What can you expect your First Grader to learn at Paradise Valley Christian?
Bible: The First Grade Bible curriculum lays the foundation for an overview of the Old Testament and the New Testament. It introduces the child to some basic Bible truths that can be integrated into his/her worldview. The program focuses on God’s gift to us. The student will read the entire Beginner’s Bible. Curriculum includes: Old Testament: Creation, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses. New Testament: Life of Jesus, Fruit of the Spirit, The Armor of God, and Salvation lessons. Students participate in a Prayer Partners program with upper grade students, weekly Bible memory verse, and Chapel.
Language Arts: The First Grade language and reading program is a multi-disciplined program consisting of phonetic instruction, vocabulary building and usage, language skills, writing, reading for comprehension, spelling, and handwriting. The purpose of the curriculum is to develop the ability to read and to develop an appreciation for various forms of literature as well as a desire to read God’s word. Course content includes: phonics (review of consonants and their sounds, long and short vowels, blends and digraphs, using phonics to sound out words), sight words, vocabulary, reading (over 100 books), handwriting manuscript style, spelling words from the Ayers word list, writing (sentence structure, punctuation marks, journaling, creative writing), literature (prose, poetry, characters, story structure). An Accelerated Reader program is integrated into the language arts program.
Mathematics: The First Grade math program is designed to put an emphasis upon mastering basic concepts and skills, and to develop an awareness of God’s orderliness and standard of absolute. The objectives for development of the concepts and skills are met through various activities that involve the use of manipulatives and drill. After foundational skills are established, the student is encouraged to apply these skills to problem solving and real life experiences. Course content includes: numeration and place value/addition/subtraction, whole numbers, fractions, money, time, measurement, geometry, patterns, problem solving and application. Manipulatives, worksheets and “Mad Minute Math” are used to reinforce and practice skill.
Science: The aim of science in First Grade is to stimulate the child’s interest in the wonders of God’s creation. Through various activities the child develops skills in vocabulary, classification, observation, prediction, and thinking. Science is integrated into other areas of curriculum. Course content includes life sciences (the rainforest-its systems: plants, animals, insects and spiders, food chain, animal habitats), Health (human body-major organs, skeleton, muscles, nutrition, dental care, the five senses), physical science (simple machines-experiments).
Social Studies: The First Grade social studies program is designed to motivate the students’ interest and awareness of God’s control in the community and world around them. The studies of our neighborhood and our country’s history and its symbols will foster pride and build respect for our nation’s heritage. Course content includes: “you” and your family, USA history (Columbus, pilgrims, colonial days, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, American symbols, patriotism), American holidays, Christmas customs from around the world, geography skills (mapping-directions, compass, globe, oceans and continents, Equator, North and South poles, USA, Arizona).
Spanish: Introduces students to four skills necessary in acquiring a second language: listening, speaking, associating, and memorizing. Students are exposed to culture, songs, games, music, food, and fun. The goal of this course is to develop a desire to learn a second language and it’s vocabulary. Students attend Spanish class once a week.
Music: Students attend Music once a week. This course is designed to instill each student with love and appreciation for music as a God-given form of expression. The students are taught rhythmic and melodic instructions, where they read and write musical notation, perform through singing, moving and playing instruments. Students are challenged to enhance their listening skills. All students participate in at least two public performances each school year.
Physical Education: Physical activity will be selected to help the student acquire fundamental skills, cooperative learning, fitness awareness and manipulative skills, making the student aware of God’s perfect creation in him or her. Students participate in Physical Education once a week.
Library: This program is weekly and designed to promote a love and appreciation for reading and to introduce the student to various authors and their works. Students will learn to appreciate the resources in a library and their responsibility for caring for it. The focus of the library is knowledge, teaching and learning.
Art: First Grade art classes meet once a week. A variety of projects are explored to help the students develop art appreciation as well as, manipulatives and organizational skills using arts media to effectively translate ideas, feelings, and values. To accomplish these goals, the elements and principles of art will be introduced: line, color, shape, texture, pattern, repetition and balance. Art history is incorporated into the art lessons with an emphasis on ancient art and Native American art.
Computer: This class will give the students an introduction to general technology skills at the elementary level. These skills include but are not limited to competency in the areas of: orientation to the computer, keyboarding, word processing, navigating the internet, and utilizing the computer for learning, presenting, and organizing information.