- Kindergarten Curriculum
- 1st Grade Curriculum
- 2nd Grade Curriculum
- 3rd Grade Curriculum
- 4th Grade Curriculum
Kindergarten Curriculum
Kindergarten provides a nurturing, caring environment so students can experience a productive and enjoyable beginning to their school years. The following is a description of the curriculum for kindergarten.
The religion program builds on the foundation that the parents have begun at home. It focuses on developing positive self-concepts as it helps students learn more about God and their friendship with Jesus. Students become aware of Christian values and are encouraged to practice them throughout the day. This program also helps them to learn more about the liturgical seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter with a focus that is age-appropriate.
Some special activities within the religion program include an Early Childhood Center Thanksgiving Prayer Service, a Nativity Play, a One Hundredth Day Prayer Service and a Nativity Play. Community outreach is initiated with visits to the Tender, a day center for seniors, and visits to the Greenleaf, a retirement community. Each day in May the students assemble outdoors to honor Mary with song and prayer.
The language arts program offers abundant opportunities for language instruction. These include activities for listening, speaking, reading and writing. A focal point for language instruction is a literature-based reading program. Quality literature is used to expose the students to many forms of print. Letter recognition, phonics, phonemic awareness, comprehension strategies and reading strategies are used to promote reading readiness. Students are introduced to writing through the use of phonics-based spelling.
Some special activities within the language arts program include a take-home mascot activity that encourages listening, speaking, reading and writing. During Catholic Schools Week, Grandparents are invited to read books. On Dr. Seuss’ birthday the classes participate in “Read Across America.”
Mathematics is introduced to the students through concrete experiences. This is accomplished with the use of math manipulatives, which are used to engage the students in various hands-on activities. These hands-on activities help the students to develop an understanding of math concepts. Some concepts that are covered are: positions, patterns, classification, number recognition, comparing and ordering of numbers, geometric shapes, measurement, the meaning of addition and subtraction, time and money.
A special activity within the math program is the One Hundredth Day Celebration. Many concepts are taught and reinforced by using various visual models to count the days of school.
The students participate in the following classes once a week: Spanish, library, art, physical education and computer classes.
First Grade Curriculum
Reading/Language Arts
“Storytown,” a Harcourt School Publishers program. Storytown is a research-based, developmental reading and language arts program. The foundation of the program is high-quality children’s literature, as well as informational texts. The program emphasizes explicit, systematic instruction in the areas of phonics awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, comprehension, and writing. Penmanship – D’Nealian method.
Math
“Houghton Mifflin Math,” offers direct instruction and cooperative learning; hands-on activities and paper and pencil tasks; real-world applications along with investigations, projects, math games, and basic facts practice. Units – Number Concepts, Operations, and Graphing; Addition and Subtraction Facts Through 10; Geometry and Fractions; Numbers Through 100; Time and Money; Addition and Subtraction Facts Through 12; Measurement; Two-Digit Addition and Subtraction.
Religion
“We Believe,” a Sadlier program. Themes – Jesus Teaches Us About God’s Love; We are Followers of Jesus; We Belong to the Church; We Celebrate and Live Our Faith.
“Family Life,” a Benziger program – reinforces the preservation of the fundamental importance and sacredness of the family. Themes – God’s gift of family, self, love, community.
Science
“Scott Foresman Science,” provides science content and hands-on activities based on the National Science Education Standards. Units – Life Science; Physical Science; Earth Science; The Human Body.
Social Studies
Scholastic News; National Geographic Young Explorer; Current Events.
Second Grade Curriculum
Religion
Our religion “We Believe” a Sadlier program focuses on Jesus Shares God’s Life,Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist. We have three religion books to cover. Fr. Damian and Dr. Linda Dix will address the two sacraments at separate meetings. A “Family Life” series is a Benziger program covered at the end of the year.
Math
“Houghton Mifflin Math” is a new edition this year. Book 2.1 for class work for the first half, 2.2 for the second half and a Homework book for reinforcement. The Math program offers instruction, manipulative for hands-on activities, problem solving and math games. Units include: Number Concepts; Graphing; Place Value; Shapes and Fractions; Regrouping; Subtracting Two-Digit Numbers;Money and Time;Measurement;Introduction to Multiplication and Division; Adding and Subtracting Three-Digit Numbers. There is a weekly Timed Quiz on Math Facts.
Integrated Language Arts
“Invitations To Literacy”, a Houghton Mifflin program consists of 6 different themes. Theme1 “Pet Show Today”, Theme2 “Nature Detective”, Theme3 “Good Friends”, Theme4 “Family Photos”, Theme5 “That’s Incredible” and Theme6 “Tell Me A Tale”. At the end of each theme students will take a Theme Skills Test. Also, twice a year students will take the Benchmark Test to see how well their writing skills and critical thinking skills have developed. This ILA area will include Reading, Phonics, Written Language, Spelling and Expressive Language. Daily Edit sentences will also be part of the written language. “Handwriting by Zaner Bloser” program will introduce Cursive Writing. A period of sustained reading D.E.A.R. (Drop Everything And Read) will be held each day to give the children time to read for pleasure.
Science
“Scott Foresman Science” program. It provides hands-on activities and Units to learn more about Life Science, Physical Science, Earth Science and about the Human Body. Each Unit consists of 3 Chapters. Students will work on class assignments, at home projects and perform a number of experiments. They will also have tests and quizzes.
Social Studies
“We Live Together”, a MacMillan/McGraw-Hill program. Units 1-5 will cover Our Community, All About Earth, Our Past, All About Work and Our Government. Children will work on class assignments, at home projects as well as take quizzes and tests. For Current Events we have ordered the Scholastic News Magazine.
Third Grade Curriculum
Science
Third Grade covers 4 Basic Areas. Life Science, Physical Science, Earth Science, and the Human Body. We conduct some experiments in the classroom and give the children the opportunity to do some at home. We have two tests: one Vocabulary and one Chapter Test. Students are expected to make flashcards for vocabulary.
Social Studies
Third grade explores Communities. The textbook is broken intro strands that teach us about the world. The strands are: 1.) Economics, 2.) Citizenship, 2.) Geography, 4.) Culture, 5.) Science, technology, and society, etc. Chapter test notes are given in copybook. Tests for both SS and Science are listed on the board, assignment books and website at least a 1 1/2 before the test. Third grade explores communities.
ILA
We have two readers for 3rd grade: Enjoy and Celebrate. We cover 6 themes during the year. After each story the children answer 5 questions. After each theme we complete a test on skills. Twice a year we complete the Benchmark Tests which include reading selections that include narrative and expository text. During the year we read aloud and complete activities for 6 chapter books. We do a report in a can, a biography, and a folktale. After each story, a spelling test is given. The ILA programs also cover grammar skills.
Religion
The religion book called We Believe is divided into 4 units comprised of chapters that teach the students about Jesus’ gift of the church to us and our responsibility of the church. We also do unit tests and special projects.
Math
We have updated our math book. It is a book from Houghton Mifflin. There are 8 units and 22 chapters. They cover many areas including place value, all the operations of addition, subtraction, division and multiplication, as well as measurement, geometry, fractions, and decimals. Timed tests are given weekly as well as tests at the end of chapters and units. The homework each day is a page from the homework book or a worksheet.
Fourth Grade Curriculum
Science:
Our program includes; Life Science, Physical Science, Earth Science and the Human Body. In the spring the students take a class trip to the Camden Aquarium. As a follow up to this unit the students do a power point presentation on marine life. Projects: Every Thursday the students do science experiments Labs
ILA:
Six themes that we read throughout the year. Also the themes include writer’s workshops for each theme. In addition each theme has a short novel with correlating projects/book reports. Projects: 2 Book reports choices – Magic Pen , Time machines, character dress up, act out a scene, story map, and power point. Group Activities at the end of each story
Math:
By Houghton Mifflin. Concentration on knowing there multiplication and division facts Projects: Group Super Bowl Party
Social Studies
Study of NJ from the early Europeans and Native Americans to present day. Each of the six units have projects (postcards, posters, reports, dress up). Students also read a historic fiction novel and write and perform skits.
Religion
Theme is learning more about the commandments. Each year out school has a new theme that is talked about all year. Also, each class is responsible for going to mass once a month.
Projects: All Saints Family Life - Life Stages projects
Curriculum Enrichment
To enrich the students’ learning we also play Math Around the World, work with Multiplication and Division balls and play Jeopardy to review for all subject tests.