Upper School: Grades 4-6

Fourth Grade
Language arts focuses on the refinement of oral and silent reading, vocabulary and decoding skills, grammar, usage, listening, speaking, and writing skills. As part of the elementary school curriculum at our Jacksonville, Fla. campus, reading and writing are integrated to allow meaningful interaction and response to the text. Students learn to access information, communicate and share information, and collaborate in groups. Spelling is emphasized as a tool for writing. The mechanics of writing include instruction in capitalization, punctuation, sentence structure, grammar and paragraphing. Planning, writing, revising, and editing written work are emphasized.

The mathematics program gives the students the opportunity to use their math skills in real life situations. Measuring, estimating, considering probability, and dealing with shapes and angles are important concepts. Multiplication, division, fractions, graphs, and geometry are also taught.

Science is enhanced by introduction to the upper school science lab. Hands-on experiments, labs, and critical thinking projects are employed as students study plants, animals, ecosystems, space, matter and energy.

Social Studies explores Florida history from the earliest people to modern times. Group projects will increase students’ research and presentation skills as well as cooperation and sense of responsibility.

Our character education program, Keys to the Kingdom, permeates all aspects of the students’ day. Additional enrichment is provided through participation in resources including art, music, Spanish, library, Kingdom Theatre and physical education.

Fifth Grade
Emphasis on vocabulary development, comprehension through inference, sequence, interpretation, evaluation and literary style are the hallmarks of the language arts program. Parts of speech, punctuation, and capitalization are reviewed as paragraph organization and outlining are introduced. Weekly assignments emphasize paragraph construction, transition, and continuity.

The math program continues the study of whole numbers, decimals, fractions, and geometry. The curriculum encourages students to go beyond basic computation to explore more of the mathematics spectrum. This is achieved by investigating data-gathering and analysis, probability, geometry patterns, and algebraic concepts.

Learning about the Founding Fathers, United States history, geography, states and state capitols becomes living history when the fifth graders take a five-day trip to Washington D. C. Students gain a new perspective of freedom when visiting historic landmarks and memorials.

Science units include living things: cells to systems, the universe, forces, energy and physical and chemical changes. Human growth and development is taught collaboratively by a veteran teacher, the physical education teacher, and the religious education teacher. The sessions are designed to help prepare “tweens” for the emotional and sometimes awkward journey toward adulthood. Parents are invited to preview curriculum materials in a special parent meeting.

Our character education program, Keys to the Kingdom,  permeates all aspects of the students’ day. Additional enrichment is provided through participation in resources including art, music, Spanish, library, Kingdom Theatre and physical education.

Sixth Grade
The sixth grade curriculum provides a bridge between elementary and middle school. Students are gaining independence and responsibility for their education. Language arts and social studies are integrated to teach the higher order reading skills. Through the exploration of themes common to most civilizations (religion, culture, belief systems, geography, government, etc.), students embark on a journey through the past. They explore ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, Rome, India, and China.

In reading, improved comprehension is gained through the use a variety of strategies and skills. Fluency is focused on through poetry and Readers Theater. The stories in reading integrate with science and social studies. In addition to the reading text, students enjoy trade books and read for pleasure and understanding. The spelling program is built on spelling principles, generalizations, and learning easily confused and often misspelled words that are frequently used in writing.

Math curriculum continues to review the four basic operations while expanding on the decimals, fractions, integers, graphing, percentage, probability and geometry. In addition, exposure to pre-algebra further prepares the students for middle school.

Studies in science include Earth Science, Biology, and Physical Science. A unit of study centers on the plant kingdom in preparation for the annual sixth grade trip to Kanuga Falls, North Carolina. Outdoor adventures in data-gathering and team building skills will develop a unique bond between students.

Our character education program, Keys to the Kingdom, permeates all aspects of the students’ day. Additional enrichment is provided through participation in resources including art, music, Spanish, library, Kingdom Theatre and physical education.