NRCA Elementary Insider's Guide 2025-2026 by NRCAKnights

NORTH RALEIGH CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

ELEMENTARY Insider’s Guide

2025-2026

COURSE CURRICULUM

Lower Elementary

K5

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

Social Studies

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.

Mathematics

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.

Science

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.

Language Arts

Physical Education

Kindergarten

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.

K5

Art

Computer

Kindergarten art is a time of exploration and learning. It is a literacy-based art program where we read a special story together and then create art to go along with what we just read and discussed. Students are able to explore art through fun stories related to themes in their core classroom, as well as stories based on major artists. Each project is designed to introduce the elements of art: shape, form, color, texture, value, space, and line. Along with the elements of art, we also work on following directions and fine motor skills. Students explore art using paint, tempera paint sticks, oil pastels, and watercolors. Through this program, we hope to ignite a desire to use the creative talents God gave us.

Kindergarten classes are new to many things since some have never used a computer or mouse. Students learn fine motor skills by using the mouse and finding all the letters on the keyboard. We learn correct hand placement for keyboarding and concepts for word processing, such as capitalization, changing the size of text, and changing fonts and colors. We also do spreadsheet concepts such as sorting and counting. In addition, students start to learn to code in kindergarten, an excellent activity for developing their critical thinking skills. We also do STEM activities throughout the year.

The K5 curriculum is designed to foster a love for books and reading with the goal of developing lifelong readers. Students are introduced to a variety of storybook characters that both delight and teach them. Through fun stories and activities, they learn valuable lessons about following Jesus, obedience, respect, sharing, kindness, teamwork, etc. They also learn basic library skills and book terminology. Students explore nonfiction through brief science lessons and activities. They are also encouraged to explore their own creativity by writing and illustrating their own stories.

Music

The kindergarten classes enjoy exposure to music in many ways. They come to music class once a week during the first semester and twice a week during the second semester. They learn and review many basic skills—such as following directions, numbers, letters, colors, days, and months—by singing, moving, listening, and playing classroom instruments. They also learn that music is a great way to worship and praise the Lord. A highlight of the year is presenting the kindergarten celebration in early June.

PE

Spanish

Kindergarten Enrichment Classes

Since God has ordained the Holy Spirit to dwell within the body of the believer, we must take care of our physical bodies to his glory. Physical education allows the student to acknowledge God’s amazing creation of the human body by encouraging continuous development of the body’s physical abilities. Physical education also provides a venue for teaching godly character, such as working as a team member, encouraging others, being gracious in wins and losses, and doing one’s best to the glory of God.

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, NIV)

Learning another language is fun, and it allows us to minister to people in the Spanish-speaking community. Kindergarten students have Spanish class once a week. We cover basic Spanish. Students will learn through vocabulary repetition, picture association, worksheets with simple activities, songs, games, interactive display system technology, iPads, Total Physical Response (TPR), and conversations with the teacher and classmates.

The teacher posts on Schoology a list of vocabulary the students will learn every three to four weeks so that parents can review the words with their children. The topics for the first quarter are greetings, commands, and school supplies. The topics for the second quarter are school supplies, shapes, and colors. The topics for the third quarter are colors, numbers, and family. The topics for the fourth quarter are weather, animals, fruits, and drinks.

1 st grade

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.

Bible

Social Studies

Mathematics

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.

Science

First Grade

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.

Language Arts

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.

1 st grade

Art

Computer

First-grade art begins a new adventure in expressing our creativity as we focus more on the elements of art while incorporating past and current artists. Part of the process of learning about master artists includes sketchbook work. Students practice various techniques used by those artists within their sketchbooks, as well as an interactive portion focusing on the elements of line, color, value, shape, form, space, and texture. Projects use a variety of media, including acrylic paints, watercolor, armature wire, paper, and clay. Activities are a combination of directed and individually driven. We feel this is a great combination to encourage the artistic growth of our students. Students in first through fifth grade are all learning the same material—this way, families can enjoy conversations at home about what students are learning in art. Ageappropriate activities based on desired skills and techniques are determined for each grade level.

The first-grade classes continue to build on skills they learned in the previous year. We use a program for learning correct hand placement for keyboarding, and the program tracks the students’ progress. The students also learn concepts for word processing, such as backspace, enter, insert, and delete. The students create a picture with a digital drawing tool and then insert that picture into their Word document. Students also do a class survey, and we take the data, insert it into a spreadsheet, and then manipulate the data. In addition, students continue to learn coding, an excellent activity for critical thinking skills. We also do STEM activities throughout the year.

The first-grade curriculum is designed to foster a love for books and reading with the goal of developing lifelong readers. Being more like Jesus by demonstrating Christian character is a major focus of many of our stories and activities and is taught in a fun and engaging way. Honesty, shown in the concept that “God is truth and delights in men who are truthful,” is a major theme reinforced in many ways. Students also learn about sharing, kindness, moderation, appreciation, respect, and other valuable lessons. They learn basic library skills and explore nonfiction through brief science lessons and activities. Students are also encouraged to explore their own creativity by writing and illustrating their own stories.

Music

The first-grade classes enjoy music in many ways. They come to music class twice a week during the first semester and once a week during the second semester. They learn and review many basic skills— such as following directions, counting, and reading—as they sing, move, listen, and play classroom instruments. They also learn that music is a great way to worship and praise the Lord. A highlight of the year is presenting a Christmas musical in early December.

PE

Spanish

First Grade Enrichment Classes

Learning another language is fun, and it allows us to minister to people in the Spanish-speaking community. First-grade students have Spanish class once a week. We cover basic Spanish. Students will learn through vocabulary repetition, picture association, worksheets with simple activities, songs, games, interactive display system technology, iPads, Total Physical Response (TPR), and conversations with the teacher and classmates.

The teacher posts on Schoology a list of vocabulary the students will learn every three to four weeks so that parents can review the words with their children. The topics for the first quarter are greetings, commands, and school supplies. The topics for the second quarter are school supplies, shapes, and months of the year. The topics for the third quarter are months, numbers, shapes, and family. The topics for the fourth quarter are parts of the body, food, and sports.

2 nd grade

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.

Bible

Social Studies

Mathematics

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.

Second Grade

Science

Language Arts

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.

2 nd grade

Art

Computer

Second-grade art continues to build on the adventure in expressing our creativity as we dive deeper into the elements of art while incorporating past and current artists. Part of the process of learning about master artists includes sketchbook work. Students practice various techniques used by those artists within their sketchbooks, as well as an interactive portion focusing on the elements of line, color, value, shape, form, space, and texture. Projects use a variety of media, including acrylic paints, watercolor, armature wire, paper, and clay. Activities are a combination of directed and individually driven. We feel this is a great combination to encourage the artistic growth of our students. Students in first through fifth grade are all learning the same material—this way, families can enjoy conversations at home about what students are learning in art. Age-appropriate activities based on desired skills and techniques are determined for each grade level.

The second-grade classes continue to develop skills they have built in previous years. We recall correct hand placement for keyboarding, and the students have access to a program that tracks their progress. The students also learn word processing concepts like copying, cutting and pasting, and working with tables. The students create a picture with a digital drawing tool and then insert that picture into their Word document. Students also do a weather project where they research the weather for their birthday each year using historical data. We then take the data from the spreadsheet and create column graphs, and then they interpret the data. In addition, students continue to learn coding. This activity is excellent for developing their critical thinking skills. We also do STEM activities throughout the year.

Media Center

The second-grade curriculum is designed to foster a love for books and reading with the goal of developing lifelong readers. Children are encouraged to expand their knowledge by discovering different genres of books. They are introduced to mysteries, poetry, fairy tales, biographies, and other categories. Students often find that they love books they would never have considered checking out before. Accompanying activities solidify their interest and understanding. Developing Christian character is always a major focus. Students learn basic library skills and explore nonfiction through brief science lessons and activities. Students are also encouraged to explore their own creativity by writing and illustrating their own stories.

Music

PE

Spanish

Second Grade Enrichment Classes

The second-grade classes enjoy music in many ways. They come to music class twice a week during the first semester and once a week during the second semester. Early in the year, they review many basic skills—such as following directions and reading—by singing, moving, listening, and playing classroom instruments. They also focus more on how music is a great way to worship and praise the Lord. A highlight of the year is presenting a Christmas musical in early December. During the second part of the second-grade year, the students learn the basics of reading and writing music, such as note reading and note value.

Learning another language is fun, and it allows us to minister to people in the Spanish-speaking community. Second-grade students have Spanish class once a week. We cover basic Spanish. Students will learn through vocabulary repetition, picture association, worksheets with simple activities, songs, games, interactive display system technology, iPads, Total Physical Response (TPR), and conversations with the teacher and classmates.

The teacher posts on Schoology a list of vocabulary the students will learn every three to four weeks so that parents can review the words with their children. The topics for the first quarter are greetings, commands, and school supplies. The topics for the second quarter are school supplies, shapes, and months of the year. The topics for the third quarter are months, numbers, and family. The topics for the fourth quarter are animals, food, and vocabulary review.

3 rd grade

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.

Bible

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.

Social Studies

Mathematics

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.

Third Grade

Science

Language Arts

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.

Penmanship

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.

3 rd grade

Art

Computer

Media Center

Third-grade art continues to build on aspects learned in the earlier grades. We continue to focus on the elements of art while incorporating past and current artists. Part of the process of learning about master artists includes sketchbook work. Students practice various techniques used by those artists within their sketchbooks, as well as an interactive portion focusing on the elements of line, color, value, shape, form, space, and texture. Sketchbook work for our older elementary students also includes more practice in each artist’s style. Projects use a variety of media, including acrylic paints, watercolor, armature wire, paper, and clay. Activities are a combination of directed and individually driven. We feel this is a great combination to encourage the artistic growth of our students. We have added a crosscurricular aspect by incorporating art projects based on what the third graders are learning in their other classes. These projects have included making African animal masks, watercolor paintings of Asian pottery, and so much more. Students in first through fifth grade are all learning the same material— this way, families can enjoy conversations at home about what students are learning in art. Age-appropriate activities are determined based on the desired skills and techniques for each grade level.

The third-grade classes continue learning skills they have built on from previous years. We recall correct hand placement for keyboarding and use a local keyboarding program that tracks their progress. Students create a spreadsheet containing the number of chapters in each book of the Bible. They make a pie chart to represent the chapters and use summation to verify that the numbers are correct. Students also create a presentation project as they learn to use slides. In the project, they insert images and add animations and transitions. Students do a STEM project using the design process to build a model to solve a problem. They use VEX kits to build these models. In addition, students continue to learn coding. This activity is excellent for developing their critical thinking skills.

The third-grade curriculum is designed to foster a love for books and reading with the goal of developing lifelong readers. Stories and activities that teach and demonstrate Christian character are a major focus. The curriculum is also designed to assist in developing basic study and research skills. The students are taught how to use the Media Center to identify and locate needed information from nonfiction, biography, and reference collections to assist with research. Accompanying activities allow them to demonstrate proficiency in these areas. They are also taught to use the Online Media Center Catalog to locate and reserve materials. They are allotted time to create their own stories. Very importantly, students are encouraged to explore, find topics they are interested in, kick back, relax, and read.

Music

PE

Spanish

Third Grade Enrichment Classes

The third-grade classes enjoy music in many ways. They come to music class once a week during the first semester and twice a week during the second semester. Early in the year, they review many basic skills by singing, moving, listening, and playing classroom instruments. They also focus more on how music is a great way to worship and praise the Lord. A highlight of the year is presenting a musical in mid-February. The third-grade classes also learn more about reading and writing music, including tempo, dynamics, basic rhythms, note reading, and note value.

Learning another language is fun, and it allows us to minister to people in the Spanish-speaking community. Third-grade students have Spanish class once a week. We cover basic Spanish. Students will learn through vocabulary repetition, picture association, worksheets with simple activities, songs, games, interactive display system technology, iPads, Total Physical Response (TPR), and conversations with the teacher and classmates.

The teacher posts on Schoology a list of vocabulary the students will learn every three to four weeks so that parents can review the words with their children. The topics for the first quarter are greetings, commands, the alphabet, and school supplies. The topics for the second quarter are school supplies, shapes, and months of the year. The topics for the third quarter are the alphabet, school supplies, days of the week, and months of the year. The topics for the fourth quarter are animals, Spain, and sports.

Upper Elementary

4 th grade

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.

Bible

Language Arts

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.

Fourth Grade

Mathematics

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.

Science

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.

Social Studies

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.

4 th grade

Art

Computer

Music

Fourth-grade art continues to build on aspects learned in the earlier grades. We continue to focus on the elements of art while incorporating past and current artists. Part of the process of learning about master artists includes sketchbook work. Students practice various techniques used by those artists within their sketchbooks, as well as an interactive portion focusing on the elements of line, color, value, shape, form, space, and texture. Sketchbook work for our older elementary students also includes more practice in each artist’s style. Projects use a variety of media, including acrylic paints, watercolor, armature wire, paper, and clay. Activities are a combination of directed and individually driven. We feel this is a great combination to encourage the artistic growth of our students. Students in first through fifth grade are all learning the same material—this way, families can enjoy conversations at home about what students are learning in art. Age-appropriate activities are determined based on the desired skills and techniques for each grade level.

The fourth-grade classes continue to learn skills that they have built on from previous years. We recall correct hand placement for keyboarding, and students are given keyboarding accounts that they can use at home since the accounts are cloud-based. Students also learn about file management and organizing folders and documents. Students create a spreadsheet with all 100 counties in the state of North Carolina, and then they sort the counties from largest population to smallest and make graphs for the largest five counties. Students start robotics with WeDo Legos, and they have their iPads with the app to help them write code to make the robots move. In addition, students continue to enrich their coding by learning more advanced concepts. Coding is an excellent activity for developing students’ critical thinking skills.

In fourth grade, students experience singing in a choir during their first semester. Students begin learning about blending, tone quality, rhythm, and melody. We begin working on music for our Christmas concert when we come to school in August. We learn to sing songs of the season that tell the story of Christ’s birth. These songs showcase opportunities for solos, instrumental parts, and speaking parts. Although we see each fourth-grade class only once per week, we are able to cover so much material. The students perform a smaller selection of songs for Chapel during concert week and all their repertoire on concert night. It is a great introduction to the world of choir and a wonderful way to try it out before choosing their elective for fifth grade.

PE

Spanish

Fourth Grade Enrichment Classes

Learning another language is fun, and it allows us to minister to people in the Spanish-speaking community. Fourth-grade students have Spanish class once a week. We cover basic Spanish. Students learn through vocabulary repetition, picture association, worksheets with simple activities, songs, games, interactive display system technology, iPads, Total Physical Response (TPR), and conversations with the teacher and classmates.

The teacher posts on Schoology a list of vocabulary the students will learn every three to four weeks so that parents can review the words with their children. The topics for the first quarter are greetings, the alphabet, and school supplies. The topics for the second quarter are the alphabet, school supplies, and days of the week. The topics for the third quarter are days of the week, months, and weather. The topics for the fourth quarter are weather, clothing, and transportation.

5 th grade

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.

Bible

Language Arts

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.

Mathematics

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.

Science

Fifth Grade

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.

Social Studies

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.

5

th grade

In fifth grade, students begin daily enrichment in fine arts by choosing either band or choir as their elective.

Beginning Band (Daily Enrichment)

Beginning band not only offers an enhanced understanding and enjoyment of music for life but also benefits students in multiple domains, including social, spiritual, self-regulation, and self-discipline. One of the most notable and unparalleled benefits associated with instrumental music studies is the student’s overall cognitive enhancement. All of this occurs while simply making music. Beginning band may also be the stepping stone to the options of a jazz band, marching band, collegiate and state honor bands, and many other transcript-building opportunities.

Beginning band:

• Meets every day

• Requires NO prior experience

• Performs a Christmas and spring concert as well as chapels

• Seeks to develop the skills of comprehensive musicianship while fostering a better understanding of music and its value as part of God’s creation

Band class requires the following items, usually obtained together at the spring parent meeting:

• Instrument (rent or purchase)

• Book 1: Essential Elements for Band (for their instrument)

• Music stand for home

• Cleaning supplies and lubricants for their instrument

• Metronome/tuner as a practice tool

Choir (Daily Enrichment)

Fifth-grade choir is a great continuation of what students have learned in fourth grade, while challenging them to grow more in their musicianship. In fifth grade, we begin singing two-part music, and students learn about the concept of harmony. They continue to work on things like blending, tone quality, and breath support, while also incorporating singing in parts. Students meet daily, and we work on preparing for a Christmas concert. They also have the opportunity to sing for their peers at Chapel on the week of their concert. Like fourth grade, there are opportunities for solos, as well as speaking parts. The concert is a highlight of the year, and they get to sing songs that tell the Christmas story of the birth of our Savior. In the spring, the fifth graders put on a musical in lieu of a spring concert. Students will have the chance to audition for a role in the show, a solo within one of the songs, or be a part of the choir/ensemble. Students perform this show in the Sherrill Center for the Performing Arts during late spring. Fifth-grade choir is a wonderful opportunity for young voices to begin developing and a fun way for students to learn about singing together in a large group.

Fifth Grade Enrichment Classes

Fifth-grade students continue weekly classes in art, computer, PE, and Spanish, wrapping up the elementary enrichment experience that guides them in selecting year-long elective courses beginning in sixth grade.

Art (Weekly)

Computer (Weekly)

PE (Weekly)

Spanish (Weekly)

Fifth-grade art continues to build on aspects learned in the earlier grades. We continue to focus on the elements of art while incorporating past and current artists. Part of the process of learning about master artists includes sketchbook work. Students practice various techniques used by those artists within their sketchbooks, as well as an interactive portion focusing on the elements of line, color, value, shape, form, space, and texture. Sketchbook work for our older elementary students also includes more practice in each artist’s style. Projects use a variety of media, including acrylic paints, watercolor, armature wire, paper, and clay. Activities are a combination of directed and individually driven. We feel this is a great combination to encourage the artistic growth of our students. Students in first through fifth grade are all learning the same material—this way, families can enjoy conversations at home about what students are learning in art. Age-appropriate activities are determined based on the desired skills and techniques for each grade level. At this level, we are working hard to develop those skills that will carry our students into middle and high school art.

The fifth-grade classes continue to learn skills that they have built on from previous years. We recall correct hand placement for keyboarding, and students are given keyboarding accounts that they can use at home since the accounts are cloud-based. Students learn how to create QR codes and create word-processing documents to house the QR code. Students also learn more about their OneDrive accounts and how to properly manage the files and documents for future access. Students create a spreadsheet on OneDrive and share that spreadsheet with a classmate so that they can see the benefits of cloud-based collaboration that they will use in middle school. In addition, students continue to enrich their coding by learning more advanced concepts. Coding is an excellent activity for growing their critical thinking skills. We also do SCRATCH programming in fifth grade to give students more access to different programming languages.

Learning another language is fun, and it allows us to minister to people in the Spanish-speaking community. Fifth-grade students have Spanish class once a week. We cover basic Spanish. Students will learn through vocabulary repetition, verb conjugations (irregular verbs such as estar, ser, and tener), picture association, worksheets with simple activities, songs, games, discussions about cultures of Latin American countries, interactive display system technology, iPads, Total Physical Response (TPR), conversations with the teacher and classmates, and scripture memory.

The teacher posts on Schoology a list of vocabulary the students will learn every three to four weeks so that parents can review the words with their children. The topics for the first quarter are greetings, cultures, commands, and school supplies. The topics for the second quarter are daily routines, telling time, family, and Christmas. The topics for the third quarter are family, the verb tener, and rooms of the house. The topics for the fourth quarter are rooms of the house, the verb tener, and sports.