Elementary School (K-5)

LOWER SCHOOL BIBLE

Our kindergarten to fifth grade Bible program helps to bridge the gap between head knowledge and heart knowledge. Through integrated daily lessons, students will learn foundational Bible truths that are relevant to all people for all time. When the Word of God changes students’ minds, hearts, and actions, they can live like Christ and share the truth of the gospel with others.

Kindergarten: Exploring God’s Word

1st Grade: Truths for Life

2nd Grade: Truths for Life

3rd Grade: Truths for Life

4th Grade: The Pathway of Promise

5th Grade: The Fullness of Time

Supplemental Curriculum, Materials, and Activities: Children’s Bible, Bi-Weekly Chapel

LOWER SCHOOL LANGUAGE ARTS

A strong foundation in reading, writing, and communication is built by connecting skills to provide students with a solid English language arts foundation. Students practice and apply skills through proofreading activities, giving them practice in analyzing sentences, identifying grammatical errors, and correcting errors. A combination of whole-class, small-group, and one-on-one instruction is utilized.

Key Concepts

Kindergarten: Sound Sense (Focus on Fives)

1st Grade: Phonics and English

2nd Grade: Writing and Grammar

3rd Grade: Achieving Effective Communication

4th Grade: Encourage Literacy Development

5th Grade: Master Foundational Grammar and Writing Skills

Supplemental Curriculum, Materials, and Activities: Science of Reading Scope and Sequence/Pacing Guide, Guided Readers Learning Centers, BrainPop, Flat Stanley

LOWER SCHOOL SCIENCE

Students learn to apply science to life by building foundational knowledge and skills with scaffolded instruction, spiral review, and hands-on activities. Explorations give students opportunities to observe, classify, measure data, analyze data, make inferences, and communicate their findings. Classroom lessons are enriched through collaborative STEAM activities.

Key Concepts

Kindergarten: Life Science, Earth Science, Physical Science

1st Grade - 5th Grade: Life Science, Earth-Space Science, Physical Science,

Problem-Solving with a Purpose, Science Processing Skills

Supplemental Curriculum, Materials, and Activities: Interactive Notebooks, Brain Pop, Annual Science Fair

LOWER SCHOOL MATH

The math curriculum equips students to master foundational math skills through hands-on manipulatives and sequential teaching. A variety of materials, tools, and strategies are used to expand their understanding of domains, numbers and operations in base ten, measurement and date, and more.

Key Concepts

Kindergarten: Interactive, manipulative-based learning to build

mathematical foundations

1st Grade - 5th Grade: Place Value, Addition, Subtraction, Geometry, Time, Money,

Measurement, Fractions, and more

Supplemental Curriculum, Materials, and Activities: Interactive and Manipulative- Based Lessons and Rotation Centers, Interactive Notebooks, Brain Pop

LOWER SCHOOL SOCIAL STUDIES

Heritage Studies guides students in analyzing and evaluating historical events, world cultures, and primary sources from a biblical worldview. Lessons include activities that develop and strengthen 21st century skills through a variety of features, including graphic organizers, reinforcement pages, biographies, map skills, and study guides.

Key Concepts

Kindergarten: All About Me, Family and Community

1st Grade: Family and Community

2nd Grade: Community and Government

3rd Grade: World Religions

4th Grade: Founding of America to World War II

5th Grade: American History (Late 1800’s - 2009)

Supplemental Curriculum, Materials, and Activities: Interactive Notebooks, Brain Pop

LOWER SCHOOL ENRICHMENTS

DCA is fortunate to provide a wide range of enrichment opportunities for our lower school students. We know that by having these classes in our school curricula, our students build skills that improve their work in other subjects. In addition, these enrichment classes provide students with further physical and creative outlets throughout their days.

Music
French
Library
Physical Education
STEAM activities in the classroom

LOWER SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS

Biblically integrated curriculum
Bi-weekly Chapel services
Chromebooks for all grades to integrate technology skills into daily learning
NC Standards integrated with the BJU curriculum
Student projects incorporating learning objectives
Field trips and special events that align with curriculum
Academic Support and Enrichment through MTSS