Lower School: Grades 1-3

First Grade
First graders become independent readers and writers. By incorporating both phonics and whole language concepts, children become confident in their ability to read and to write creatively. Their discoveries are shared with the class in a variety of ways, including research and oral reports, stories, projects, and class dramatizations.

As students explore math concepts, they develop an awareness of how math is part of everyday life. Students use manipulatives and other tools, including calculators, to solve problems. Critical thinking skills are employed as they make predictions and test them; basic skills are reinforced using games and flashcards.

Science and Social Studies concepts are introduced and complemented by the integration of geography and scientific inquiry. The Sunshine Science Lab provides a place for hands-on experiences. Students learn to make observations and to record data in an organized and meaningful way, then present their findings in class reports.

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.

Second Grade
Second graders are given daily opportunities to refine their literacy skills. Reading skills, including fluency, comprehension, and decoding are strengthened. Writing skills, including spelling, grammar, punctuation, editing, sentence and paragraph structure are emphasized. Time is set aside daily to encourage silent reading. Research skills are taught, and children are allowed to pursue individual interests and share their discoveries.

Numeration and counting, problem solving, data collection and analysis, geometry, measurement, estimation, money, and fractions are components of the math curriculum. Students use manipulatives to understand math concepts on a concrete level as they build to pictorial and abstract levels.

Science exploration includes living things, weather, earth’s surface, matter and energy, and force and motion. The Sunshine Science Lab provides a place for hands-on experiences. Social Studies focuses on geography, communities, citizenship, government and Famous Americans . Research and reporting are emphasized and confidence is gained in oral and written communication as students organize information, sharing it in a variety of ways.

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.

Third Grade
The language arts curriculum is designed to refine and reinforce communication skills by integrating reading, writing, speaking, and listening. By learning reading strategies, reading comprehension and fluency are strengthened. The reading text and supplemental books are selected for their literary value and provide models for students’ writing assignments. The process of planning, writing, revising, and editing develops skills in research, spelling, grammar, punctuation, and communication.

In math, third graders continue developing the mastery of number sense and its application to mathematical concepts and problem solving. They share their solution strategies with their classmates through a cooperative learning approach. With the help of mathematical thinking stories, manipulatives, and games, students discover their capacity for reasoning, problem solving and conceptual thinking. Drills and exercises develop mastery of skills and encourage a positive attitude toward mathematics. Maps, charts, and graphs further enhance math and thinking skills.

Science concepts introduced earlier are expanded upon in third grade. Studies of plants, ecosystems, energy and matter are complemented with hands-on activities and problem solving opportunities. The Sunshine Science Lab provides a place for these hands-on experiences.

Social Studies incorporate a study of geography, Jacksonville history, city government, and more. Research projects give the students opportunities to develop technology and media skills.

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.