Pre-Kindergarten Course Descriptions
Biblical Foundations
Goals for K-4 through Fifth Grade:
- Recognize God’s existence and character.
- Understand the Bible as God’s inspired word and absolute truth.
- Use the Bible consistently to locate and memorize selected verses.
- Pray daily.
- Acknowledge need for salvation and respond to Jesus as God’s provision.
- Know and practice Biblical principles in relationships and service to others.
K-4 – The focus for our preschoolers in Bible is to build a solid foundation of God as our Creator, and that He has specifically and uniquely created us for relationships. We teach children that God made them special and with purpose. Children learn of God's design for family, friends and ultimately a relationship with Him. These truths are taught as we work through the creation story in Genesis to God's plan of salvation in the New Testament. K4 also reads narratively through the book of Mark. The Bible is an exciting and interactive part of our program.
History-Social Studies
Students look at people, places, and events from a Biblical worldview, using timelines to develop chronological thinking. Four components are included: History, Geography, Civics, and Economics. Students gain knowledge and understanding of people’s lives, and discover causes and consequences of their actions. Students learn about the places people live, the rules and responsibilities they live by, and the ways in which they work to meet their needs.
K-4 – History: connect past and present events in own lives and environment, examine cause and effect relationships, time intervals. Geography: home and school, local landscape, location words. Civics: family and classroom structures (rules, jobs, responsibilities). Economics: basic needs of food, clothing, and shelter, services of school and community workers.
Mathematics
Focus Areas for K-4 through Fifth Grade:
- Number (Properties, Operations, Computation)
- Algebra (Patterns, Relations, Functions)
- Geometry (Spatial Sense)
- Measurement (Units, Systems, Processes)
- Data Analysis and Probability
K-4 – Number: recognize groups up to three without counting, understand concept of zero, count to 10 or higher, recognize and name most numerals 1-10, and count, separate, and combine sets of objects. Patterns: recognize, extend, and analyze simple patterns. Geometry: basic shapes, location words. Measurement: order objects by size, use shapes to cover area. Time: Use time words and terms correctly. Data: match, sort, classify and describe similarities and differences, and create graphs. Money: recognize and name some coins.
Science
Students know and discern the world in which they live through observation, study, and experimentation, including the use of available equipment and technology. They question, observe, compare, use tools, describe, explain, predict, use data to solve problems, and use appropriate scientific language in these areas: Life Science, Physical Science, and Earth Science. Student exploration leads to greater explanation and appreciation of God’s creation and encourages responsible stewardship.
K-4 – Living Things: Animals and Plants * What Are Things Made of? (Matter) * What Is the World Like? (air, water, soil, rocks, clouds, sun, moon, stars, seasons)
Language Arts
Children grow tremendously during these years as God’s gifts of language, thought, and imagination are put to work in listening, speaking, writing, and reading. They are challenged to think deeply, read widely, and write purposefully in all subjects. They develop extensive vocabularies and understand how language carries beliefs and ideas that shape the world. They read a variety of books and recognize quality literature. They write clearly in various forms as they share their thinking with others. They ask questions to move their learning forward. They use language skills to know God, to understand themselves and others, and to make sense of the world in which they live.
K-4 – Listen to follow directions, understand information, and learn with others. Participate in shared reading: rhymes, stories, books, songs. Speak clearly, using a growing vocabulary and taking turns. Distinguish similar and different sounds, along with letters and numbers. Retell and dictate stories in sequence. Identify letters, by name and shape, and recognize a few sight words. Listen to books and recognize characters, events, and settings, asking questions to increase understanding. Write name, some letters, lists, messages and stories with increasing fine-motor skills.
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