The kindergarten room at Nittany Christian is filled with excitement each day. Students can experience a variety of learning centers and engage in free play when they first enter the classroom. They then begin their day with calendar time, prayer and praise time, singing, and sharing time. The rest of the day is filled with Bible, math, reading, science, social studies, and writing. The students are introduced to Bible stories, both the familiar ones as well as many that may be new to the students, and are taught how to apply them to their own lives. A variety of crafts and activities accompany the Bible lessons. The students are introduced to problem solving, number recognition, simple computation skills, and other math skills. In science, the students explore some of the wonders of Creation that they find fascinating, such as seasons and weather, our animal friends, plant growth, and the features of the land on which we live. Kindergartners learn how to become good citizens in socialstudies. They are being prepared to enjoy and live well in whatever groups they may find themselves.
The Kindergarten day is not just about reading and writing. They have ample opportunity to play, relax, exercise, socialize, and even enjoy a snack when their energy level ebbs. The students participate in music, art, physical education, library, and health. Along with the daily classroom activities, the curriculum is augmented with field trips, guest speakers and crafts.
The kindergarteners progress into first grade with the academic ability to succeed. But, more importantly, they are nurtured and loved and given the self-confidence they need to be able to succeed in first grade.
Our curriculum is a spiral curriculum that allows students to build upon what was learned in the previous grade. From first grade through fifth grade, the student’s day is filled with Bible, reading, English, handwriting, science, social studies, and math. Each week the students have a full period of physical education, art, music, health, and library. There is a weekly chapel along with special assemblies throughout the year.
A favorite of all students is recess and lunch. Though these are fun times, being in the classroom can be just as fun. The first graders study Africa and create African houses, eat an African feast, and learn about African culture. The first grade room is always hustling with excitement and activity. The students are eager to read and to have the teacher read to them.
As students enter second grade, they know that a challenge lies ahead of them for the school year. Every year the second grade class creates a “book worm” based on the number of pages they read during the year. The goal is to read as many pages as possible. In the meantime, the students love to see the bookworm grow and try to exceed the last year’s total. Mammals, insects, reptiles, and birds fill the classroom throughout the year as students learn about these subjects during science. The students are involved in a plethora of activities to stimulate learning and convey the necessary information. A favorite amongst second graders is their unit on Mexico. They learn about the culture, geography, and people of Mexico. They make serapes, Aztec shields, a Mexican book, and even learn some Spanish. The unit is culminated with a trip to the local Mexican restaurant.
Third grade is a time of focusing on how things work. The students learn about inventions and actually have an “Invention Convention.” Students fine-tune their reading skills and writing skills. They publish various works throughout the year. At the end of the year they share some of their writings with parents and guests at an “author’s tea.”
Third graders are excited and enthusiastic about getting beyond basic addition and subtraction and are eager to learn how to multiply. They use various activities and centers to practice their math skills. Another highlight of third grade is learning about China. Their unit consists of writing in Chinese, reading about Chinese culture, and a Chinese luncheon.
As students get older, they are ready to learn about our state’s history. This is the focus of the Social Studies curriculum in fourth grade. Students learn about Pennsylvania and take two field trips to Harrisburg, the Capital. The fourth grade experience is full of dividing numbers, reading novels, and exploring plants. The fourth graders take on more responsibility at school, as in cleaning the chalkboards and erasers for each classroom on Friday afternoons. The fourth graders are very rarely just sitting in their seats for classes. They are up and about actively engaged in learning everything they can about God and the world He has created for us.
As the oldest elementary grade, the fifth graders are the leaders of the elementary school. They help by taking care of the School flag, assisting chapel leaders, and completing other duties as needed. When you walk into their classroom, you are instantly aware of what they are learning. The room is filled with projects, centers, and various displays representing the topics being studied at the present time. Butterflies grow in fifth grade, plants are grown, and grasshoppers are dissected. The students learn about United States history through simulations, plays, and many projects and activities.