vCurriculum
Elementary School Curriculum
Grade Specific Curriculum:
Kindergarten
1st Grade
2nd Grade
3rd Grade
4th Grade
5th Grade
Thank you for your interest in St. Peter’s Lutheran School. We opened in 1993 with Preschool through 4th grades. This year we have 245 students in Preschool through 8th grade. Our school is owned and operated as a mission of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church.
SCIENCE
Elementary students have science three times a week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Each class comes to the Science room for a 45-minute period. Our program consists of a "hands-on" approach to science. Students have the opportunity not only to hear about science concepts but they are able to experience them.The bulk of our curriculum is from GEMS (Great Explorations in Math and Science). The Lawrence Hall of Science at UC Berkeley developed the GEMS series. Each unit contains experiments and background information for that topic. We supplement our entire curriculum with a Biblical world view. Since the majority of work in Science is "hands-on", students work in cooperative groups. Each student keeps a science journal in which to record data, key terms and helpful information. Participation and cooperation are extremely important in Science. A grade is given for applying skills and understanding concepts, while a separate grade is given for participation. Forty percent of the academic grade, for 4th and 5th grade students, is based on test scores.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Elementary meets twice a week. Our physical education program covers a wide range of activities under the theme, "Movement Madness". It has a focus on aerobic conditioning, age appropriate skills, and games. We work toward a peaceful playground and atmosphere. Good sportsmanship and encouragment is a focus. Mrs. Peggy Bunting, our P.E. teacher, uses our full-size indoor gym, outdoor track, outdoor blacktop, and grass field.
BAND
This year our band program is open to students in grades 4-8. It is taught by Vivace Music Studio.
COMPUTERS
Each of our primary classes is equipped with a computer. Grades 4–8, will use the computer lab twice a week. We focus on keyboarding, word-processing, thinking and research skills. Our computer lab was updated this year with all new Dell PC's, printer networking and internet access. Our computer teacher is Mrs. Kim McCleary.
LIBRARY
The students use our full service library on a weekly basis. The Librarian is Ms. Lynn Stender.
CHAPEL
All students meet in the sanctuary for Chapel every Wednesday at 8:40 a.m. The message is delivered by one of the St. Peter's pastors, a visiting pastor or one of the school classes.
VICTORY DRILL
This program is an excellent phonics program in which a student is able to progress at his or her own rate. It requires nightly practice at home and daily testing at school. It is used in grades 1-4 only.MATH DRILL
MATH DRILL
This program is an approach to learn basic math facts in grades 1-4. Practice is done at home with student testing twice a week at school.
FRIDAY NOTES Friday notes are sent home each Friday by the classroom teachers. These are a major means of communication between the parents and the teachers keeping parents aware of events in the classroom.
SCHEDULE
School starts at 8:30 a.m.
Recess and snack:
Grades 1-4 9:50- 10:05 a.m.
Grades 5-8 10:25 - 10:40 a.m.
Lunch:
Grades 1-4 11:50 - 12:30 p.m.
Grades 5-8 12:15 - 12:50 p.m.
School ends at:
Grades 1-5 3:00 p.m.
Grades 6-8 3:10 p.m.
Middle School Curriculum
Grade Specific Curriculum:
6th Grade
7th Grade
8th Grade
Thank you for your interest in St. Peter’s School. We opened in 1993 with Preschool through 4th grades. This year we have 257 students in Preschool through 8th grade. Our school is owned and operated as a mission of St . Peter’s Lutheran Church.
BIBLE
6th grade will be using the Voyages curriculum. It s a Christ centered curriculum that provides students with optimal opportunity to grow in their relationship of faith and life with Jesus Christ. The sixth grade materials fo the Voyages series are designed primarily to teach children about key concepts of faith such as law, gospel, confession, repentance, forgiveness and grace while focusing specifically on the person, attributes and work of Jesus Christ.
7th grade will be using a book called Route 66 for Bible. This is a trek through the 66 books of the Bible. Each book of the Bible is taught, with lessons focusing on providing a broad sweep of the books while asking the students to think about how the Bibles teachings affect their choices for their own lives. Students will be expected to do memory work as well as written assignments.
8th grade will be using Wise Up! for Bible. Wise Up! is based on the book of Proverbs. Wise Up! is a thought-provoking book that challenges students to apply the wisdom in Proverbs to their everyday lives.
LANGUAGE ARTS
6th grade will be using the DC Heath Reading series I Touched the Sun. We will be reading selections in class and as homework. We will also be doing a reading unit on AESOP’s Fables and Favorite Greek Myths to coincide with our Ancient Greek history. The novels we will be reading as a class are: Number the Stars, Rascal, and Sing Down the Moon.
7th and 8th grade students will be using the Prentice Hall Literature books. The units we will be covering are: short stories, drama, non-fiction, folklore and tall tales, poetry and novels. Generally speaking, we will read one or two selections per week. Reading quizzes will be given each morning a reading selection is due. Both 7th and 8th grade will also be reading novels. The 7th grade will read Walk Two Moons, the 8th grade will read The Hiding Place and Cry of Courage.
English in all three grades will entail a great deal of writing. We will be studying and applying the steps of the writing process to our written work. In addition, we will be studying grammar elements, including proper usage and parts of speech.
Spelling in the 6th grade centers around the ACSI Spelling series. Students will have homework and weekly tests as well as working in the workbook.
There is no spelling text for the 7th and 8th graders. Weekly spelling lists will be generated for the student’s written work and textbooks. Students are expected to check and self-correct their spelling on all written work.
All middle school students will be assigned outside reading. Assignments will be made about a month in advance. Students can read books from the school library, the public library, or books purchased from book orders or stores. We encouraged you to help your child to develop a habit of spending 10-15 minutes per night reading the outside reading book.
HISTORY
In 6th grade we study Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, Classical Greece, the Roman Empire, and other ancient civilizations.
In 7th grade we study medieval societies, Europe during the Renaissance, the Reformation, and the Age of Exploration. We will also study European History from 1600-1789.
In 8th grade we study American History reviewing the American Revolution, the Constitution and establishing a new nation. We will also study the Civil War, World War I, World War II and other events through the 1990’s.
MATH
Sixth graders use the California Math by Scott Foresman for math. The objectives to be mastered this year include: using multiple problem-solving strategies, decimals, percents, fractions, measurement, ratios and proportions. In addition, students will learn to apply the principles of problem solving to their every lives.
Seventh grade math is Addison-Wesley Foundations of Algebra and Geometry. The text is an in-depth study of the basic principles of algebra and geometry and will be supplemented with units on fractions and decimals. Algebra I will also be offered.
The eighth grade text for math is Addison-Wesley’s Focus on Algebra. This course is a comprehensive study of algebraic functions including linear and quadratic equations, linear inequalities, polynomials and rational and radical equations.
SCIENCE
The Middle School science textbook series is Science Plus-Science and Technology. This series includes studies of earth, life and physical science. Each grade level will be exposed to all three disciplines of science. In science we will integrate spelling, math, and English through projects, reports and homework.
COMPUTER
Middle School students will be in the computer lab twice a week throughout the year. The computer curriculum includes basic keyboarding and word processing as well as other special topics, which may include spreadsheets, slide show presentations, the Internet, and desktop publishing.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Middle School will have Physical Education 4 days a week. Physical fitness, team sports, and games are used to develop athletic skills.
