Religion
Focusing their knowledge of God, these students begin to understand the Trinity. By having this knowledge, they can begin to grasp the larger picture of salvation. The concept of law is presented to show sin and further explains the need for a Savior in their lives. Confessing sins to others and seeking forgiveness for those sins allows the students to develop a more trusting and open relationship with the Lord. As reading skills increase, so do the opportunities for students to read more from the Bible. As they realize the power to love comes from God, they have more of a oneness in Christ with brothers and sisters around the world. The New Testament is the focus for most of the Bible stories. They also gain knowledge about Martin Luther.

Math
Emphasis is placed on written problems to reinforce what has been previously learned. The concepts of division and multiplication are reinforced. Work with fractions includes conversion of whole fractions, mixed numbers, ordering fractions, and adding fractions with mixed numerals. Increasing the students’ understanding of geometrical figures and terms increases as they also learn areas of flat planes.

Language Arts
The idea of reading to learn and reading to enjoy becomes more prominent as students are exposed to higher-level literary techniques. In doing this, they read with growing interest on a wide variety of topics and adjust their reading approach to various forms of texts. Expansion of their vocabulary occurs systemically across the curriculum. Through the writing process, connecting, comparing, and contrasting ideas increases. Incorporated into their reading skills, students have the opportunity to experience different literary genre. Trips to the library include opportunities for reference and research work in addition to looking for reading enjoyment. Grammar skills become more concrete as thinking skills continue to develop to a greater degree.

Handwriting
As students continue working on their handwriting skill, speed and fluency are developed.

Social Studies
Social studies is made up of many different stories about people, places and events. Together they will take a year-long trip across the United States studying the uniqueness of the major geographical regions. A special six week unit will feature the rich and colored heritage of our own Texas History. The students will learn many reading, geography, and critical thinking skills.

Science
In life science, students learn how plants are classified and the parts of a flowering plant. Students learn the characteristics of animals with and without backbones. Students describe the living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem and discover how energy is transferred within an ecosystem. Finally students discover what adaptations and behaviors help animals and plants survive in a changing environment. In physical science, students learn what matter is made of and how it can be measured. Students learn how work is defined and about the laws of motion. Students investigate both electricity and magnetism and study how they affect matter. In earth science, students discover how to measure and predict the weather. Students identify landforms of the earth and describe how volcanoes, earthquakes, weathering, and erosion affect the earth’s features. Students investigate the ocean and learn about plants and animals that live in aquatic environments.

Computer Science
Students continue to learn more about and become more comfortable with the keyboard. Learning proper fingering allows them to become more adept at using the computer and they enjoy the opportunities even more. Word processing skills continue at a higher level as students in this grade are also becoming more involved in the writing process. Similarly, continuation of desktop publishing skills provides new and creative ways for the students to combine their writing and artistic abilities but in a technological way. Students are introduced to the principles of file sharing available through the network.

Art
Drawing involves the students’ understanding of negative and positive space and the use of shading. The use of color to express mood or feelings is explored. By adding texture to painted surfaces, a new dimension of design is added. The use of crafts enables students to work in other mediums and in more than one dimension. A foundation for art history begins at this level with students studying some of the master artists and their contributions to the world of art.

Music
Playing instruments allows the students to be actively involved in rhythm. Playing recorders begins at this level and students begin to use their knowledge of notes to aid them in their playing. Chords and rounds provide more opportunities for students to experiment with harmony. Creating simple songs and learning more about instruments open new horizons to them.

Latin
The history of the Romantic languages is discussed with their relation to Latin. Over the course of the year students learn Latin vocabulary, Latin verb conjugation, noun declension, and English words derived from Latin roots. The development of the Roman Empire and its impact on other civilizations is also examined.

Physical Education
Cooperation for team playing and team sports takes on even greater importance as many students are also actively involved in sports outside of school. Respect for one another’s abilities and talents plays well into learning cooperation. The necessity for practice in connection with these team sports takes on new dimensions as they learn to depend more on others rather than just themselves. The ability to throw and catch is more pronounced which leads to greater success. Interest in a variety of sports begins to formulate and should be encouraged.

Voyages, Concordia Publishing House, 2002
Saxon Math, Saxon, 2001
Literacy Place, Scholastic, 2000
HBJ Language, HBJ, 1993
Health, ABEKA, 1999
Social Studies, HBJ, 1997
Spelling, Scholastic, 2000
Science, Scott Foresman, 2003
Dynamic Physical Education for Elementary School Children, Allyn & Bacon, 2001
Latin Primer Book 1, Martha Wilson, 2001