2023-2024
COURSE CURRICULUM
Kindergarten at North Raleigh Christian Academy aims to provide academic excellence and spiritual/character development in a Christ-centered environment. Our program fosters a feeling of love and reverence for God and respect for the value of others around us. In a positive atmosphere, we maximize each child’s God-given abilities academically, spiritually, and emotionally, as we instill the love of learning and provide learning experiences that facilitate the development of the whole child. Our curriculum consists of daily core subjects of Bible, mathematics, phonics, reading, and writing. Each student has an iPad to enhance the learned concepts and learn the basics of writing code. Social studies, science, art, computer, physical education, Spanish, and music are enrichment classes. These learning experiences are balanced with parties and off-campus field trips. Our kindergarten teachers encourage parental involvement and communication.
Bible time with prayer is a very important time of our kindergarten day. The Abeka Bible program has colorful visuals that help tell the stories of the Old and New Testaments. Students are encouraged to apply the moral lessons of the story to their lives at their grade level. Each week, students memorize a Bible verse. We also enjoy singing Bible songs and choruses. Our kindergarten Bible time encourages character traits such as obedience, respect, and responsibility.
The social studies curriculum in kindergarten seeks to build upon the foundation of family and community as children develop an understanding of the need for laws and government. A study of community helpers broadens to an introduction to map skills and the history and geography of our country as they explore America. Worldview is extended to an understanding of God’s love for all people as our students learn about other cultures. We explore countries such as Mexico, Kenya, China, and Australia.
The kindergartners begin the year in math by learning their shapes, patterns, position words, comparisons, and calendar parts. Later in the year, they learn fractions, ordinal numbers, and how to write numbers. Our kindergarteners learn to count and recognize numbers from 1 to 100 and count by 2s, 5s, and 10s to 100. We teach addition and subtraction using manipulatives. Students also learn to tell time, count money, and understand measurement in conjunction with various hands-on manipulatives.
The science curriculum builds upon the natural curiosity of young children as they discover the wonders of God’s creation. Students learn about the world around them as they investigate God’s plan for weather, seasons, seeds, animals, and their own uniquely designed bodies.
The kindergarten language arts program offered at North Raleigh Christian Academy has a strong phonetic base. The students become skilled readers as they learn the name and sounds of short vowels, consonants, blends, long vowels, vowel rules, and special sounds. The students work in small groups to complete twelve phonetic readers.
NRCA’s kindergarten writing program correlates with the reading program. As students learn a new letter, they also learn to write it. Students will write blends, words, and sentences as the year progresses. The language arts program at NRCA integrates reading, writing, and literature and includes creative writing, songs, poems, crafts, and games that reinforce skills the students learn.
Children of all ages need to experience free play to develop and enhance creative thinking and self-confidence. Our facility offers equipment designed to strengthen gross motor skills and encourage free play. Each day, kindergartners play outside on a playground or, on inclement weather days, in a gymnasium with age-appropriate equipment. Once a week, the students develop their motor skills in a physical education class, introducing them to team sports and games. We focus on helping the children stay physically fit and enhancing their ability to play corporately.
The first-grade experience at NRCA provides academic excellence with an emphasis on Christian character development. Creativity, thinking, listening, and writing skills are all encouraged in a loving and caring Christ-centered environment. Core subjects include Bible, phonics, grammar, reading, spelling, mathematics, social studies, and science. Our curriculum continues to meet a standard of excellence as it accommodates a variety of learning styles and employs a variety of teaching modalities, such as interactive display systems, iPads, collaborative and differentiated learning, and creative centers. First graders benefit from reading, spelling, and math homework in an effort to develop skills in these areas. The first-grade educational experience also includes weekly attendance at music, physical education, library, Spanish, computer, and art enrichment classes. Additionally, students are inspired through weekly chapels where they can grow in their faith through worship, skits, prayer, special speakers, and character development. Students participate in educational field trips, missionary and community service projects, and a yearly Christmas program. With a Christcentered first-grade education at NRCA, students will develop knowledge, character, and habits that will last a lifetime.
The first-grade Bible curriculum relates familiar Bible stories to God’s gifts to his children. These concepts help the students view family, the world, salvation, church, and life as God-ordained and directed. God’s Word comes alive through weekly chapels, colorful visuals, puzzles, games, skits, and songs. Scripture and worship song memorization are components of the classroom and Chapel each week. Participation in Christian character education and an annual Christmas program provide students with an application of biblical concepts taught in the classroom.
BJU Press history curriculum produces a balanced overview of American heritage and promotes understanding and the ability to discern connections between events. Not only does this approach provide students with a strengthened knowledge of God, but also it helps develop an interest in history, geography, citizenship, economics, and culture. The BJU online tools like maps, visuals, skits, and activities also heighten the social studies learning environment.
The mathematics curriculum of NRCA utilizes a logical method of instruction through a biblical worldview. Concepts are presented using several resources such as manipulatives, interactive display system, iPad applications, and challenging differentiated and collaborative learning activities. STEM-related activities and labs are added resources that inspire an interest in mathematics. Abundant review and practice provide mastery of concepts and facts for the students. The program incorporates cross-curricular concepts: songs and poems, science, listening skills, reading, geography, patriotism, holidays, and seasons. The scope of the curriculum involves counting to 100, 200, and 1,000; addition and subtraction concepts; number recognition and dictation; calendar facts; place value; problem-solving; money; geometry; logic; graphs; calendar; linear, liquid, temperature, and mass measurements; fractions; and groupings.
NRCA’s science program is designed to stimulate the student’s interest in science through a biblically integrated study of the wonders of creation. Hands-on activities help students to discover, classify, measure, predict, observe, experiment, interpret, compare, infer, examine, demonstrate, categorize, solve, organize, and identify. STEM activities and a STEM classroom and lab encourage student interest and involvement in science. Another outcome of our science curriculum is that students receive many opportunities to integrate creative writing, drawing, reading, and math strategies. Additionally, students learn exciting facts about themselves and God’s world as they explore the five senses, living and non-living things, animals, plants, simple machines, magnets, weather, the human body, and space.
Our BJU Press language arts curriculum combines the core subjects of reading, grammar, handwriting, phonics, and English to promote phonemic awareness, word recognition, decoding, comprehension, and the writing process. The goal of first-grade language arts is to equip the student with the tools necessary for reading success and to integrate biblical principles through the strategies employed.
Our reading program is well-rounded and includes comprehension-centered listening and reading activities and books, oral language development, letter word knowledge through word family activities, vocabulary, and ongoing oral fluency assessments through the Fountas and Pinnell benchmark system, which provides an objective format for determining reading levels of our students as they move from grade to grade.
Our grammar curriculum emphasizes phonics and English and includes the vital components of sentence construction, paragraph formation, creative writing, writing fluency, letter sounds and word families, and the development of vocabulary acquisition. Students enjoy the songs, BJU’s Teacher Tools Online, charts, and interactive display system activities that accompany this engaging component of language.
Our ACSI spelling curriculum provides the students with biblically sound strategies that help them spell words correctly and determine their meaning. Vocabulary enrichment and acquisition is the key to this spelling program. The final component of language arts emphasizes not only letter formation, spacing, and good penmanship but also creative writing. Students practice handwriting through the Zaner Bloser manuscript style system book; in their language, spelling, and reading worktexts; and by writing daily in their personal creative writing journals.
In second grade at NRCA, we strive for academic excellence with an emphasis on spiritual character development. We do this by enriching each student’s creativity in a loving, Christ-centered environment. Core subjects include Bible, language arts, mathematics, social studies, science, and health. Using a variety of teaching methods, we equip our students for academic success. Teachers use interactive display systems, iPads, visual aids, auditory aids, manipulative items, and other methods in daily instruction. Homework reinforces skills and concepts taught in the classroom. Each week, the students attend music, physical education, library, Spanish, computer, and art classes for further enrichment in the educational program. Our chapel is weekly with exciting motivational speakers and music. Elementary Chapel is always a favorite of the students and parents who are invited to attend. To complete the educational experience for each student, curriculum-related field trips, community service projects, guest speakers, and special programs are planned each year.
Second graders begin learning about Bible characters in two- and threeweek units, focusing on character traits demonstrated throughout the Bible. Throughout the year, students study 19 different biblical characters and numerous character traits. Teachers strive to emulate these traits in their daily lives and help instill these traits within the students. Character traits such as compassion, wisdom, creativity, self-control, dependability, and many others comprise some that we study. In addition, students also study topics such as salvation, worship, service, missions, godly living, and how to study the Bible.
The goal of our history curriculum is to instill a love of history and a desire to be loyal to our country as American citizens. Our students will begin to develop a biblical worldview as we understand our place in God’s world. We examine five biblical worldview themes to discover that a biblical worldview is crucial to a proper understanding of social studies. We believe history is “His story” and that historical facts in the Bible are accurate and show God’s love and concern as he controls the events of world history. We use the Bob Jones curriculum titled Community and Government. This curriculum strengthens knowledge of God and encourages Christian growth. It develops interest in history, geography, citizenship, economics, and culture. It presents a balanced overview of American heritage and promotes an understanding of key events and the ability to discern connections between them. Also, it builds silent and oral reading habits to further fluency. There are several units of study that cover creation, salvation, community life, the branches of government, responsible citizenship, economics, and geography.
We use the Abeka arithmetic curriculum in all our classes. This mathematics curriculum provides the student with an approach that is traditional, structured, and organized. This program promotes absolute truth as created by God. The students memorize facts and, at the same time, learn problemsolving skills. The program lays a strong foundation in math that will benefit the students as they progress in school. Charts, games, visuals, and flashcards supplement the curriculum. Students are given both a weekly written test and an oral facts test. Daily lessons offer not only new objectives to learn but also opportunities to review skills. The students read and study stories in literature that have mathematical themes.
Our Purposeful Design science curriculum stimulates our students’ interests in science through a study of the wonders of God’s creation. Students study units on life science (plants, vertebrates, invertebrates, and habitats), physical science (energy, heat, light), and earth science (weather and the ocean). This curriculum also stimulates the students’ desire to read and increase their comprehension skills. To further stimulate interest, we include a variety of hands-on experiments in each unit of study. Using the steps of observation, following procedures, recording data, and drawing conclusions, we learn by following the scientific method.
Our language arts curriculum consists of reading, grammar, and writing and has been carefully selected to promote skills in spelling, reading, grammar, phonics, vocabulary, penmanship, and creative writing. A variety of approaches and techniques are incorporated into the teaching process to ensure the best learning environment. The backbone of our grammar and writing program comes from BJU (Bob Jones University) publications. This curriculum achieves mastery in grammar skills by identifying the parts of speech and giving ample opportunity to apply syntax, punctuation, and word usage. Writing is dispersed throughout the year using the “Writing Process.” Second graders mature in reading ability and develop a deep love for books through our varied reading choices. Multiple unit studies of various books are interspersed throughout our year. These units incorporate history, the arts, research, nonfiction articles, and historical fiction. During these book study units, we also practice our creative writing skills. Our final language arts puzzle piece is ACSI’s Purposeful Design spelling curriculum. The students master up to 18 words a week. All teachers integrate games, puzzles, and supportive work pages to assist in the complete learning process for spelling.
Third grade is a wonderful year where students grow academically, socially, physically, and spiritually. It is a time of new discoveries as students explore Bible, math, grammar, science, history, reading, spelling, and creative writing. What fun they have as they build upon the past, preparing them for new and exciting things in the future. Not only do students enjoy a variety of core subjects, but they also enjoy art, music, physical education, Spanish, and computer. In these enrichment classes, students learn and perfect many different skills. These classes offer an enjoyable time away from the regular routines of the classroom. Chapel is also a special time each week. Students enjoy worshipping God through songs, prayer time, and the study of his Word. This time allows them to focus on God and thank him for his many blessings. Through these third-grade experiences, students make lasting memories to cherish for a lifetime.
The third-grade Bible program takes the students on a journey through the life of Christ, the book of Acts, and missions. While studying the life of Christ, students read and become familiar with the Gospels. They learn and make daily applications from Jesus’ parables, miracles, messages, and life. As the students read the book of Acts, they see the beginning and growth of Christianity’s early church. The importance of being a daily witness in their own lives is stressed as they learn about the missionary journeys of Paul and other famous missionaries. They also become acquainted with various Christian heroes of the faith who lived throughout history. Students memorize weekly Bible verses, an important part of our Bible program.
The third-grade curriculum focuses on biblical worldview shaping in world regions. It provides an age-appropriate study of government and citizenship, geography and climate, economics, culture, and religion presented within the framework of God’s redemptive plan.
The goal of the mathematics program is to help students build a solid foundation. Students begin by reviewing simple addition, subtraction, and multiplication problems. By completing these simple problems, the students can advance to solving more complex problems. Students are introduced to the concepts of long division, fractions, geometric shapes, measurement problems, story problems, averaging, and algebra equations. In our measurement study, they learn English and metric measures and are taught how to convert units of measure. Story problems enable them to use their critical thinking and logical reasoning skills. Students develop a conceptual understanding and skill proficiency by participating in all these various concepts.
Our third-grade students explore God’s creation as we peek into the world of our nervous system and its five senses. We discover how plants are designed and see the uniqueness of the five mammal groups. The students also journey to the desert, ocean, pond, forest, and farmer’s field to discover the marvelous natural balance that God designed for a purpose. At the close of the year, students study the four types of precipitation that display God’s amazing power.
The third-grade language arts curriculum focuses on the following areas: reading, grammar and writing skills, and spelling and vocabulary-building. The reading curriculum uses Mosdos Press readers and novels to continue the development of oral reading. Students practice listening, critical thinking, and analyzing skills through different types of literature. They also research specific novels to share in oral and written book reports. In grammar, students learn that each part of the sentence works together to express a complete thought. Students also learn how to develop, improve, and edit their creative writing as they work through the writing process. Finally, students learn how to convey their ideas through writing letters and various types of creative writing. The phonetically based spelling curriculum uses special sounds and allows students to learn to spell content words that coincide with their studies in other subjects. We use games, contests, and review exercises daily to create a fun approach to spelling. Weekly dictionary, writing, and word usage activities review concepts students learn in grammar and reading, and weekly vocabulary words and definitions expand each student’s vocabulary.
The goal of the penmanship program is for the students to develop outstanding cursive handwriting. The students begin by reviewing the cursive formation of all the letters in the alphabet. Working faithfully every day in cursive writing exercises, the students succeed in developing outstanding handwriting.
Fourth grade is the bridge between the primary and intermediate grades. Students develop into more independent learners as they rotate through different classes during the school day. Each student enjoys the stability of their homeroom teacher but also benefits from the different teaching styles and techniques of the other fourth-grade teachers as they study Bible, science, history, math, and language arts. They are encouraged to use higher-level thinking skills in each class and are taught a biblical worldview in each subject area. Fourth graders have a different enrichment class each day where they are encouraged to appreciate art, music, Spanish, computer, and, of course, PE. They attend Chapel once each week.
Fourth graders learn fundamental Bible doctrines using the Purposeful Design Curriculum. We investigate the following doctrinal truths: God, his Word, Christ, the Holy Spirit, the church, salvation, heaven, and hell. We use differentiated instruction to teach students how to apply these truths in a personal way, as we include Bible stories, visual aids, memory verses, and a variety of class activities. We use technology integration—iPads and interactive display systems—to support our instruction. Students memorize weekly Bible verses as well as the books of the Bible.
Throughout the year, the students also investigate biblical finance principles using the Crown Financial Ministries curriculum. To wrap up their fourth-grade year, students do an inductive Bible study on the book of Jonah. They learn how to study a portion of Scripture, look for key phrases, and discover the meaning of the verses.
The fourth-grade language arts curriculum focuses on the following subject areas: reading, grammar, creative writing, and spelling. Reading opens the door to the world. Students learn to read a textbook by studying its parts and learning how to use reading tools such as maps, graphs, special fonts, and a glossary. Then we proceed to reading comprehension. Students read to increase comprehension using stories and novels. We practice comprehension skills through independent and whole-group reading. Other specific skills taught include utilizing context clues to predict meanings of words; characterizing, comparing, and contrasting; and discerning fact from opinion. Our grammar curriculum is the Shurley Method, which uses rhythm and rhyme to help students learn the parts of speech and improve their grammar skills. Students learn to classify sentences through oral repetition. They apply their knowledge of grammar to sentence and paragraph structure. The Shurley Method includes formal and creative writing lessons, equipping students to express themselves in a clear and concise manner. The fourth-grade spelling course presents the students with 20 words weekly based on high frequency, high interest, and phonetic principles. An additional five words are added to enrich their vocabulary skills. The lessons are teacher-directed and incorporate independent and cooperative activities stressing sound-letter relationships, visual memory, and meanings of words. These words and skills are readily applied in their writing. Biblical principles, verses, and a mission theme are also presented in each lesson. Each lesson uses a differentiated approach to ensure students receive the instruction, practice, and enrichment needed to fulfill their academic potential.
NRCA’s curriculum concentrates on traditional and practical mathematical concepts. The major objectives of the BJU Press curriculum focus on place value, problem-solving, English and metric measures, fractions, long division, graphing, and geometry. Students examine ways math is used in everyday life. They solve three-digit multiplication problems, double-digit division problems, and measurement equations. Students find the mean, mode, and median of numbers, solve multiple-step story problems using clue words and higher-order thinking skills, and learn the metric prefixes used to solve metric measurement conversions. We emphasize accuracy and comprehension. The students learn to read, construct, and interpret data from pictographs, bar graphs, line graphs, circle graphs, and Venn diagrams. The curriculum covers probability, algebraic equations, polygons, lines of geometry, symmetry, and the perimeter and area of rectangles and squares. Students learn addition and subtraction with fractions and mixed numbers, including the procedures for making common denominators and equivalent fractions. The fourth graders also learn how to multiply and cancel fractions. Students have weekly quizzes or tests, timed daily reviews, and homework. Games, partner activities, and visuals are all part of their math learning experience. We use iPads in math as an educational tool for assessments, educational games, and resources to help practice our math skills. We use differentiated learning in the classroom to help meet the needs of all the students. Our goal is that all the students have opportunities to learn in the best way for them, and it does not matter how they solve the problem. We use an interactive display system daily in the classroom in addition to iPads, interactive games, collaborative learning groups, direct instruction, and the workbook to ensure we reach all learning styles.
Our science curriculum uses weekly lessons and labs to reinforce concepts. Areas we examine include life science (the study of living things), physical science (forces, energy, and matter), and earth science (atmosphere, plate tectonics, natural disasters, and the universe). Investigations are inquiry-based, student-driven, and teacher-directed. Differentiated learning is at the forefront of what we do in fourth-grade science. Integrating the iPad and interactive display system technology into our classroom creates captivating hands-on and interactive activities through independent and group work. We examine, emphasize, and encourage connections to Scripture. Students grow in their understanding of God as the Purposeful Designer of our universe and reflect upon the greatness of his creativity, order, detail, provision, and thoughtfulness in making his creation.
Heritage Studies 4 is a colorful, age-appropriate presentation of social studies that integrates government, culture, economics, and geography from a Christian worldview. Heritage Studies 4 covers United States history chronologically from the beginning of America through World War II, and the lessons include seven chapters on the regions of the United States, where the students will learn about the history, culture, climate, wildlife, and other important facts of each region. Each chapter includes stunning art, maps, timelines, graphs, photos, and quick-check questions. Some chapters have extended activities and biographies to enhance learning.
Fifth grade is our students’ last year to develop the foundational godly character traits and study management skills needed to achieve academic success in middle school. As fifth-grade teachers, we aim to present a biblical worldview in each of the five core subjects, which are taught on a daily rotation of classes. Students have their first opportunity to explore fine arts electives, with a choice of band or choir on a daily basis. In addition, enrichment classes include Spanish, art, computer, and physical education, helping to round out their academic experience. Each week, Chapel continues to enrich the learning community by drawing us back to our Lord through praise and worship, Bible stories, and guest speakers.
Three strands of instruction occur in the fifth-grade ACSI Bible curriculum. First is an overview of the Old Testament. Second is an in-depth study of the lives of various Bible characters presented in chronological order as a part of the survey of the Old Testament. Third is the focus on the choices these individuals made, whether good or bad. This third level of instruction provides the natural bridge to application in students’ personal lives as they make their own choices.
The fifth-grade language arts curriculum encompasses these subject areas: reading, grammar, spelling, and creative writing. In English, students learn grammar and writing techniques using the Abeka curriculum. They learn how all sentence parts fit together to make sense and express an idea. Students learn how to expand, improve, and edit their writing. They then learn how to express their own ideas through formal and creative writing. The reading program incorporates lessons in character development based on biblical principles. Students increase their vocabulary through word studies in the literature and develop comprehension and critical thinking skills from discussions and related activities. A variety of book reports are required throughout the year, which enhances the awareness of different literary genres. The reading curriculum combines history with literature through historical fiction novel studies. We also integrate creative writing across the fifth-grade curriculum. In this class, the focus is on not only spelling the words correctly but also understanding their definitions and using them correctly in everyday conversation. Interactive display system and iPad activities are incorporated into each lesson to meet our students’ various learning styles.
Our orderly heavenly Father used mathematics as he created our world. The fifth-grade mathematics curriculum promotes structure and order and shows students the order of the real world. Students hear a complete explanation of each concept and see procedures demonstrated step by step by the teacher. Daily instruction includes interactive display system and iPad lessons. Students use concrete manipulatives to learn new math concepts. Fifth-grade mathematics helps students develop problem-solving skills, increase computation skills, sharpen critical thinking skills, and, most importantly, cultivate a Christian worldview.
The fifth-grade science curriculum utilizes weekly lessons with associated labs to reinforce concepts. We teach science from a Christian perspective, always stressing biblical foundations and principles with regard to God as Creator. The curriculum is based on three sections of science, including life science (natural cycles, life cycles, cells, ecological succession), physical science (forces, energy, and matter), and earth science (natural resources, weather, solar system). Students learn to measure and use computer-aided design (CAD) to create models of their work. Each student has the opportunity to 3D print one of their designs. Students learn to write lab reports and dissect owl pellets. Field trips also help reinforce the lessons we learn in class.
The history curriculum provides a biblically based approach to the study of world history, including the five continents in the Eastern Hemisphere from the beginning of time to the present. This study incorporates the geography of this area of the world with its historical study. Computer research, hands-on activities, historical fiction novel studies, and creative writing assignments enhance this study of the Old World. Highlighting the immigration of people from other countries to America establishes a link between the Old and New Worlds.
