Lower School Curriculum

Lower school is for students in K-6th grade. Note: There will be a staffed nursery from 8:45 to 11:00.

K through 3rd grade

Students will feast on many ideas and subjects including:

• Bible Memory
• U.S. Geography
• Great Painters and Artists in History
• Listening to literature then narrating back in their own words
• Reading aloud poetry and folktales
• Weekly Presentations
• Arts and crafts
• Basic Math

Students will participate together with 4th and 5th graders in nature study, where they will learn about the wonderful works of the Lord found among the trees, plants, and animals outside. For nature study, the students need a sturdy nature journal and something to write and draw with. We suggest a medium size hard–cover journal.

4th and 5th grade

Besides participating in nature study together with K–3rd grade, these students will also participate in:

• Literature Class
  Students will read classic books, discuss them, and do fun writing projects appropriate for their age. Our reading list is:
  • A Bear Called Paddington
  • Wind in the Willows
  • The Trumpet of the Swan
  • The Secret Garden
  • The Silver Chair
  • Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare by E. Nesbit
  • Five Children & It
  • Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
  • Pollyanna
  • The Princess & the Goblin
  • Mr. Popper’s Penguins
  • By the Great Horn Spoon
  • Poetry
  • The Borrowers
• Choir
  Students will learn to sing in parts, read music, and use their voice to glorify the Lord. The students will need a recorder for this class
• Art
  Students will work on various art projects and possibly a reader’s theater. Parents will be notified of the materials for this class as the semester progresses.

6th grade transition class

These classes help students transition to Middle School. Thus, these classes are more difficult and include some Middle School classes. Students will participate in:

• Elective: US History
  Students will learn US history beginning with the late Middle Ages. The goal is to see how the Lord has worked throughout the history of our country, as well as our origins as a nation. They will also memorize portions of the Westminster Shorter Catechism and write papers that will be graded for both content and grammar. Required reading:
  • The World of Columbus and Sons, Genevieve Foster
  • The World of Captain John Smith, Genevieve Foster
  • George Washington’s World, Genevieve Foster
  • Westminster Shorter Catechism
• Literature and Grammar class
  Students will read classic books, discuss them, and complete various writing projects that will prep them for entering Middle School the following year.
  • Fall Reading List:
    • Peter Pan, J. M. Barrie
    • The Bronze Bow, Elizabeth Spear
    • Up from Slavery, Booker T. Washington
    • Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain
    • Shakespeare
    • Johnny Tremaine, Esther Forbes
    • Heidi, Johanna Spyri
  • Spring Reading List
    • Jim Elliot: One Great Purpose, Janet and Geoff Benge
    • White Fang, Jack London
    • Poetry (TBD)
    • Swallows & Amazons, Arthur Ransome
    • Winged Watchman, Hilda Van Stockum
    • Shakespeare
    • The Hiding Place, Corrie ten Boom
    • Treasure Island, Robert Lewis Stevenson
• Biology
  • The World of the Microscope (Usborne)
  • Animals: A Visual Encyclopedia (DK)
  • The Body Book by Donald M. Silver & Patricia J. Wynne
  • Usborne Science Encyclopedia (Internet-Linked)
• Choir
  Students will learn to sing in parts, read music, and use their voice to glorify the Lord.

At–home supplementation

Families use various at home curricula including Ambleside and Charlotte Mason.