motor skills, coordination, balance, and agility. Fair play and good sportsmanship are stressed.