CURRICULUM
Calvary Christian School uses the A-Beka Curriculum as its basic outline of study at all grade levels. This curriculum has been developed, refined, and used in Christian schools for the last thirty years. Because of its long history, the A-Beka material has set the standard for excellence in the area of Christian education. We supplement this program with other teaching aids when we see that an individual or class needs additional work in a certain area. We also supplement the A Beka Bible lessons with workbooks from other Bible curricula. We use the Association of Christian School's International spelling curriculum for our first through sixth grade spelling program. Colorful workbooks and textbooks bring learning alive to the students that attend Calvary Christian School.
Our curriculum provides for a traditional classroom setting. Table and chairs are used in the kindergartens, and one-piece desks are used in the elementary grades, middle and high school.
Our four and five year old kindergarten reading program is phonics-based. By learning the sound that each letter makes, students are able to have a strong basis for reading by the end of their four-year old kindergarten year. Basic counting, number recognition, and math skills are also taught to the fours. The five-year old program reinforces the material taught in the four's program, and then extends it in both the phonics and numbers areas. A detailed breakdown of the areas covered in our kindergarten program is included on the following pages. It is our goal to have each student reading by the time he or she leaves the five year old program.
Our elementary curriculum (1st-6th) is very aggressive in the areas of math and language skills. We feel that these two areas are extremely important for our students' future academic success, as well as success after leaving school. Drill and detailed study are required in each subject area. The science and history books are oriented to the Word of God - something missing from secular text books.
Our middle school (7th-8th) program is designed to provide our teachers with flexible class scheduling, and to teach students the skills needed to be successful high school and college students. We use the A-Beka Curriculum for most major subject areas. We will use the Survival Quest and Character Quest in our middle school Bible classes that provide practical Biblical life application. We are excited about the lessons these texts will teach as our middle school students begin to discern the influences that are being brought to bare on our culture.
Art, Music, P.E. and Computer will be taught as "Life Skills" courses on a quarterly basis to all students K4, K5, and 1st-12th grades.
Our high school program follows the Virginia state guidelines for both the regular and college-prep diploma. A high school program will be developed with the parents and student upon admission to Calvary Christian School. The program will outline the classes that must be completed each year prior to graduation.
Calvary Christian School is pleased to work with Northern Virginia Community College in order to provide joint high school/college credit to our juniors and seniors when classes are taken at the college. For juniors and seniors who pass the Northern Virginia Community College admission screening, Calvary Christian School will pay for two courses (6 Credits) for juniors and four courses (12 Credits) for seniors. Using this program will help transition our high school students from a high school environment to a college environment. While the program is optional, students who use the full program will graduate from Calvary Christian School with their first full semester of college completed. Parents are responsible for all book fees for college courses. Transportation will be coordinated on a case by case basis.
The following is a Scope and Sequence for our program. Information is provided by grade.
K4 Four-Year-Old Kindergarten
Language Phonics and Reading Arts
Recognition of name, sound, and picture of long and short vowels and consonants
Sounding of blends and one– and two-vowel words
Reading of sentences and stories with one- and two-vowel words
Writing
Formation of letters, blends, and words
Writing of first name
Poetry
Twenty-eight poems and finger plays committed to memory
Language
Language development and listening skills that include color words, shapes, animals, transportation, countries, community helpers, health, safety, manners, science
Numbers
Number recognition and counting 1-100
Number concepts 1-20
Numbers before and after 1-20
Numbers largest and smallest 1-20
Addition facts 1 Family (1+1 to 1+9)
Bible
Praise and Worship Time
Verse Memory Work
New and Old Testiment Bible Stories for Children
K5
Five-Year-Old KindergartenLanguage Phonics and Reading Arts
Recognition of name, sound, and picture of long and short vowels and consonants
Sounding of blends, one- and two-vowel words, and words with special sounds
Beginning phonics rules and special sounds
Reading of sentences and stories from twelve books containing one- and two-vowel words and special sounds
Writing
Letters, blends, words, and sentences
Name
Language
Recognition of sentences by capital letters and periods
Poetry
Thirteen poems committed to memory
Science
Plants
God's Plan for Seeds
Animals
God's Plan for Animals
God's Plan for the Seashore
Health and Human Biology
God's Plan for Me
Earth and Space
God's Plan for Weather
God's Plan for Seasons
Arithmetic
Number recognition, counting, and writing 1-100
Number concepts 1-100
Numbers before and after 1-100
Numbers largest and smallest 1-100
Counting and writing by tens to 100
Counting and writing by fives to 100
Counting and writing by twos to 100
Number sequences by ones
Using number words 1-10 and first-tenth
Value of coins and dollar bill
Telling time
Using the calendar
Days of the week
Addition facts through 10
One-step story problems in addition
Beginning subtraction
Community Helpers
Children of the World
America: Our Great Country (map studies, famous Americans and places)
Bible
Praise and Worship Time
Verse Memory Work
New and Old Testiment Bible Stories for Children
1 First Grade
Language Phonics and Reading Arts
Review of vowels, consonants, blends, one- and two-vowel words, consonant blends
Recognition and use of all phonics special sounds in reading
Spelling rules: doubling consonants, dropping silent e,changing y to i
Oral reading
Writing
Review of letter formation
Daily seatwork practice in all academic areas
Spelling and Poetry
Weekly phonics-based word list
Weekly test with phonics
Reinforcement activities
Eight poems committed to memory
Historyand Geography
This Is My America My America Grows
My America's Flag My America Talks
My America's Freedoms My America Travels
Symbols of My America My America Is BeautifulGreat People of America My America Sings
This Is My World
Mexico, Peru, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Bahamas, England, the Netherlands,
Norway, France, Germany, China, Australia, Guam, American Samoa
Science
Health and Human Biology Animals
Discovering Myself
Discovering Animals
Discovering Insects
Energy
Discovering My Toys
Plants
Discovering Plants
Seasons
Discovering Seasons
Health, Safety and Manners
Health Safety
Eating good foods At home and away from homeExercising On streets, playgrounds, water
RestPosture Manners
Care of body, clothes, home At home, school, church, public
Arithmetic
Number recognition, counting, and writing 1-1,000
Greatest and least
Counting and writing by tens, fives, twos, and threes
Number sequences
Ordinal numbers
Addition facts through 13 and three-digit addition with carrying
Subtraction facts through 13 and two-digit subtraction
Story problems
Numbers before and after by ones, twos, tens
Between numbers
Counting and combining coins
Telling time to the nearest five minutes
Recognizing odd and even numbers
English and some metric measures
Place value in ones, tens, and hundreds
Unit fractions
Reading a thermometer
Using a ruler
Multiple combinations
Concept of multiplication
Calendars
Reading pictographs and bar graphs
Developing listening skills
Roman numerals
Bible
2
Second GradeLanguage Phonics and Reading Art
Review of vowels, consonants, blends, one- and two-vowel words, consonant blends
Recognition and use of all phonics special sounds in reading
Spelling rules: doubling consonants, dropping silent e, change y to i
Oral reading
Cursive Writing
Review of letter formation
Guided creative writing
Creative writing journal
Daily seatwork practice in all academic areas
Introduction to ¾-space writing
Spelling and Poetry
Weekly phonics-based word list
Vocabulary words and definitions second semester
Weekly test
Reinforcement activities
Spelling glossary
Seven poems committed to memory
Language
Capitalization of first word in a sentence, days of the week, months of the year, special
holidays, people and places
Correct punctuation at the ends of sentences
Complete sentences, questions, and exclamations
Words using suffixes, prefixes, abbreviations, compound words, rhyming words, opposite
words, same-meaning words, singular and plural words, singular possessive words, and
contractions
Alphabetizing words and other dictionary skills
Word usage rules
Writing of complete sentences, questions, exclamations, and short stories
Writing letters and thank-you notes
Creative writing
History and Geography
America, Our Home
Our Flag
Our Patriotic Holidays
Our SongsThe People Who Built America
The Separatists
America's Indians
The Colonists
America's Pioneers
America's Cowboys
The New Americans
Tomorrow's America
Science
Plants Earth and Science
Enjoying the Plant World Enjoying the Stars and Planets
Enjoying Planet Earth
Animals
Enjoying the Animal World Matter
Enjoying the Air Around Us
Health and Human Biology
Enjoying Myself and Others
Energy Conservation
Enjoying the Air Around Us Enjoying Things That Work Together
Enjoying Things That Move
Health Safety and Manners
Posture At home and Politeness Thankfulness
Nutrition away from home Kindness Patience Exercise On streets Cheerfulness Table andRest Around water Respect telephone
Cleanliness During bad weather Thoughtfulness manners
Arithmetic
Number recognition, counting, and writing 1-10,000 and beyond
Numbers greatest and least 1-1,000Counting and writing to hundred thousands, threes to 36, fours to 48
Ordinal numbers
Addition facts through 18, column addition, four-digit addition with carrying
Subtraction facts through 18, four-digit subtraction with borrowing
Multiplication facts 0-5
Division facts 1-5
Story problems
Multiple combinations
Estimation
Rounding
Numbers before and after by ones, twos, threes, fours, fives, and tens
Counting and combining coins and bills
Telling time to the nearest minute
English and some metric measures
Drawing and measuring lines to one-half inch
Developing listening skills
Calendars
Place value to thousands
Unit fractions
Making change
Reading a thermometer
Reading pictographs, bar graphs, and line graphs
Roman numerals
Bible
3 Third Grade
Language Phonics and Reading Arts
Review of all phonics rules
Oral reading
Reading comprehension
Cursive Writing
Review of cursive writing formation ¾-space high
Creative writing
Spelling and Poetry
Weekly phonics-based word list with vocabulary
Sentence dictation using spelling words
Reinforcement activities
Nine poems committed to memory
Language
Writing Process
Complete sentences
Punctuation and capitalization rules
Creative writing, friendly letters
Grammar
Recognition of simple nouns, subjects, verbs, adjectives
Word usage
Forming plurals and common contractions
Recognition of antonyms, homonyms, synonyms
Dictionary skills
History and Geography
Continents and oceans of the world
Study of world geography
States of the United States
Study of our American heritage through the lives of great people
Squanto
U.S. Grant
William PennLouisa May Alcott
Ben Franklin
Booker T. Washington
George Washington
George Washington Carver
Thomas Jefferson
Laura Ingalls Wilder
Daniel Boone
Billy Sunday
Noah Webster
Science
Plants Health and Human Biology
Exploring the Plant World
Wounderfully Made
Animals Earth and Space
Exploring the World of Vertebrates
Exploring the Ocean
Exploring the World of Invertebrates
Exploring the Weather
Conservation
Exploring the Desert, the Ocean, the Pond, the Forest, the Farmer's Field
Health, Safety and Manners
Health Safety Manners
Posture, Exercise Fire, Water safety Hospitality
Nutrition, Diet Home, Play safety Proper instructions
Cleanliness Street safety Telephone manners
Fighting disease First aid Courtesy and respect
Arithmetic
Recognition of the place value of numbers
Addition facts and checking addition problems with carrying
Subtraction facts and checking subtraction problems with borrowing
Multiplication tables 0-12 and multiplication problems with carrying
How to show a multiplication fact six ways
Division tables 1-12 and working and checking a division problem
Terminology for four processes
English and metric measures
Telling time
Roman numerals 1-1,000
Using a ruler
Solving story problems with up to four steps
Recognizing and solving number sentences
Converting measures and solving measurement equations
Recognizing and working with greater than (>) and less than (<)
Counting money and solving money problems using the decimal point correctly
Solving problems containing parentheses
Fraction terminology and basic understanding of fractions
Averaging numbers
Reading a thermometer
Recognizing geometric shapes
Finding the unknown number an equation
Bible
4 Fourth Grade
Language Reading and Literature Arts
Oral reading
Reading comprehension
Speed reading
Vocabulary building
Penmanship
Review of cursive writing formation through skill practice, word games, original
composition, and sentence dictation
Spelling and Poetry
Weekly word lists based on phonics and spelling rules, challenging words, and
Vocabulary
Reinforcement activities
Six poems committed to memory
Language
Writing Process
Sentence structure, Kinds of sentences
Punctuation; Capitalization facts
Abbreviations, Possessive words
Letters – business, friendly, post cards, thank-you notes
Gathering information
Writing with details
Writing an encyclopedia report
Writing book reports
Creative Writing
Dictionary skills
Grammar
Recognizing and using all eight parts of speech
Diagraming verbs, nouns, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs
Correctly using troublesome words
History and Geography
Map study
The French and Indian War
State history for six weeks
The American War for Independence
Geography
Eight documents memorized
Building a New Nation
The Years of Discovery
Our Nation Grows
The Years of Conquest
The Civil War
The First Americans
New Frontiers
The English Come to America
An Age of Progress
The New England Colonies
Beyond Our Boundaries
The Middle and Southern Colonies
The World Wars
A Picture of Colonial Life
Time for Freedom and Responsibility
The Great Awakening
Science
Plants Energy
Plants: Provision for Man and Beast Energy: Sound and Hearing
Animals Earth and Space
Insects: Miniature Marvels of Creation Geology: Planet Earth
Birds: Winged Wonders Oceanography: Wonders of the Sea
Astronomy: Consider the Heavens
Matter
Matter: Water, Air, and Weather
Health Physical Fitness Personal Hygiene
Your Body Framework
A Winning Smile
The Muscle Builder
Your Body Cover
Your Breathing Machine
Keys to Good Grooming
Interpersonal Relationships
A Healthier You
Arithmetic
Place value of whole numbers and decimals Factoring
Mastery of fundamental operations Divisibility rules
Story problems Introduction to decimals
Estimating answers Making change
English and metric measures Reading a thermometer
Converting measures within the same system Solving equations using addition and
and solving measurement equations subtraction axioms
Roman numerals Graphs and scale drawing
Addition, subtraction, and multiplication Basic geometric shapes
involving fractions Perimeter and area
Estimation Using an English and metric ruler
Averaging Time lapse
Bible
5 Fifth Grade
Language Reading and Literature Arts
Oral reading Sentences and sentence parts
Speed reading
Vocabulary building
Penmanship
Review of cursive writing formation through skill practice, word exercises, original
composition, and sentence dictation
Spelling and PoetryWeekly word lists on various categories and vocabulary study
Six poems committed to memory
Language
Writing Process
Sentences and sentence parts
Punctuation, capitalization, and quotation facts
Synonyms, antonyms, homonyms
Dictionary, thesaurus skills
Letters – business, friendly, post cards, thank-you notes
Making an outline
Writing a library research paper
Creative writing
Grammar
Recognizing and diagramming all eight parts of speech
Recognizing and diagramming complements
Word usage
History and Geography
Eight documents reviewed
Geography facts: terms, rivers, capitals, mountains, climate, deserts
Introduction to History and Geography
Fertile Crescent: Cradle of Civilization
Ancient Middle East
Middle East Today
Countries of Central and Southern Asia
Countries of the Far East
Egypt: The Gift of the Nile
Africa Long Ago
Africa in Modern Times
Ancient Greece: Home of Beauty
Rome: Ruler of the Ancient World
Christianity: The Greatest Force in History
England and the British Isles
Other Countries of Western Europe
Countries of Eastern Europe
"Land Down Under" and Beyond
Science
Animals Matter
Amazing Mammals Water, Air, Weather
A Variety of Vertebrates Earth and Space
Energy Geology: Treasures of the Earth
Force and motion Oceanography: The Living Sea
Electricity and magnetism Astronomy: The Nine Planets, Stars, Moon, Sun
Engines: steam, internal combustion, Conservation: Preserving the Sea
jet propulsion, rocket engines Light
Health
Circulatory System Digestive System
Life in the Blood Digestion Begins in the Mouth
Your Hardy Heart Through the Esophagus, Stomach, Small
Pathways through Your Body Intestine, Liver, Pancreas
Absorbing Digested Foods
Nutrition and Physical FitnessA Balanced Diet Interpersonal Relationships
Daily Food Guide Social Acceptance
Maintaining Your Proper Weight Mental Awareness
Raising Your Rate of Metabolism Spiritual Warfare
Aerobic Endurance
Muscular Strength and Flexibility
Arithmetic
Place value of whole numbers and decimals
Mastery of fundamental operations
Story problems
Problem-solving strategies
Roman numerals
Measuring to the quarter inch
Calculating time
Making change
Rounding off whole numbers, money, decimals, and mixed numbers
English and metric measures
Converting measures within the same system and solving measurement equations
Addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division involving fractions
Finding parts of a whole
Divisibility rules
Probability
Addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division involving decimals
Introduction to percentsReading a thermometer
Negative temperature
Converting from a Celsius scale to a Fahrenheit scale and from a Fahrenheit scale to a Celsius scale
Solving algebraic equations
Graphs and scale drawings
Graphing ordered pairs
Reading schedules and charts
Basic geometric shapes
Perimeter and area
Squares and square roots
Estimation
Bible
6 Sixth Grade
Language Reading and Literature Arts
Oral reading
Reading comprehension
Speed reading
Vocabulary building
Dictionary skills
Penmanship
Review of cursive writing formation
Practice penmanship through creative writing and word exercises
Spelling and Poetry
Weekly word lists by prefixes, and root words
Vocabulary study from the word lists
Eight poems committed to memory
Dictionary skills
Language
Writing Process
Writing, comparison/contrasts, poetry, outlines, library research paper, narration, journal
Sentences and sentence parts
Fragments, run-ons
Punctuation and capitalization rules
Library skills
Student Writer's Handbook
Grammar
Recognizing, diagramming, and using all eight parts of speech
History and Geography
Advanced map studies
Geography facts, including the 50 statesEight documents reviewed
North America
Canada
United States
Mexico and Central America
South America: Continent of Natural Resources Nations of South America
United States History: The Colonial Heritage, New World's First Republic, U.S. in the
Twentieth Century
Science
Plants Earth and Space
Plentiful Plants Our Fascination Earth
God's Great Universe
Animals Exploring Space
Observing Invertebrates
Chemistry
Matter and Chemistry (atoms, elements, and compounds)
Health
Safety First
Anatomy
First Steps of First Aid
Endocrine System
Your Changing Body
Respiratory System
An Active Lifestyle
Muscular System
Your Body's Defenses
Skeletal System
Your Communication System
Lymphatic System
Drugs–Use and Abuse
Nervous System
A Healthy Spirit
Skin
Arithmetic
Place value of whole numbers and decimals
Maintaining skills in fundamental operations
Story problems/Problem-solving strategies
Roman numerals
Rounding off
English and metric measures
Converting measures within the same system and solving measurement equations
Adding, subtracting, and multiplying measures
Prime factoring
Fundamental operations involving fractions and decimals
Estimation
Ratios and proportion
Percent
Probability
Graphs and scale drawing/Introduction to statistics
Basic geometric shapes
Perimeter, area, and circumference
Bisecting angles
Reading thermometers
Converting Celsius to Fahrenheit and Fahrenheit to Celsius
Equation solving/Introduction to basic algebra
Latitude, longitude, and time zones
Banking, finding interest, and installment buying
Reading electric and gas meters
Bible
7 Seventh Grade
Language Grammar Arts
Book reports
Capitalization rules Research paper
Punctuation rules Writing style
Kinds of sentences and diagramming Letter writing
Eight parts of speech and their uses
Diagramming eight parts of speech
Vocabulary, Spelling, Poetry
Sentence Structure Vocabulary lessons
Weekly spelling lessons
Composition
Eight poems memorized
The writing process
Outlining
Literature
The library Reading for enjoyment stories and poems by such authors as Frost, Dickinson, Kipling, Bunyan, Alcott, Luther, Dickens and Defoe.
History and Geography
The Beginning The English Nation
From Sumer to Canaan An Age of Exploration
Down to Egypt The United States
Israel and Its Land France in the Modern Age
According to His Will Science & Industry in the Modern Age
Greece: A Drama in Two Acts The New World of Classics
Rome before Christ The British Empire
Rome after Christ World War I and the Rise of Communism
Early Church History Before and During World War II
Islam versus Christendom The Cold War Era
From Empire to Feudalism Era of Change
An Age of Darkness Eastern Hemisphere Geography
The Protestant Reformation Parliamentary procedure
Post-Reformation Europe Current events
Science
Invitation to Science Knowing the Weather
Plants: Provision for Life The Science of Classification
Your Wonderful Body Through the Microscope
Introduction to Physical Science Science and Creation
The Amazing Atmosphere Insects and Other Arthropods
Health
The New You: Social and Mental Health
Personal Appearance: An Expression of the Real You
Drug Abuse: It's Deadly
Spiritual Fitness: It's Your Choice
Mathematics
Maintaining skills in fundamental operations Basic Geometric concepts
(see grades 4-6) Development and use of formulas
Fractions and decimals Reading and constructing graphs
Factoring Introduction to statistics
Problem-solving strategies Introduction to algebra
Factorial Negative numbers
Ratio and proportion Powers and roots
Application of percent Time zones, latitude, and longitude
Personal finances Introduction to plane and solid geometry
Metric system Pythagorean rule
Probability Sine, cosine, tangent
Bible
8 Eigth Grade
Language Grammar Arts
Research paper
Capitalization rules
Writing style
Punctuation rules
Kinds of sentences and diagramming Vocabulary, Spelling, Poetry
Eight parts of speech and their uses Vocabulary lessons
Diagramming eight parts of speech Weekly spelling lessons
Sentence structure Nine poems memorized
Composition Literature
Manuscript form Reading for enjoyment stories and poems by
The writing process Such authors as Stuart, Whittier, Longfellow,
The library Frost, Browning, Hawthorne, Sandburg
Outlining
Summaries
Book reports
Paragraphs
Descriptions
History
A New World to Explore The Civil War and Reconstruction
The First English Colonies The Age of Industry
New Colonies The Gilded Age
Life in Colonial America Growing into Greatness
Preparation for Independence Into the Twentieth Century
Home of the Brave The Rise of Big Government
Land of the Free A World at War
From the Appalachians to the Rockies Time for Freedom and Responsibility
The Jacksonian Era Troubled Times for America
The Blessings of Technology Which Way, America?
The Second Great Awakening Western Hemisphere Geography
Its Impact Current events
Education and Culture National, State, and Local Government
The Promise of the West
Science
Consider the Heavens Birds: Efficiency in Motion
Man and the Universe Science vs. Evolution
Solid Matter Motion Magnets and Magnetism
Fluids in Motion Electrons and Electricity
Heat Molecules in Motion
Health
Physical Fitness: The Active Life Safety First: Then Basic Aid
Good Nutrition: Eating for Energy Spiritual Growth: A Personal Challenge
Disease: Today's Battle against It
Mathematic
Pre-Algebra Statistics and probability
Maintaining skills in fundamental Business math
operations (see grades 4-7) Earning income
Principles of mathematics Banking
English and metric measures Stocks and bonds
Basic algebraic concepts Insurance
Signed numbers Basic plane and solid geometric concepts
Powers and roots Properties of geometric figures
Like and unlike terms Constructing geometric figures
Multiplying and dividing Perimeter, area, surface area, and volume
monomials Pythagorean rule
Word Problem-solving strategies Sine, cosine, and tangent
Reading and constructing graphs Scientific notation
Graphical scale drawings
Bible