MORRIS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

Educating for Life and Eternity

K-8 Curriculum

Bible:    Students develop Bible study skills, learn of God’s gifts, discover the lives of Bible characters, study the life and person of Christ, develop understanding of Biblical Doctrine, survey the Old and New Testaments and learn to apply Scriptural truth to everyday life.  Lessons are geared to grade levels and include fun and challenging activities.

Arithmetic:      Solid training in arithmetic fundamentals is emphasized at all levels, using drills and activities as well as textbook instruction.  Once mastery of the basic processes is achieved students learn to apply arithmetical knowledge to problem-solving situations.

Reading:  Phonics training is stressed in the early grades, to give a solid foundation for mastery of reading and spelling.  Ample time for oral reading is allowed in all grades, with both oral and written book reports assigned throughout the year.  Reading materials include the Bible and classic children’s literature as well as textbooks.  Comprehension and development of a rich vocabulary will be emphasized.

Language:  Students will learn the fundamental elements of written and oral communication.  Parts of speech, sentence construction/diagramming, letter writing, research reports and composition writing are among the skills learned throughout the elementary grades.

Science/Health:  At all levels, a sense of wonder for God’s marvelous creation will be apparent to the students.  They will learn about the natural world and the miracle of their own bodies’ systems and abilities.  In Health, good manners and healthy lifestyles will also be taught.  In Science, creation by the omnipotent God is emphasized and explored.

History/Geography:  Both Old and New World History and Geography are taught.  Students will learn about land forms, bodies of water and other physical characteristics of our world, develop map reading skills and learn to identify countries.  Character, values and patriotism are taught through the lives of great historical figures.  Lessons in History are evaluated from Biblical perspective and used to encourage morality, Christianity and civil responsibility.

Art:  Art class in taught two days a week.  Principles of color theory, line and design are introduced early in the year.  Students work with crayon, pencil/colored pencil, and paints, moving on to collage techniques, weaving and mixed media.  Later on they work with clay, learning sculpture techniques such as coiling and bas-relief.  Throughout the year, various famous artists are profiled and their works examined in the context of their historical significance, always with a Christian world-view as the basis for the lesson. God’s infinite creativity is emphasized as the basis for all the beauty we see, both natural and man-made.

Music:     Music is also taught twice a week.  Students learn about various instruments, types of music, rhythm, etc.  Vocal music is a large part of the program; children learn to sing hymns, traditional folk tunes, patriotic songs and seasonal favorites.  Harmony parts are learned as well, and the children have great fun learning their parts.  Often our students sing for special occasions, such as church services, programs at school, or by invitation to area nursing homes.  The use of music and song as a means to worship and praise God is stressed.

Introduction

Components of Curriculum

Our elementary grades primarily use the A-Beka curriculum, with supplementary materials from publishers such as Saxon, and ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International).  All materials reflect a Christian worldview while promoting strong academic skills.