Lower Elementary

Language Arts

Core textbooks: Rigby Literacy, Harcourt Supplemental Publisher’s, Inc. Barrington, IL. 2004

Curriculum Overview:
Students will learn reading strategies to decode words as well as comprehend text that has been read.  The curriculum uses leveled readers to guide students on their path of learning to read.  Each level of the readers increases the level of difficulty by moving from predictable text to longer, more complex stories that require the use of inference

Language Arts Goals:

• Recognize high frequency words.
• Understand use of labels and diagrams in text.
• Identify root words and their endings.
• Understand the use of dialog in text.
• Use inferences to understand text.
• Identify the setting and sequence of events in a story.

Mathematics

Core textbooks: Mathematics, Scott Foresman, Addison Wesley. Pearson Education; Glenview, Il. 2008

Curriculum Overview:
Over the course of the year students will develop the ability to recognize numbers and use various operations to solve mathematical problems.  They will learn concepts involving money, measurement, addition, subtraction, and fractions.  Students will learn the purpose of each operation and develop a basic understanding of when they are used.

Math Goals:

• Count, read and write numbers to 1,000
• Skip count numbers
• Count coins
• Read and write fractions
• Estimate and round whole numbers
• Add and subtract numbers up to 3 digits
• Use repeated addition to understand multiplication
• Identify solid figures and polygons

Science

Core textbooks: HSP Science, Harcourt School Publishers. Orlando, FL. 2009

Curriculum Overview:
This course teaches students about plants and animals, as well as the environment. Students will learn about weather, seasons and objects in the sky such as the moon. They will be introduced to matter and will observe solids, liquids and gasses. The concept of energy is explored using a variety of methods in a laboratory setting. 

Science Goals:

• Describe the phases of the water cycle
• Identify living and nonliving things
• Define solid, liquid and gas
• Describe the characteristics of heat, light and sound
• Identify celestial bodies
• Define natural resources and their uses
• Describe various habitats

Social Studies

Core textbooks: California Vistas, People and Places, Macmillan/McGraw Hill, New York, NY 2007

Curriculum Overview:
This course uses events in history to teach students how to read maps, and understand geography. Students will be introduced to the history of California and how immigrants and settlers came to live in the state. Students will learn to identify needs and wants, including the importance of farming and trading to satisfy those needs. They will also learn the role of our government and the meaning of democracy. Lastly, the students will learn how people in our society affect our community such as good citizenship and everyday heroes.

Social Studies Goals:

• Identify and read a map
• Use timelines
• Summarize
• Locate information
• Understand photographs
• Sequence events
• Identify the main idea and supporting details

Physical Education

Core textbooks: S.P.A.R.K. Curriculum

Curriculum Overview:
In this course, students receive Physical Education instruction five days a week for 30 minutes a day. Instruction will be provided in the areas of motor skill development, fitness, sports and social development. Students engage in physical activities specifically related to the components of physical fitness. Students learn and have the opportunity to experience the differences between personal challenges and competition.  Recreational activities and sports provide an opportunity for personally responsibility, cooperation and  team/small group and partner activities. 

P.E. Goals:

• Demonstration of locomotor skills and movement patterns needed to perform in a variety of physical challenges and activities.
• Demonstration of movement concepts, body management and manipulative skills at appropriate times during performance of physical activities.
• Demonstrate knowledge of social concepts, strategies and rules as they apply to learning and performance in physical activities.

Computer Technology

Core textbooks: Easy Tech from Learning.com

Curriculum Overview:
Lower Elementary students utilize Easy Tech curriculum from Learning.com. Students learn mouse basics, computer basics and introduction to the keyboard. Once core technology milestones are achieved, students demonstrate skill development in technology through outcomes based lessons using industry standard technology tools.

Computer Technology Goals:

• Students identify the parts of the keyboard through interactive computer based drills and using learning. resources such as keyboarding gloves and online lessons.
• Students use software to create visual maps/graphic organizers.
• Students use software to create text files with images.
• Students understand and demonstrate effective use of copyright law.
• Students follow technology use guidelines and acceptable use policies.

Art

Curriculum Overview:
For students to become familiar with different styles of artwork as well as various processes for making two-dimensional and three-dimensional artwork, and inclusive of the California State Visual Art Education Content Standards.

Course Goals:

• Demonstrate the ability to distinguish among various media (clay, sculpture, drawing, painting) when looking at works of art.
• Demonstrate the ability to identify the elements of art found in objects in nature, the environment, and works of art; emphasizing line, color, shape, form, and texture.
• Provide experiences in various artistic processes and skills, using a variety of media to communicate meaning and intent in original works of art.
• Demonstrate the ability to identify and describe various subject matter in art, such as landscape, seascape, portrait and still life.
• Demonstrate the ability to describe objects designed by artists such as, furniture, appliances, cars that are used at home and at school.