Bible
The Bible curriculum, written by Bob Jones University, is rich in teaching of Bible
heroes and strong on application as God’s word pertains to five year-olds. Daily
Bible time is for building foundational truths in an age/developmentally appropriate
manner. Crafts, songs and dramatization are added to bring the Bible curriculum
to life for the students. Our teachers put a strong focus on guiding students to
“encourage one another in the Lord” as they develop relationships with their classmates.
Handwriting
D’nealian manuscript is introduced through a variety of hands on activities. D’nealian
manuscript is introduced through a variety of hands on activities. The D’nealian
style of writing was designed to ease the learning of cursive and print handwriting
by offering a complete audio, visual, tactile, kinesthetic approach to teaching
handwriting. This style of writing aids reading by giving immediate letter to word
associations in drill and practice work and building basic vocabulary thus making
reading and writing correlated subjects as opposed to separate subject skills.
Mathematics
Mathematics is taught through a hands-on, activity approach. Students explore geometry,
measurement, time periods, whole number operations, graphing, money, patterning,
and many other number concepts as they develop a foundation for higher mathematics
in future grades.
Language Arts
Kindergarten students are introduced to the wonderful world of language through
the Orton-Gillingham Multi-sensory approach to teaching language, phonics, reading,
writing, and spelling. Coupled with a desire to instill a love of printed and oral
language, students develop strong decoding skills and phonemic awareness, while
enjoying a wide variety of activities, experiences, and field trips to enrich their
language experience. The use of Level 1 phonics, published by Modern Curriculum
Press, helps solidify the decoding and encoding skills developed through the multi-sensory
method. Students begin reading/language groups while using the Houghton Mifflin
first grade reader. Leveled readers allow accelerated students to continue to grow
in language and reading skills. Second semester five year olds visit and use the
technology lab on a consistent basis.
Social Studies: The Kindergarten students are taught from a Biblical perspective
in order to begin developing a “heart for our community and the world that God has
created,” students have an “all senses experience” as they are introduced to different
aspects of human cultures. Every other year, the Kindergarten students “tour the
world” as they are immersed in a study of three different countries.
Science
Students participate in “hands-on/minds-on” science activities with a fun approach
to learning. Students begin developing a scientific approach to age/developmentally
appropriate experiments. Many of the topics covered are seasonally related. Every
other year, the students investigate the world God made through the study of topography
which includes the plains, the rainforest and the swamps.
PE
The physical education curriculum is designed with the objective to teach all students
to enjoy personal fitness, sport, and an active life as a fulfilling and life-long
habit (I Corinthians 6:19). All information is presented in a manner that reflects
God’s Word and His purpose for us.
Our philosophy is that exercise and sport at a suitable skill level are enjoyable,
character-building experiences for children of all ages. Life-long exercise and
sport inevitably invoke most of the great human emotions of triumph, defeat, joy,
sacrifice, pain, and contentment. Through participation in games and sport, we learn
how to lose graciously, to win with modesty, and above all, how to participate with
others in the teamwork required achieving what often seems like an unreachable goal.
Through exercise, games, and sport, students extend their limits of courage, ability,
self-knowledge, and selflessness – and alter themselves for life (Galatians 5:22-23).
Several Biblical concepts are stressed throughout the physical education curriculum.
Kindness to one another is extremely necessary in the class (Ephesians 4:32). Encouraging
one another is also extremely important (I Thessalonians 5:11). Emphasis is placed
on making wise choices (Proverbs 1:5).
Through the various skills and games taught, the students will develop physically
as well as spiritually and socially. Through participation in fast-moving aerobic
games and activities, the hope is that the students will realize that exercising
is fun as well as beneficial! The positive physical education experiences will develop
a healthy lifestyle.
Implementing a Biblical worldview, the kindergarten classes will participate in
skills, activities, and games that develop fundamental loco motor skills. Rhythmic
activities are an integral part of the physical education curriculum. Parachute
activities are used to enhance working together and listening skills. Throwing and
catching, striking, kicking, ball handling, tumbling, gymnastics, and fitness skills
are integrated into aerobic activities.
Spanish
Students will gain a beginning knowledge of the Spanish language and vocabulary
through a fun, activity-enriched approach.
Art
Kindergarten students will learn basic art elements: line, color, shape and texture.
Students will learn “art words” as we do art projects with different art supplies
and techniques. Many Kindergarten projects are integrated with units of study in
their classrooms. Emphasis will be on learning about different kinds of lines, and
the primary colors and secondary colors. Students will be introduced to famous artists
Vincent Van Gogh and Piet Mondrian. Be sure to ask your students what kinds of lines
and colors each of these artists liked!
Music
Our God is an awesome, creative God. We are created in His image. Music is a gift
from God given to us to glorify Him, as well as, to enrich our lives and the lives
of others. The purpose of music at Providence is to engage students in the active
making of, listening to and responding to music in order to praise God, relate to
others in positive ways and to enjoy and develop the gifts He has given. Music activities
contribute to the total development of the child mentally, emotionally, socially,
spiritually and aesthetically.
Elementary music is an active process in which the student explores the nature of
movement and sound through excellent folk and composed materials. Students reproduce
sound and learn to interpret the unique system of musical notation. Improvisation
enables students to create music that is uniquely their own.
Essential experiences and assorted activities are included in lesson plans. The
following elements are sequences within each grade level as well as spiraled from
grade to grade: Rhythm, Melody, Harmony, Form and Expressive Qualities. Our Kindergarten
students encounter the elements in the following ways:
Rhythm: Steady beat with movement, instruments, rhythmic speech, quarter notes/rests,
Duple meter
Melody: High/ low pitches, sol/mi songs, melodic direction, singing a variety of
songs, Finding singing voice
Harmony: Major and minor tonalities, playing instruments
Form: AB form, ABA form in music pieces, phrases
Expressive Qualities: Loud (forte)/ soft (piano), tempos (allegro, andante, adagio),
Instrument timbres
Activities are directed toward these goals and objectives using speech, singing,
movement, listening, and drama and playing instruments.
K5 students have music 3 times a week for 30 minutes.
Library
The students visit the library one time a week. Students are introduced to a variety
of genre through the librarian. Students independently locate and select books based
on personal interest. Additionally, students will learn some basic research skills
in the library including the following:
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Know library checkout procedures and expected behavior
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Know proper care of books and other materials
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Locate areas of the library for E fiction and E nonfiction
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Identify parts of a book (cover, spine, title page)
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Recognize author, illustrator, and their functions
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Recognize award-winning books (Caldecott, Georgia Picture Book, etc)
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Develop listening skills through read-alouds
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Experience a variety of literary forms
Technology
Students are exposed to some basic keyboarding, word processing, and network navigation
skills. They also gain exposure in using drawing, paint and shape tools. The computer
programs they are introduced to are Kid Pix, Kidspiration, and Jump Start.