Elementary Curriculum
| Click a subject for more information | |||||||
| Reading/Literature | Handwriting | Arabic/AFL | Physical Education | English Grammar | |||
| Science/Health | Islamic Religion | Library | Spelling | Mathematics | |||
| Art | Computers | Composition | Social Studies | Music | |||
The classrooms for grades 1 to 5 are self-contained so that each student remains in his/her homeroom with one teacher for most of the day. Class sizes for each room range from 19 to 25. Since our academic programs are demanding and standards are high, our experienced teachers use a wide variety of methods and groupings in an effort to meet the learning requirements, but also to offer a challenging, exciting, and fun experience for our students.
Language
The goal of the Language Arts program is to create students with the abilities to observe, organize, explore, think critically, and problem-solve. These goals are attained through a reading program which uses literature as its core. From folk literature to modern classics, students develop and refine comprehension, language, vocabulary, decoding, phonics, and critical thinking skills. Focusing on the complete writing process, the students learn the role of reader through writing, developing pre-writing skills, revision, editing and spelling. Included in this area is the study of oral and written language, listening, grammar, spelling and handwriting. Whole class instruction with individual and small group assistance allows each student to complete the grade level curriculum. All instruction takes place within the self-contained classroom.
Mathematics
It is our belief that all students, whether college bound or not, need a thorough foundation and knowledge of mathematics in order to function and to excel in our increasingly complex world. Our goal for the elementary program is that students will have a strong foundation in the basics of mathematics, which will provide him/her for the advanced mathematics of middle school and high school. Competency in addition; subtraction; multiplication and division of whole numbers; fractions; decimals; and geometry is essential. All instruction takes place within the heterogeneously grouped self-contained classroom.
Social Studies
The Social Studies program focuses on the major themes which reflect our study of the environment and ourselves. Our goal is to give students the opportunity to learn about themselves and the world around them through a study of their families, communities, different countries, Kuwait, the U.S.A., the world, as well as current and historical events.
Science
The science curriculum is composed of earth, life, physical science, and health strands. Emphasis is placed on the science process skills of inferring, observing, predicting, classifying, identifying, comparing, communicating, measuring and analyzing. Whenever possible, hands on experience is incorporated as part of the curriculum.
| Grade | Science Curriculum |
| 1 | Matter Everywhere, Properties of Matter, Solids, Liquids, Gases, Changes in Matter, Solids in Mixtures, Solids in Water, How Matter Changes, Forces and Motions, Things Move, Measuring Movement, The Way Things Move, Magnets and Sound, Things Magnets Move, Magnets -Poles, Things Magnets Pull Through, Moving Things make Sound, Explore Sounds, Plants are Living Things, Senses, Living/Non-living, Plants are living things, Plant Parts/Function, Roots, Stems/Leaves, Seeds, Grow/Change, The Sky and Weather, Sun, Moon and Stars, Planets, Weather, Weather Changes, Spring/Summer, Fall/Winter,Earth Resources, Rocks/Minerals, Soil, Water, Air, Living Things are Resources, Taking Care of the Earth, Pollution, Earth Resources. |
| 2 | Nature of Matter,Matter all around, Three states of Matter, Changing Matter, Energy (Heat,Light,Sound), Forces and Machines, Pushes and Pulls, Forces and Change, Levers, Ramps, All about Magnets, Everyday Magnets, Plants are Living Things, Plants make New Plants, Everyone needs Plants, All kinds of Animals, How Animals meed their Needs, Growth and Change, Where Plants and Animals live, Life in Woodland Forest, Life in Rainforest, Life in Desert, Life in Artic, Life in fresh water Habitat, Life in salt water Habitat, Caring for Earth's Habitats, Weather and Earth Changes, Water and our Weather, Earth can change slowly, Earth yesterday and today, Clues in Rocks, Putting Clues together, Life on Earth changes. |
| 3 | Forces and Motion, How Things Move, Motion and Speed, Forces, Changes in Motion, Work and Machines, Doing Work, Levers and Pulleys, More Simple Machines, Matter and Energy, Properties of Matter, Comparing - Solids/Liquids/Gases, Building Blocks of Matter, Energy, How Heat Travels, How Light Travels, Properties of Sound, Pathways for Electricity, Plants, How Living Things are Alike, Needs of Plants, Life Cycle of Plants, Animals, Needs of Animals, Growth, Parts, Kinds of Animals, Relations Among Plants and Animals, Ecosystems, Food Chaing/web, Roles of Plants/Animals, Ecosystems in Balance, Competition of Living Things, Aaptation for Survival, Changing Ecosystems. Rocks and Minerals, Soil Types, Fossils and Fuels, Water in Sea/Land, Saving our Resources, Land Forms, Slow Change, Fast Change, The Weather, Water Cycle, Destructive Weather, How the Earth Moves, Phases of the Moon, The Sun and Planets. |
| 4 | Properties of Matter, Matter, Measuring Matter, Matter Composition, Physical Change, Chemical Change, Forms of Energy, Motion/Forces/Energy, Energy and Tools, Heat, Light, Sound, Electricity and Magnetism, Static Electricity, Current Electricity, Electricity and Magnets, The World of Living Things, Cells and Living Things, Classification of Organisms, Organisms of the Past, Organisms and Where they Live, Changes in Ecosystems, Plants, Plant Parts, Plant Growth and Reproduction, Animals as Living Things, Animal Characteristics, Invertebrates, Vertebrates, Life Process, Organ Systems, Development and Reproduction, Animal Survival, Earth History, Rocks, Fossils, Shaping the Earth's Surface, The Story of Soil, Inside the Earth, Earth/Moon/Sun, Solar System and Beyond, Earth's Weather, Water Everywhere, Follow the Water, Motion in the Ocean, Go with the Flow, Water Please, Earth's Weather, Air/Wind/Atmosphere, Weather and Climate. |
| 5 | Properties of Matter and Energy, Physical Properties, Elements and Compounds, Solids/Liquids/Gases, Mixtures and Solutions, Chemical Changes, Acids/Bases, Matter and Energy, Motion and Energy, Newton's 1st Law, Newton's 2nd and 3rd Laws, Newton's Law of Gravitation, Sound Waves, Pitch Loudness, Reflection and Absorption, Light, Light and Mirrors, Light and Lenses, Light and Color, Invisible Light, Earth, Earth's Changing Crust, Landforms, Minerals of the Earth's Crust, Earth's Rocks and Soil, Earth's Atmosphere, Earth's Fresh Water, Earth's Oceans, Energy Resources, Earth and its Neighbors, Solar System, Atmosphere, Air Temperature, Water/Vapor/Humidity, Clouds and Precipitation, Air Pressure, Wind, Air Masses, Fronts, Severe Storms, Climates, Basic Unit of Life, Kingdoms of Life, Plant Structure, Roots/ Stems/Leaves, Plant Resources and Adaptation, Plants without Seeds, Plants with Seeds, Animal Traits, Animal Adaptations, Living Things, Interaction in an Ecosystem, Interaction among Living Things, How Populations Survive, Cycles of Life, Biomes, How Ecosystems Change. |
Arabic/AFL/Islamic Religion
Arabic language and Arabic as a foreign language are provided for all students in grades 1 to 5. Islamic Religion is required by the Kuwait Ministry of Education, two periods per week for all Moslem students in either Arabic or English.
Art
Students experience a wide variety of media with an emphasis on the elements of art in order to express their individual ideas in visual form. In addition to drawing and painting, students experiment with various media such as linoleum, block printing, weaving and ceramics.
Computer
There are two areas of emphasis in the Elementary computer curriculum. First, students will develop all the basic computer manipulation skills necessary for later work. Second, students will use the computer to assist with their English language skills (ESL). By the end of grade five, students will have developed a working knowledge of basic computer hardware. They will be able to use correct terminology when referring to a computer. They will be familiar with the manipulation of the Windows operating system to manage files and folders and share documents. They will be able to interact with the operating system to make the computer work for them. They will correctly use the mouse and keyboard. They will be familiar with word processing, spreadsheets, database concepts, drawing, graphics, and publishing programs. They will have developed skills to use more than one program at a time and be able to copy/paste and transfer information between them. They will be able to use the Internet correctly, safely, and wisely, for searching and research. They will understand that a computer can be connected to other computers in the same room, building, or anywhere in the world. Students should be well prepared for Middle School, having a sound understanding of the use of a computer as a tool to accomplish a task. Students will be able to use the keyboard correctly, with a typing speed of 20 words per minute with less than 5 errors.
Utilizing worksheets, assignments and projects in cooperation with classroom teachers, students will use the computer to further enhance their skills in the English language. This will receive emphasis in all grades but particularly in lower Elementary where the language is new. In lower grades the emphasis is on vocabulary, tenses, reading and some writing skills. In upper grades, the stress is on correct sentence structure,verbs, grammar, and writing skills.
Students in Grades 1 to 5 also take part in Star Math and Star Reading programs. These programs allow teachers to assess the math and reading levels of their students.
| Grade | Computer Curriculum |
| 1 | In grade one, students continue the skills that were introduced in Kindergarten. They learn basic hardware components and enhance their ability to open, run and close programs. They are introduced to a greater variety of application programs and begin to write documents using a word processor. Much emphasis is placed on the development of the English language (words and sentences) as well as numerical skills. |
| 2 | In grade two, students learn that more than one program can be used to accomplish a task. They are introduced to more computer terminology and Windows skills. ESL continues to be a key component with students performing writing exercises, word and sentence structure and grammar. Students at this stage are learning that a computer is tool to help perform tasks, in much the same way as a pencil or a dictionary. |
| 3 | Students in grade three become more involved with Windows terminology and techniques. They learn how to find their way around on a computer, how to find files and folders and basic housekeeping duties. English language and math skills continue to be emphasized with many worksheets. Students are introduced to the Internet and learn how to perform basic searches. Skills learned this year are further developed in grade four, allowing two years for students to master basic computer operating skills. |
| 4 | Grade four students continue the development of basic computer skills covered in grade three. In this year, they learn Windows management techniques and terminology. Use of the Internet is continued, but now they learn about the hazards of the Internet and what to do to protect both themselves and their computers. Basic network concepts are introduced and students learn how to share information, working cooperatively with each other. English language skills are emphasized with students doing much writing using a variety of programs. They learn how to use a scanner and develop more sophisticated terminology. |
| 5 | Grade five is a preparation for Middle School computer classes. Students will continue to develop English language skills by improving vocabulary, doing more sophisticated writing and improving their use of grammar and proper sentence structure. Students will continue to use multiple programs along with the Internet, to create individual and cooperative projects. Students will develop their capabilities of using multimedia in their work. Students will be introduced to database concepts using Microsoft Works and will combine all Works programs with Internet research to produce a project chosen by the teacher. As well, students are introduced to a formal study of proper keyboard and typing techniques, using the program "All the Right Type". |
Library
The library program includes scheduled class periods with direct instruction by the librarian as well as individualized guidance for students utilizing the library independently.
Music
Students in grades 1 to 5 receive weekly music instruction from the music teacher. Specific music elements taught include rhythm, melody, harmony, form, and expression. Activities include listening, singing, use of rhythm and melody instruments, compositions, and movement. The course adopts a global approach to music appreciation in keeping with the international makeup of the student body.
Physical Education
The Physical Education curriculum encourages physical, motor, and mental development as well as body and spatial awareness. The course teaches basic locomotion skills, fitness activities, and lead up games that enhance the learning of team sports. This leads to and promotes a healthy attitude towards competition. The overall goal of the PE program is to promote physical fitness to support significant mental activity.