Elementary
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CURRICULUM GUIDE
First Woodway Christian School strives to create an atmosphere where learning naturally takes place. Emphasis is placed on high academic standards, self-discipline, and character building as the children grow in body, mind, and spirit. God’s truths are integrated into all areas. Instruction is teacher-directed and student-centered with a strong “hands-on” approach to learning. Individual use of computers is also used to reinforce the curriculum.
The instructional materials used are strong in presentation and sequential review which allows the students to be presented with new information while reviewing and using what has previously been introduced. The Saxon Phonics curriculum is used for teaching basic reading and spelling. The McGraw Hill Reading Series supplements this curriculum. The Math curriculum is Everyday Mathematics: The University of Chicago School Mathematics Project. The curriculum for Social Studies is a combination of A Beka and Harcourt Press. The Science curriculum is A Beka and A Reason for Science by The Concerned Group. FWCS uses the Speedy Spanish curriculum and the Positive Action Bible curriculum. The Health curriculum is A Beka. Our entire curriculum meets all of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills requirements. A Bible lesson is presented daily. All students attend a weekly Chapel service.
The Core Curriculum includes: Language Arts (Reading, Spelling, Grammar, Handwriting, Creative Writing), Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Health, and Bible.
We offer as Enrichment: Physical Education, Fine Arts (Music, Art, Theater), Library, Computer Literacy, Intramurals, and Spanish.
For a detailed description of each Grade’s curriculum, choose from the following links:
Kindergarten
Grade 1
Grade 2
Grade 3
Grade 4
Grade 5
Grade 6
Kindergarten
Ratio 1 : 15
Language Arts
* Saxon Phonics and whole language curriculum
* Creative writing, journals, and stories
* Students express themselves in complete thoughts
* Name and identify each letter of the alphabet, apply letter-sound correspondence
Mathematics
* Recognize and solve problems
* University of Chicago’s Everyday Math Curriculum
* Use tools and toys
* Practice through games
* Graphs and charts
* Patterns
* Measurement
* Estimation
* Money
* Telling time
Reading and Writing
* Develop oral language skills
* Listen to a wide variety of children’s literature
* Segment and identify the sounds in spoken words
* Print is read from left to right and from top to bottom
Social Studies
* Understanding interdependence and cultures
* Communities: families, schools, towns
* The study of Texas and our national heritage
* The concept of chronology is introduced
* Map skills
* The purpose of rules and the roles of authority figures
Science
* Concepts: discovery, hypothesizing, observing, predicting, recording, presenting
* Topics: nature, weather, myself, seasons, holidays, space, health, senses
Technology Lab
* Introduction to computers
* Educational software used to enrich entire curriculum
Library
* Learn library skills
* Introduce students to authors, illustrators
* Critical listening encouraged
Spanish
* Exposure and practice with reading, writing, listening, speaking Spanish
* Basic construction
* Understanding cultural traditions, holidays
* Reinforced with music and games
Bible Study
* Attend Chapel
* Positive Action Bible Curriculum
* Weekly Bible verse
Art
* Introduction to the elements and principles of design
* Hands-on creativity
* Individual expression is encouraged through a variety of media
Music
* Singing skills, notation, music symbols
* Chapel songs
* Music theory
* Composers
* Movement and dancing
* Musical styles
Physical Education
* Promote physical activity, healthy development and lifestyles
* Develop body awareness
* Gain confidence during play
* Follow directions, teamwork
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Grade 1
Ratio 1 : 15
Language Arts
* Phonics and whole language curriculum
* Writing: self expression in journals and stories using inventive spelling
* Regular spelling and sight words learned
* Independent readers
Mathematics
* University of Chicago’s Everyday Math Curriculum
* Problem solving
* Projects and practice through games
* Graphs and charts
* Estimation
* Measurement
* Money and time
* Operations
Social Studies
* Learn to record and classify observations about selves, society, cultures
* Comparing, ordering, tallying, and presenting ideas
* Geography, Economics, History, Government, Citizenship, Culture
Science
* Caves, nocturnal animals
* Weather and seasons
* Earth: processes and features
* Planets and stars
* Our bodies
* Insects
* Simple machines
* Ollie Mae Moen Discovery Center
Technology Lab
* Keyboarding software
* Intro to internet studies
* Educational software used to enrich entire curriculum
Library
* Learn library skills
* Introduce students to authors, illustrators
* Critical listening encouraged
Spanish
* Speedy Spanish Curriculum
* Exposure and practice with reading, writing, listening, speaking Spanish
* Basic construction
* Gender and tense
* Understanding cultural traditions and holidays
* Reinforced with music and games
Bible Study
* Attend Chapel
* Positive Action Bible Curriculum
* Understanding Biblical themes of Old and New Testaments
* Weekly Bible memory verse
Art
* Introduction to the elements and principles of design
* Hands-on creativity
* Individual expression is encouraged through a variety of media
* Appreciation for art history and concepts
Music
* Singing skills, notation, music symbols
* Chapel songs
* Music theory
* Composers
* Movement and dancing
* Musical performance
* Musical styles
* Musical instrument
Physical Education
* Promote physical activity, healthy development and lifestyles
* Develop body awareness
* Gain confidence during play
* Follow directions, teamwork
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Grade 2
Ratio 1 : 15
Language Arts
* Cursive writing
* Structural analysis, grammar, context to decode words and expand vocabulary
* Writing: research, fiction, poetry
* Reading: poetry, fiction, historical fiction, biographies, autobiographies
* Weekly spelling words
Mathematics
* University of Chicago’s Everyday Math Curriculum
* Recognizing problems, explaining to others, setting up solutions
* Number concepts, operations, computations
* Intro to Geometry and Statistics
* Intro to Multiplication and Division
Social Studies
* Current events
* Geography
* Economics, History, Government, Citizenship, Culture
Science
* Bees
* Desert
* Nutrition
* Heart
* Five senses
* Kitchen chemistry
* Magnetism
* Fiber optics
* Extreme weather
* Human body
Technology Lab
* Keyboarding software
* Intro to internet studies
* Educational software used to enrich entire curriculum
Library
* Learn library skills
* Introduce students to authors, illustrators
* Critical listening encouraged
* Discuss concepts
Spanish
* Speedy Spanish Curriculum
* Exposure and practice with reading, writing, listening, speaking Spanish
* Basic construction
* Gender and tense
* Understanding cultural traditions and holidays
* Reinforced with music and games
Bible Study
* Attend Chapel
* Positive Action Bible Curriculum
* Understanding Biblical themes of Old and New Testaments
* Weekly Bible memory verse
Art
* Introduction to the elements and principles of design
* Hands-on creativity
* Individual expression is encouraged through a variety of media
* Appreciation for art history and concepts
Music
* Singing skills, notation, music symbols
* Chapel songs
* Music theory
* Composers
* Movement and dancing
* Musical performance
* Musical styles
* Musical instrument
Physical Education
* Promote physical activity, healthy development and lifestyles
* Develop body awareness
* Gain confidence during play
* Follow directions, teamwork
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Grade 3
Ratio 1 : 15
Language Arts
* Focus on reading proficiency and comprehension
* Exploring various literary works
* Expanded grammar and vocabulary
* Writing: presenting descriptive and personal narratives, research reports
* Weekly spelling words
Mathematics
* University of Chicago’s Everyday Math Curriculum
* Recognizing and explaining problems, setting up solutions
* Number concepts, operations and computations: Geometry, Multiplication, reinforcing basic skills
Social Studies
* Map skills
* Mighty waters
* Settling the land
* Native Americans
* Westward settlement of USA
* Study of United States
Science
* Solar system
* Space and flight
* Classroom and field investigations
* Properties of matter
* Simple machines
* Weather
* Basic anatomy
* Geology
Technology Lab
* Keyboarding software
* Internet studies
* Educational software used to enrich entire curriculum
Library
* Learn library skills
* Introduce students to authors, illustrators
* Critical listening encouraged
* Discuss and compare styles
Spanish
* Speedy Spanish Curriculum
* Exposure and practice with reading, writing, listening, speaking Spanish
* Basic construction
* Gender and tense
* Understanding cultural traditions and holidays
* Reinforced with music and games
Bible Study
* Attend Chapel
* Positive Action Bible Curriculum
* Understanding Biblical themes of Old and New Testaments
* Weekly Bible memory verse
Art
* Introduction to the elements and principles of design
* Hands-on creativity
* Individual expression is encouraged through a variety of media
* Appreciation for art history and concepts
Music
* Singing skills, notation, music symbols
* Chapel songs
* Music theory
* Composers
* Movement and dancing
* Musical performance
* Musical styles
* Musical instrument
Physical Education
* Promote physical activity, healthy development and lifestyles
* Develop body awareness
* Gain confidence during play
* Follow directions, teamwork
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Grade 4
Ratio 1 : 15
Language Arts
* Vocabulary/Analogies
* Short stories/Novels
* Grammar/Usage
* Composition
* Oral presentations
* Study/Research Skills
Mathematics
* University of Chicago’s Everyday Math Curriculum
* Naming and constructing geometric figures, using numbers and organizing data
* Multiplication and division
* Decimals, fractions, angles, chance, probability, estimation, symmetry, percents, area, 3D shapes, volume, rates
Social Studies
* Texas history and geography
* European exploration through modern period
* Landforms and natural resources
* Texas economy
Science
* Meteorology
* Geology and plate tectonics
* Basic physical concepts
* Biology
* Ecology
* Science projects
Technology Lab
* Keyboarding software
* Microsoft: Word, Excel, Power Point
* Internet studies
* Educational software used to enrich entire curriculum
Library
* Learn library skills
* Introduce students to authors, illustrators
* Critical listening encouraged
* Discuss and compare styles
Spanish
* Speedy Spanish Curriculum
* Exposure and practice with reading, writing, listening, speaking Spanish
* Basic construction
* Gender and tense
* Cultural traditions
* Reinforced with music and games
Art
* Fine arts based curriculum
* Emphasis on elements and principles of design, art history, art appreciation, art vocabulary
* Individual expression is encouraged through a variety of art media
Bible Study
* Attend Chapel
* Positive Action Bible Curriculum
* Understanding Biblical themes of Old and New Testaments
* Weekly Bible memory verse
Music
* Singing skills, notation, music symbols
* Chapel songs
* Music theory
* Composers
* Movement and dancing
* Musical performance
* Musical styles
* Musical instruments
Physical Education
* Promote physical activity, healthy development and lifestyles
* Develop body awareness
* Gain confidence during play
* Follow directions, teamwork
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Grade 5
Ratio 1 : 15
Language Arts
* Focus on reading a variety of literature
* Novels: fiction, poetry, sci-fi, realistic fiction, tall tales
* Study skills
* Usage of reference materials
* Writing: narrative, descriptive, persuasive, expository, poetry, research
* Self expression and oral presentation
Mathematics
* University of Chicago’s Everyday Math Curriculum
* Number theory, estimation, geometry, fractions, decimals, percents, collecting and working with data, coordinates, graphing, area, and circles
Social Studies
* US history
* European exploration through Reconstruction
* Map skills
* American economy
Science
* Physics introduction
* General chemistry
* Meteorology
* Systems of the body
* Science projects
Technology Lab
* Keyboarding software
* Microsoft: Word, Excel, Power Point
* Internet studies
* Educational software used to enrich entire curriculum
Library
* Learn library skills
* Introduce students to authors, illustrators
* Critical listening encouraged
* Discuss and compare styles
Spanish
* Speedy Spanish Curriculum
* Exposure and practice with reading, writing, listening, speaking Spanish
* Basic construction
* Gender and tense
* Cultural traditions
* Reinforced with music and games
Bible Study
* Attend Chapel
* Positive Action Bible Curriculum
* Understanding Biblical themes of Old and New Testaments
* Weekly Bible memory verse
Art
* Fine arts based curriculum
* Emphasis on elements and principles of design, art history, art appreciation, art vocabulary
* Individual expression is encouraged through a variety of art media
Music
* Singing skills, notation, music symbols
* Chapel songs
* Music theory
* Composers
* Movement and dancing
* Musical performance
* Musical styles
* Musical instruments
Physical Education
* Promote physical activity, healthy development and lifestyles
* Develop body awareness
* Gain confidence during play
* Follow directions, teamwork
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Grade 6
Ratio 1 : 15
Language Arts
* Writing for a purpose, planning and writing different types of documents
* Sentence structure, punctuation, paragraph usage
* Listening, critical thinking, organizing ideas, polishing presentation and debate skills
Mathematics
* University of Chicago’s Everyday Math Curriculum
* Data interpretation, rational numbers, scienfific notation, variables, formulas, graphs
Social Studies
* World history
* Development of civilizations and cultures in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas
* Map skills
* Economic theory
Science
* Physiology all systems
* Mitosis/Meiosis
* Chemistry - chemical equations and periodic tables
* Nutrition
* Microscopic studies and procedures
Technology Lab
* Keyboarding software
* Microsoft: Word, Excel, Power Point
* Internet studies
* Educational software used to enrich entire curriculum
Library
* Learn library skills
* Introduce students to authors, illustrators
* Explore on-line databases
* Critical listening encouraged
* Discuss and compare styles
Spanish
* Speedy Spanish Curriculum
* Exposure and practice with reading, writing, listening, speaking Spanish
* Basic construction
* Gender and tense
* Cultural traditions
* Reinforced with music and games
Bible Study
* Attend Chapel
* Positive Action Bible Curriculum
* Understanding Biblical themes of Old and New Testaments
* Weekly Bible memory verse
Art
* Fine arts based curriculum
* Emphasis on elements and principles of design, art history, art appreciation, art vocabulary
* Individual expression is encouraged through a variety of art media
Music
* Singing skills, notation, music symbols
* Chapel songs
* Music theory
* Composers
* Movement and dancing
* Opera
* Musical styles
* Musical instruments
Physical Education
* Promote physical activity, healthy development and lifestyles
* Develop body awareness
* Gain confidence during play
* Follow directions, teamwork
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