Contact Administrator: Peter Jones, peternilsjones@gmail.com
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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:
    • Little Britches, Ralph Moody
    • Twenty-One Balloons, William Pene DuBois
    • Lad: A Dog, Albert Payson Terhune*
    • The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, C. S. Lewis
    • Dangerous Journey, Oliver Hunkin
    • Black Beauty (unabridged), Anna Sewell
    • Little House in the Big Woods, Laura Ingalls Wilder
    • In Their Own Words: Helen Keller, George Sullivan
    • Homer Price, Robert McCloskey
    • Beautiful Stories From Shakespeare for Children, E. Nesbit
    • Note: Any unabridged version of the literature is acceptable.
      *Exception: Please do not purchase the Townsend Library Edition for Lad: A Dog.
  • 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:

  • 
Fall Elective: Logic
    Students will study fallacies and informal logic and will learn to think clearly, resist manipulation, and argue effectively in a way that honor Jesus. Required Books:
    • The Amazing Dr. Ransoms Bestiary of Adorable Fallacies, Douglas Wilson
    • The Unaborted Socrates, Peter Kreeft
    • The Best Things in Life, Peter Kreeft
  • Spring Elective: World Religions and the Triune God
    Students will study the major world religions including Islam, Judaism, Bhuddism, Hinduism, atheism, and others and the worldviews that support these religions. Students will then contrast the Living and True God of the Scriptures with the false gods of these world religions. Required Books:
    • Bible
    • Westminster Standards; we recommend this edition from the OPC
    • The Universe Next Door, James Sire (Any edition will do)
  • 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
  • Geography
    “Mapping the World with Art” is a blend of history, geography, and art. The students start by studying the history of cartography then learn to draw all the main countries of the world and end by drawing a map of the world from memory. Materials needed:
    • Compass (Metal is recommended)
    • Protractor
    • Ruler
    • Pencil with Nice Eraser
    • Large Eraser (White is Best)
    • Black Waterproof Pen (Non-bleeding)
  • 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.