Overview 2009-2010 Forms Blue Book Pre-K Lower School General Info Curriculum Middle School General Info Curriculum Upper School General Info Curriculum Learning Express Library Faculty/Staff College Advising School Profile    Library	LOWER SCHOOL CURRICULUM: First Grade Language Arts/Reading The phonics/spelling program in the first grade continues to focus on strengthening the foundation in phonemic awareness by reviewing letter sounds and building upon sound/spelling associations through the introduction of long and short vowels, beginning and ending blends, consonant clusters, digraphs, and diphthongs. Students will begin using learned grammar skills in independent writing while learning the five stages of writing through Writer’s Workshop. First graders will publish narrative, descriptive, how-to, and friendly letter pieces over the course of the academic year. The first grade environment is based upon a balanced literacy approach in which reading instruction involves meeting each individual student at his/her developmental level. Students are assessed and placed into guided reading groups in which they are instructed from their entrance level. Beginning readers start with decodable, repetitive texts as well as texts containing high-frequency sight words and work up to the merging of these two texts with fiction and non-fiction stories. Students are taught reading strategies for word attack, decoding skills, and blending sounds. Comprehension Strategies and Skills are taught through whole class instruction as well as in small guided reading groups. Mathematics First grade mathematics contains a thorough instruction of concepts and procedures related to whole number sense and operations, including addition, subtraction, and early multiplication skills. Mathematical skills are incorporated throughout the learning day and related to real life situations. Children are challenged with higher ordering thinking skills and problem solving in multiple ways and are encouraged to share reasoning, logic, and mathematical approaches in order to find solutions to challenging problems. Daily math instruction includes teacher directed mini-lessons, followed by hands-on, investigative activities that help facilitate students learning in developing conceptual understanding through the use of manipulatives. Upon understanding foundational concepts, students relate this learning to paper/pencil assessment and see the correlation between manipulative study and computation. First grade students receive a balanced integrated program that includes continual development of number sense and operations, algebra, geometry and spatial sense, measurement, data analysis, time and money, probability, and problem solving skills. Science The study of science at this level incorporates a hands-on, activity based, investigative approach. Students will be introduced to the scientific method of inquiry as preparation for more in-depth approaches in subsequent years. The units of study will include states of matter, weather, force of motion, insects and bugs, water cycle, animals, plants, rocks and soil, and solar system. Social Studies Students in first grade will continue to develop generalizations, concepts, and skills as they concentrate on individual development and identity, learn about their neighborhood and community, and begin to extend their knowledge of others throughout the world. Students will examine a variety of neighborhoods and communities and recognize the multiple roles that individuals and families play in making such frameworks possible. Students will explore characteristics of the local government while expanding their understanding of responsibility, justice, and authority. In addition, students will analyze and evaluate the effects of change and become more aware of diversity and cultural traditions throughout communities around the world. Second Grade Curriculum Language Arts/Reading In second grade spelling, the children build skills through a consistent pattern of instruction, enrichment, maintenance and review. Each word is analyzed on the basis of structure, sound and meaning. Language in second grade reviews punctuation, capitalization, and usage skills presented during the previous year. They study beginning parts of speech (nouns, verbs, pronouns, adjectives and adverbs). This is reinforced through reading, writing, and dictionary skills. In second grade students review methods of decoding and learn how to become fluent readers by modeling key reading strategies. By using the school library, the classroom library, and their own personal books, the children become independent readers and develop a love of learning. Math Second grade mathematics contains a thorough instruction of concepts and procedures related to whole number operations including addition, subtraction and simple multiplication and division. Word problems are incrementally developed and continually practiced throughout the year. Students receive a balanced integrated mathematics program that includes continual development of whole number concepts, whole number computation, fractions, mental math, problem-solving, patterns, measurement, and geometry. Work is individualized and also done is groups. Science Second grade is an activity-based program in which students develop science concepts through inquiry and exploration. Students will become comfortable with the scientific method of inquiry. Science study at this level incorporates a more in-depth approach of a few topics rather than a superficial coverage of many topics. These topics include animal life and energy as it relates to the world around us. Social Studies The Social Studies curriculum at this level will introduce the students to the following ideas through interactive activities, speakers and field trips : 1. Personal, social and civic responsibilities 2. Historical data about our town, state and country 3. Local, state, national and world geography 4. The American economic system 5. Psychological, sociological and cultural factors affecting human behavior 6. Local, state and national government 7. Global connections and interdependence Third Grade Language Arts/Reading The curriculum is a combination of grammar, writing, reading, spelling and handwriting. Students learn the different literature genres and complete a chapter book each month focusing on a specific genre. Reading consists of class room chapter books and the reading series Houghton Mifflin, which contains short stories. Students focus on paragraph writing using the 6 plus 1 writing program. Handwriting is introduced during the second quarter of third grade. Math At Beaufort Academy, we have newly adopted the Scott Foresman math series. It has a great balance of skill work and problem solving that challenge students to read and explain their work. Third grade builds accuracy in addition, subtraction, and multiplication. In doing this facts are learned as well as patterns and algebraic basics. Geometry and measurement will be incorporated through daily activities and students will be able to read and create graphs. Science Science units of study in third grade include the habitats, the solar system, simple machines, motions and sounds, and the systems of the body. Throughout each unit cooperative groups and hands on lessons enhance student learning, completing the steps of the scientific method. Social Studies Third grade social studies focus on South Carolina history. We visit the early days of South Carolina, focusing on exploration and settlement. The year takes us through the Civil War, growth of state, our society and culture. Fourth Grade Language Arts/Reading Language Arts in the fourth grade is a combination of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. These subjects are not taught in isolation, but in an integrated manner that is emphasized most heavily in the grammar-writing and the reading-writing connection. In the grammar-writing connection children are taught the grammar skills that will be incorporated into their writing. The reading-writing connection helps students use the outstanding literature they read as a model for their own writing. Math At Beaufort Academy, we have newly adopted the Scott Foresman math series. It has a great balance of skill work and problem solving that challenge students to read and explain their work. Highlights of the new learning for grade four students are applying an algorithm to multiply whole numbers fluently; generating strategies to divide whole numbers by single-digit divisors; generating strategies to add and subtract decimals through hundredths; translating among letters, symbols, and words to represent quantities in a simple mathematical expression or equation and interpreting data in graphic displays with increments greater or equal to one. Science The Fourth Grade Science program is designed to develop a scientific appreciation of the world. Students will engage in investigative experiments, cooperative learning, and collecting and analyzing data. Major units of the program focus on the Scientific Method, Plants, Nutrition, Matter, Rocks and Minerals, Electricity, The Water Cycle and Science Fair. Throughout each unit cooperative groups and hands on lessons enhance student learning, completing the steps of the scientific method. Social Studies Fourth grade social studies focus on identifying historical persons, identifying cultural characteristics of African Americans and immigrants, identifying characteristics of the major events such as the Civil War, Revolutionary War, Trail of Tears, and the Oklahoma Land Rush. In that we are focusing on exploration and settlement. We also interpret charts and define geographic concepts as well as finishing off with Economic Resources.