Elementary
For students in grade 1 to grade 6
Our Elementary program is designed to develop the whole child. The academic program focuses on reading, writing, and mathematical skills, and includes comprehensive interactive units of Social Studies and Science. This is further complemented by courses taught by specialist teachers: Art, Music, Japanese, Library, Health, Physical Education, Character Education, and World Religion.
Our core curriculum is based on the California State and Common Core Standards, adapted to suit the needs of our diverse, multicultural student body. We utilize highly-regarded, proven instructional programs, including Readers Workshop, Writers Workshop, and Words Their Way. State of the art digital assessment software is used to supplement classroom data and observations, and provide an extra level of monitoring and support for all students.
All classes are taught in English, with the exception of Japanese language classes. Elementary Japanese is divided into three levels - beginner, intermediate, and advanced, providing appropriate and engaging language learning for all students. Intensive English Language Learner (ELL) classes are provided for students who require additional support to reach mainstream levels of proficiency.
Beyond the typical curriculum content you would expect to see at any high-quality school, our students are encouraged to develop:
- Academically, physically, spiritually, morally, and socially
- A life-long interest in learning
- Confidence in their abilities
- Essential collaborative skills
- Strong social and emotional skills
- Independent thinking skills - a willingness to think for themselves, and express their opinions, while respecting the opinions and perspectives of others
Technology
At MBIS, we intend for technology to be intelligently integrated inside and outside of the classroom - to support teaching and learning in depth, rather than to superficially or simplistically replace instruction. At the Elementary level, a 1-to-1 iPad program has been implemented at all grade levels. Laptops are also readily available, and are regularly used for research and writing by students in Grade 5 and 6. In addition, the school library includes desktop computers and other digital resources.
Our teachers utilize Rubicon Atlas for curriculum planning and mapping, and Powerschool for online student management and grading. The latter is available to students and parents, and provides a very useful and accessible tool for monitoring academic progress.
Beyond the classroom
For Grade 6 students, our academic curriculum is complemented by a year-long athletics program, divided into four seasons. Students compete against other international schools, providing them with frequent opportunities to further develop body, mind, and character.
All Elementary students have opportunities throughout the school year to join clubs, student organizations, and other extra-curricular activities, including after-school clubs.
Field trips and on-campus events provide further, engaging opportunities to learn outside of regular classes.
elementary RESOURCES
Curriculum overview
Grade 1
- Language Arts
- Mathematics
- Science
- Social Studies
- Japanese
- Physical Education and Health
- Visual Arts
- Music
- Religious Studies
- Library
- Character and Values
Language Arts
Grade one students will follow Lucy Calkins reading and writing workshop strategies. During reading time, students have mini-lessons and work together with their peers in small groups to become more strategic readers. Students will learn comprehension strategies, word solving, vocabulary, fluency, and author’s craft. They will develop their skills to read increasingly complex texts. At writing time, students will learn four types of writing; small moment stories, non-fiction, persuasive reviews, and fiction writing. Students will study “craft moves” author’s make that they try to put in their own writing. They will also learn to add details and feelings to make their writing more “fancy” and come alive. Students will follow the Words Their Way spelling program. Students will be focusing on word features instead of memorizing words on a spelling list. They are encouraged to think about letters, sounds, and patterns as they read, write and spell unstudied words.
Mathematics
Science
Social Studies
Grade one students start out the year by learning about their responsibilities as a student and explore ways to get along in school. They learn the elements of good citizenship such as fair play, good sportsmanship, respect for others and the meaning of the “Golden Rule.” Students will compare and contrast schools and communities of today and the past, to gain perspectives over recent transitions that took place in our society. They will also read and construct simple maps utilizing cardinal directions and map symbols. Toward the end of the year, students will learn how all families are special, how they care for each other, and the ways families change over time.
Japanese
Advanced japanese
In this course, students focus on reading and writing 46 Hiragana and the Hiragana vocabularies including Dakuon(voiced consonant syllables), Han-Dakuon (p-sound), and Sokuon (small “tsu” “ya”, “yo”). The students are introduced to learn the Japanese language within the content areas of social studies, math and Japanese literature. During the first semester of Grade 1 course, students learn about their feelings, time, and Japanese money counting. During the second semester, students will read fiction short stories, with a focus on character and plot. By the end of the year, students are able to start organizing and expressing their thoughts in writing and speaking using the appropriate Japanese.
Beginners japanese
Students learn about Japan and Japanese culture through many activities such as making origami and crafts based on particular cultural events. Although speaking is more focused than writing, they learn writing Hiragana. They also learn about my family, months of the year, days of the week, time and Japanese money. They will be able to speak simple Japanese and ask basic questions in Japanese.
Physical Education and Health
First-grade students continue to improve their locomotor and non-locomotor skills by practicing skills using a variety of movement qualities. The first-grade emphasis is on the qualities of movement, especially the effort aspects of space and time. They continue to practice throwing, catching, kicking, and dribbling by using a variety of objects and practice striking by using various implements. They are learning to share, cooperate, and work in groups without interfering with others. They also learn that to prevent injury, proper body position must be used when they are exercising and that water, oxygen, and food act as fuel for the body. Students will also engage in lessons about grade level health and safety.
Students explore the 3 content areas of health: Development and Growth, Injury Prevention and Safety, Personal and Community Health. Teachers explain, demonstrate and encourage students to recognize and practice healthy behaviors. Students will learn to identify a variety of behaviors that promote healthy growth and development, analyze steps to take in emergency or potentially dangerous situations and discuss the importance of preventing the transmission of germs.
Visual Arts
The Lower School Visual Art program engages students in making art, viewing and discussing art, learning about contexts in which art has been created, and pondering fundamental questions about art. Emphasis is placed on familiarizing students with a wide variety of studio materials, processes and a high level of fine motor dexterity. Through a variety of art activities students learn the fundamentals elements and principles of design such as line, texture, color, value, and balance. Students explore the art of many cultures and artistic styles throughout history.
Music
First grade students continue on with the basic elements of music with more concentration on reading simple rhythms and rhythmic patterns (ta, titi, rest). Hand symbols for musical notes (mi-so-la) are also introduced. Folk melodies from various countries and cultures are employed along with various musical games.
Religious Studies
The course aims to instill in the children a solid foundation of moral and spiritual values. Basic concepts covered in the class are the following; God made all people and living things, God has given all of us special gifts, each person is special, we must respect all people and all living things, families are based on love, and family members love each other, we all have the capacity for love and must care about each other. Most lessons will be presented using stories from the Old Testament through storytelling, movies showing and graphic organizers.
Library
First-grade students read or have read to them a wide representation of grade-level-appropriate text. Students read poems, rhymes, songs, and stories. First-grade students respond to questions (e.g., those that ask who, what, when, where, and how). Students relate prior knowledge to information and are able to identify meaning from symbols and pictures in print and digital materials. First-graders learn to share information orally and creatively with other students and audiences. In first grade, students understand how to check out and care for a variety of library resources. They alphabetize to the first letter to locate books in the library. Students can identify the characteristics of fiction and nonfiction and can describe the roles of authors and illustrators. They can identify the front cover, back cover, and title page of a book, in both print and digital formats.
Character and Values
This class occurs once per cycle and is taught by the Head of Lower Elementary. The program implemented is Character First, which is used for Grades 1 and 2. The Program aims to support moral development through stories, activities and discussion around concepts such as Honesty, Respect, Kindness and more.
Grade 2
- Language Arts
- Mathematics
- Science
- Social Studies
- Japanese
- Physical Education and Health
- Visual Arts
- Music
- Religious Studies
- Library
- Character and Values
Language Arts
Following the Reader’s and Writer’s Workshop model, students in Grade 2 will participate in mini-lessons, group work, and one-on-one conferencing. In Reader’s Workshop, students will explore different genres of literature. Students will learn various comprehension strategies, word decoding strategies, vocabulary, fluency, and author’s craft. In Writer’s Workshop, students will write clear and coherent sentences and paragraphs that develop a central idea. Their writing shows they consider the audience and purpose and should progress through the stages of the writing process. Students will complete narrative, procedural, research reports, and letter writing assignments, while demonstrating a command of standard English and the drafting, research, and organizational strategies used at the appropriate grade-level. Appropriate word study activities are provided daily to engage students in productive word study using Words Their Way sorting methods. These word study methods are designed to explore the intricacies of language and to investigate the meaning and structure of words, as well as the conventions and forms of the written language.
Mathematics
In grade two, students will comprehend the concepts of place value and number relationships in addition and subtraction as well as simple concepts of multiplication. They will also measure quantities of various substances and objects with appropriate units. Grade two students will classify shapes and see relationships among them, by paying attention to their geometric attributes. Students will also collect and analyze data and verify the answers using graphs and simple problem solving strategies.
Science
In grade two students are introduced to the diversity and interdependence of living things in ecosystems. They dive deep into different habitats through research projects. Students compare the properties and functions of different kinds of matter through scientific experiments. Students will analyze the processes that shape Earth over long and short periods of time. Students will understand that the earth is made of materials that have distinct properties and provide resources for human activities. Additionally, students study the basics of Earth’s formation, climate and natural disasters. Students will understand that the scientific process is made by asking meaningful questions and by conducting careful investigations.
Social Studies
Students in grade two explore the basics of geography, economics, and citizenship in the context of learning about their local community. They will differentiate between things that happened long ago and things that happened yesterday. They will learn the stories of extraordinary people from history whose achievements have touched them, directly and indirectly. Additionally, students will demonstrate map skills by describing the absolute and relative locations of people, places, and environments such as governmental institutions and practices in the United States and other countries.
Japanese
Advanced japanese
Students will read many short stories and pages from Japan’s public school textbooks of Grade 2 with themes of Science and Technology, Social studies, and literature studies. Students will study scientific research by observing the growth of plants. They will also read a poem, as well as study the author’s biography and historical background of which the poem had been written to deepen their analysis on classic texts. They build up their reading comprehension and vocabulary, as well as practice newly introduced kanji in the Grade 1 or 2 year level. They enjoy writing haiku, letters and stories.
Beginners japanese
Students learn about Japan and Japanese culture through many activities such as making origami and crafts based on particular cultural events. Although speaking is more focused than writing, they learn to write Katakana. They also learn about food and drinks, how to say give me ~, animals, vocabulary necessary for shopping, telling the time and numbers from 1-100. They will be able to speak simple Japanese and ask basic questions in Japanese.
Physical Education and Health
Second-graders also continue to practice manipulative skills by throwing, catching, kicking, and dribbling (foot and hand) for control using a variety of objects and practice striking by using a variety of implements. The students participate in a variety of group settings with an emphasis on encouraging others, demonstrating cooperation, and avoiding interference with others. Students move from the sense of self in isolation and begin to embrace the concept of partners working together to solve movement problems. They also learn the names of the muscles they are strengthening and stretching, as well as the benefits derived from good health-related fitness.
Students continue to explore the 3 content areas of health: Nutrition and Physical Activity, Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs, Mental, Emotional, and Social Health. Students examine their environment and make informed decisions about their health habits. Students will learn to identify resources for reliable information about healthy foods, distinguish between helpful and harmful substances (including alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs) and describe a variety of emotions.
Visual Arts
The Lower School Visual Art program engages students in making art, viewing and discussing art, learning about contexts in which art has been created, and pondering fundamental questions about art. Emphasis is placed on familiarizing students with a wide variety of studio materials, processes and a high level of fine motor dexterity. Through a variety of art activities students learn the fundamentals elements and principles of design such as line, texture, color, value, and balance. Students explore the art of many cultures and artistic styles throughout history.
Music
Second grade students continue all previously introduced activities including basic rhythmic elements, games, folk songs, music hand symbols, and simple musical forms. New concepts will include rhythmic elements (tika tika, half note, ties, whole note), music hand symbols (do,re), and simple musical forms (2 and 4 meter, 1st & 2nd Ending Repeats).
Religious Studies
In Grade 2, the children will be presented the following topics; Love for God, God made all people and all things; we are all precious to him; Gods love helps all people to grow in love for him and with one another, the love of God through His Son, Jesus. The second quarter of Religious Studies is mostly devoted for the nativity play practices for the class Christmas presentation. The topics enumerated will be taught through little stories, bible reading, song plays, poems, and show and tell activities will be conducted during religion classes.
Library
Second-grade students read increasingly complex material and a wide representation of grade-level-appropriate text. Second-grade students become familiar with types of everyday print and non-print materials. Students can identify parts of a book. Second-grade students recognize the need for information. In second grade, students perform simple keyword searches using a search engine or database. Second-grade students are familiar with the procedures for borrowing materials from the school library and caring for library resources. Students locate fiction and nonfiction materials in the library. In second grade, students draw meaning from illustrations, photographs, diagrams, charts, graphs, maps, and captions. Students begin to recognize how media affects the telling of a story and transmission of information.
Character and Values
This class occurs once per cycle and is taught by the Head of Lower Elementary. The program implemented is Character First, which is used for Grades 1 and 2. The Program aims to support moral development through stories, activities and discussion around concepts such as Honesty, Respect, Kindness and more.
Grade 3
- Language Arts
- Mathematics
- Science
- Social Studies
- Japanese
- Physical Education and Health
- Visual Arts
- Music
- Religious Studies
- Library
- Character and Values
Language Arts
Third grade Language Arts curriculum enables students to read grade level fiction and nonfiction independently with both literal and inferential comprehension. Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of common spelling patterns, roots and affixes and use conventions of spelling and print. Students improve their dictionary skills to understand the meaning of new words and to use context to gain the meaning of unfamiliar words. Building strategies for writing sentences and paragraphs is also emphasized. Readers and Writers Workshop is the model of classroom instruction used in literacy lessons. This allows for whole group mini-lessons that progressively build upon each other throughout the year along with one on one student/teacher conferring. Grammar and spelling utilize the Words Their Way system for individualized teaching of spelling patterns, word usage, vocabulary, and latin roots in the English language.
Mathematics
By the end of grade three, students deepen their understanding of place value and skills with addition and subtraction. Students should be able to memorize with automaticity the multiplication table for numbers between 1 and 10, as well as use the inverse operations of multiplication and division to solve problems. Students will also use mathematical reasoning with word problems, determining when and how to break a problem into simpler parts and which operation to select. Measurement in both the standard and metric system will be utilized. Basic geometry will be introduced and students will be able to identify and name types of polygons and angles.
Science
Third grade students will observe, predict and investigate the three forms of matter; solid, liquid and gas, and learn that all matter is made of small particles called atoms, too small to see with the naked eye. Students learn that energy and matter have multiple forms and can be changed from one form to another. Through TCI Science Bring Science Alive! Exploring Science Practices students explore the variations in traits of different organisms and the factors in changing environments that affect survival today and in the past. Students quantify and predict weather conditions in different areas and at different times, and investigate the effects of balanced and unbalanced forces on motion.
Social Studies
Students will be able to identify geographical features, using maps, tables, graphs and photographs to organize information. Throughout the year students will explore the idea of continuity and change in their own community. Also, the role of the global and local economy in their daily lives will be explored. They will determine the reasons for rules and laws and the roles of citizens within their communities. Using TCI Social Studies Alive! Our Community and Beyond a students’ awareness will broaden about the local and global communities in which they live. Students will learn the fundamentals of geography and discover different cultures and public service roles.
Japanese
Advanced/Intermediate japanese
Students will learn about My town, Kobe in the 1st quarter about its history, agriculture, geography and industry and will be able to present what they have found about the city. In the second quarter, students will research environmental issues at school and their everyday life situation and write a report on how to save the earth from their point of view. In the third quarter, students will read a story of Koala’s March where they build up their reading comprehension and writing skills. In the fourth quarter, students will do the jumping rope project where they analyze each movement and will be able to do procedure writings. Students will also work extensively in improving their Kanji ability, learning about 100-150 more Kanji during the year, depending on their current level.
Beginners japanese
Students learn about Japan and Japanese cultures through a variety of activities. They will learn reading and writing Hiragana, position words, basic particles and simple sentence structures. They will be able to read, write and speak simple Japanese and ask basic questions in Japanese. They will be able to learn basic vocabularies needed for the N5 Japanese Language Proficiency Test.
Physical Education and Health
Third-graders can describe the correct technique for manipulative skills in greater detail building on knowledge gained in kindergarten through second grade. In addition, they can describe technique differences when applying manipulative skills in different situations. In preparation for game play in later grades, students learn about altering speed and direction to avoid an opponent. They learn the purpose of safety procedures and rules along with the consequences of not following those procedures and rules. They also learn about the relationship between the heart, lungs, blood, and oxygen during physical activity.
Students continue to explore the 3 content areas of health: Development and Growth, Mental, Emotional, and Social Health, Mental, Emotional, and Social Health. Students are asked to take responsibility for learning about and making healthy choices in their everyday life. They also practice refusal and decision making skills that will lead to a more productive and healthier life. Students will learn to identify major internal and external body parts and their functions, evaluate effective strategies to cope with fear, stress, anger, loss, and grief in oneself and others and recognize individuals who can assist with health-related issues and potentially life-threatening health conditions (e.g., asthma episodes or seizures).
Visual Arts
The Lower School Visual Art program engages students in making art, viewing and discussing art, learning about contexts in which art has been created, and pondering fundamental questions about art. Emphasis is placed on familiarizing students with a wide variety of studio materials, processes and a high level of fine motor dexterity. Through a variety of art activities students learn the fundamentals elements and principles of design such as line, texture, color, value, and balance. Students explore the art of many cultures and artistic styles throughout history.
Music
In addition to all the activities previously mentioned, third graders are also introduced to the recorder. Recorders help students learn breath support, control, and reading notes and rhythms. Ensemble play-ing experience is also provided through recorder performance. New concepts will include rhythmic elements (syn-co-pa, ti-tika, tika-ti, dotted half note), music hand symbols (high do,low la, low so), and simple musical forms.
Religious Studies
Students are encouraged to promote tolerance and respect, which involves an understanding that people have different views about things. They should understand that there isn't always just one 'right' answer. Students will develop curiosity towards religions, understand that they (religions) are alive and that they help explain what human beings are like and what they can become. Students will be provided opportunities to express awe and wonder and develop reverence and gratitude for the gift of life and free will. Furthermore, students will develop an awareness of our needs and the needs of others and how we may respond to those needs.
Library
Third-grade students read a wide representation of grade-level-appropriate text and apply comprehension strategies. They are able to recognize the need for information and ask detailed questions to focus their searches. Key words are identified and used to perform searches in the automated library catalog, search engines and databases. Students identify currency of information with publication and copyright dates. Third-grade students understand the purpose of the library catalog, information on spine labels, and how resources in the library are organized. Students use reference resources in both print and digital formats and learn the skills necessary to access the information in these materials. Third-grade students develop a basic understanding of intellectual property rights. As students continue to use online resources, they learn how to stay safe online.
Character and Values
Grade 4
- Language Arts
- Mathematics
- Science
- Social Studies
- Japanese
- Physical Education and Health
- Visual Arts
- Music
- Religious Studies
- Library
- Character and Values
Language Arts
Throughout the elementary school, we have implemented the reader’s and writer’s workshop model. Students in Grade 4 will participate in mini lessons, group work and one-on-one conferencing. Students will understand the basic features of reading. They will be able to draw upon a variety of comprehension strategies as needed (e.g., generating and responding to essential questions, making predictions, comparing information from several sources). They are able to distinguish between the structural features of the text and the literary terms or elements (e.g., theme, plot, setting, characters). Students write clear, coherent sentences and paragraphs that develop a central idea. Students progress through the stages of the writing process. Students in Grade 4 will listen critically and respond appropriately to oral communication, by using proper phrasing, pitch, and modulation. Students in Grade 4 use ‘Words Their Way, a developmental spelling, phonics and vocabulary program.
Mathematics
Students in Grade 4 will understand large numbers and addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of whole numbers. They will be able to describe and compare simple fractions and decimals. They will understand the properties of, and the relationships between, plane geometric figures. They will actively collect, represent, and analyze data to answer questions.
Science
Grade 4 students examine the functions of internal and external plant and animal structures in growth, reproduction, and information processing. Students explore the roles of weathering, erosion, and deposition in shaping Earth’s surface. They analyze patterns in wave motion, and how energy is transferred by sound, light, heat, and electric currents. Throughout the program students participate in engaging hands on experiments. Students will learn to formulate and justify predictions based on cause-and-effect relationships, differentiate observation from inference, and conduct multiple trials to test their predictions. In collecting data during investigative activities, they learn to follow a written set of instructions and continue to build their skills in expressing measurements in metric system units.
Social Studies
In Grade 4, students study the geography and people of the United States. In this unit, students will first understand the definition of social studies and the different roles of social scientists (economics, geography, political science and history). They will then study location and maps, including their different purposes. Finally, students will explore an overview of the United States regions and begin to understand how each region is unique and different.
Japanese
Advanced/ Intermediate japanese
Students will learn about Japan as a part of the world in the first quarter. They will be able to locate where Japan is using technical terms necessary for the maps. In the second quarter, students will learn about the human body. They will be able to understand the parts of the body both in Japanese and English and explain the functions of each body part. In the third quarter, they will read folktales around the world. They can read with understanding, and will be able to summarize and write their thoughts. In the fourth quarter, students will do the “SOY” Project, where they learn how the shapes change at each stage. They will be able to write cooking recipes of their own. Students will also work extensively in improving their Kanji ability, learning about 100-150 more Kanji during the year, depending on their current level.
Beginners japanese
Students learn about Japan and Japanese cultures through a variety of activities. They will learn reading and writing Hiragana, position words, basic particles and simple sentence structures. They will be able to read, write and speak simple Japanese and ask basic questions in Japanese. They will be able to learn basic vocabularies needed for the N5 Japanese Language Proficiency Test.
Physical Education and Health
Fourth-graders continue to learn more about the correct technique for manipulative skills. They can describe the similarities and differences between similar skills as well as the correct technique for the use of skills in different situations. Fourth-graders continue to include others in physical activities and respect individual differences in skill levels and motivation. They also continue their nutrition education by learning the role that food and water play in helping to improve physical performance. Students will also engage in lessons about grade level health and safety.
Students continue to explore the 3 content areas of health: Nutrition and Physical Activity, Injury Prevention and Safety, Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs. Students are asked to take responsibility for learning about and making healthy choices in their everyday life. They identify personal long-term goals and formulate steps to reach them. Students will learn how to identify resources for valid information about safe and healthy foods, identify ways to reduce risk of injuries from fires, around water, while riding a motor vehicle, as a pedestrian, on the playground, and from falls and identify sources of valid information regarding alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.
Visual Arts
The Lower School Visual Art program engages students in making art, viewing and discussing art, learning about contexts in which art has been created, and pondering fundamental questions about art. Emphasis is placed on familiarizing students with a wide variety of studio materials, processes and a high level of fine motor dexterity. Through a variety of art activities students learn the fundamentals elements and principles of design such as line, texture, color, value, and balance. Students explore the art of many cultures and artistic styles throughout history.
Music
All areas are continued (basic elements and recorders). In addition the fourth graders are introduced to the ukulele. The concept of vocal harmony is taught (two or more notes being sung at the same time). This is done by using Simple rounds or by using scale patterns starting at different times. New concepts will include rhythmic elements (tam-ti, ti-tam), music hand symbols (fa, low ti), and meters (anacrusis, 3 meter), and chords (I, IV, V).
Religious Studies
Students will develop a set of core values they can build on and call on throughout their life to guide their behavior and attitudes. The “Building Blocks” of character, trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness and care; and the “Building Blocks” of Moral awareness, gratitude, love, compassion, cooperation and generosity/charity are some topics covered in grade 4. Throughout the year students will have an introduction to different religions. Religious backgrounds and appreciation of world religions will be fully included in this course. This course introduces Islam, Buddhism, Sikhism, Hinduism and Judaism over the school year.
Library
Fourth-grade students learn more sophisticated search techniques. They use standard reference tools in print and online. They understand and can explain the organization of nonfiction books in the school library. Students become more knowledgeable about online searching. Students are aware that not everyone on the Internet is truthful or reliable. In fourth grade, students extract information from resources. They identify the factors that make a source comprehensive, current, credible, accurate, and authoritative. Students also communicate with others outside the school environment through the use of technology to share information. Fourth-grade students read increasingly complex works. They know the purpose of age-appropriate book awards such as the Caldecott, Newbery, and Sakura awards.
Character and Values
Grade 5
- Language Arts
- Mathematics
- Science
- Social Studies
- Japanese
- Physical Education and Health
- Visual Arts
- Music
- Religious Studies
- Library
- Character and Values
Language Arts
Throughout elementary school, we have implemented the Reader’s and Writer’s Workshop model. Students in Grade 5 will participate in mini lessons, group work and one-on-one conferencing. In Readers’ Workshop, Students will learn and apply increasingly complex strategies of reading with a focus on responding in writing. They will be able to draw upon a variety of comprehension strategies in fiction and nonfiction texts. In Writers Workshop, following detailed steps in the writing process; students will complete a variety of writing pieces including: narratives, researched reports, researched argumentative writing, and memoirs. In the nonfiction portion of Reader’s Workshop, students will engage in cross curricular investigations in both Science and Social Studies. Applying learned comprehension strategies to better understand the subject texts.
Mathematics
In grade five, students will increase their facility with the four basic arithmetic operations applied to fractions and decimals. They will learn how to write and evaluate number sentences using variables. Students will know and use common measuring units to determine length and area and they will know and use formulas to determine the volume of simple geometric figures. Students will know the concept of angle measurement and will use a protractor and compass to solve problems. They will use grids, tables, graphs, and charts to record and analyze data.
Science
Grade 5 students will explore Living Things and Ecosystems. Students will learn about an ecosystem, the roles within an ecosystem (decomposers, consumers, producers), how matter and energy moves within an ecosystem, how ecosystems change, and what’s healthy or unhealthy within an ecosystem. They will move on to, investigate, Earth Systems. Students will explore the four primary systems of Earth, how the Earth produces weather and climate, how various industries affect the Earth, how we as humans directly affect the Earth, and what we can do to protect the systems of the Earth. Next, grade 5 will investigate, Changes in Matter. Students will be guided through understanding matter, what it’s made of, how substances can be identified, the causes of change, how weight can be affected by changes, what people can do about natural hazards, and how engineers can improve materials. They will finish by learning about the earth, the moon, and the stars. Students will explore what gravity is, why the sun is brighter than other stars, how there is night and day, why stars seem to move in the night sky over time, why the moon appears to change shape and move around, and how scientists observe space.
Social Studies
The grade five social studies curriculum ‘America’s Past’ covers American history from the first migrations into the Americas through the 20th century. Intense interaction with the personalities, places, and events that structured the nation leads students to be both keen observers of and informed participants in U.S. history.
Japanese
Advanced/Intermediate japanese
Advanced Japanese focuses on learning the Japanese language within the context of the content areas of science, Japanese social studies, and Japanese literature. During the first semester of the Grade 5 course, students will have a brief introduction to ancient ways of living in Japan, beginning the goal of students understanding how life styles change through time and comparing lifestyles of the past with those present in modern Japan. Students will also gain general knowledge and understanding of astronomy. During the second semester, the focus will change to creating three paragraph essays using appropriate vocabulary, form, and style. Students will read a biography of a Japanese astronaut and other non-fictional stories while sharing their opinions during class discussions. By the end of the course, students will have developed greater ability organizing and expressing their thoughts, in writing and verbally, using the appropriate Japanese, in the content areas mentioned. Students will also work extensively in improving their Kanji ability, learning about 100-150 more Kanji during the year, depending on their current level.
Beginners japanese
Students will learn about Japan and Japanese culture through a variety of activities. Besides the basic Japanese, they learn the present tense, past tense and the future tense. The goal is to be able to understand simple spoken Japanese, be able to express simple ideas, ask simple questions, and be able to communicate with others in Japanese. Students will learn reading, writing Hiragana, Katakana and 80 basic kanji depending on each student's level during the course.
Physical Education and Health
The practice of manipulative skills continues to play a much greater role in fifth grade physical education. The emphasis for fifth grade is improving distance and accuracy. Students focus on both when practicing throwing, fielding, punting, striking, serving, dribbling, passing, and volleying as well as refining their performances of trapping and catching. In preparation for game play in sixth grade, students learn about the importance of open space from a strategic perspective. They also continue their nutrition education by learning meal planning, the effects of dehydration and the benefits of maintaining a healthy body composition. Students will also engage in lessons about grade level health and safety.
Students continue to explore the 3 content areas of health: Nutrition and Physical Activity, Growth, Development, and Sexual Health, Personal and Community Health. In grade 5 students are asked to look deeper into the risk factors that compromise our health. They are also asked to practice consumer advocacy and acknowledge the role of community in promoting health and safety. Students will learn how to describe the food groups, including recommended portions to eat from each food groups, to recognize that there are individual differences in growth and development, physical appearance, and gender roles and to practice effective communication skills to seek help for health-related problems or emergencies.
Visual Arts
The Lower School Visual Art program engages students in making art, viewing and discussing art, learning about contexts in which art has been created, and pondering fundamental questions about art. Emphasis is placed on familiarizing students with a wide variety of studio materials, processes and a high level of fine motor dexterity. Through a variety of art activities students learn the fundamentals elements and principles of design such as line, texture, color, value, and balance. Students explore the art of many cultures and artistic styles throughout history.
Music
Fifth graders are challenged with singing (melodies and simple harmonies), recorders, rhythm and note reading, listening, small and large ensemble playing using recorders, ukuleles, xylophones, or other instruments. Time will be spent in selecting a musical instrument for the following year (6th grade). Students will get a chance to see and hear the instruments of the band (woodwinds, brass, and percussion) to help make their selection. New concepts will include rhythmic elements (triplets), music hand symbols (ti), major and minor scales, key signatures, and more in depth covering of keyboard instruments.
Religious Studies
Students will have the opportunity to look unto their relationship with others and with the world. This course aims to develop the students’ sense of connection to others. Topics such as respect for life, rules of living, service and prayer will be included. Throughout the course, pupils will be brought to understanding that people are endowed with gifts but such gifts must be used for the good of others by serving the less fortunate and taking care of the environment.
Library
Fifth-grade students continue to read a wide variety of grade-level-appropriate text, both in print and online. In fifth grade, students understand how features of both print and digital text make information accessible. They use appropriate reference materials to obtain needed information. Students are able to define the topic of a research investigation and use keyword searches to locate information online. Fifth-grade students are comfortable locating materials in the library. Students evaluate the source and the information for accuracy, credibility and relevance. When necessary, students use more than one resource to verify and determine accuracy. They also record bibliographic information in an acceptable format. Fifth-grade students use basic safety procedures when online. They demonstrate legal and ethical behavior in information use.
Character and Values
This class occurs once per cycle and is taught by the Head of Lower Elementary. The program implemented, BOOST: Emotional Intelligence in Students, is used for Grades 5 and 6. The Program aims to increase self and other awareness, understanding, and establish relational skills for life through stories, activities and discussion.
Grade 6
- Language Arts
- Mathematics
- Science
- Social Studies
- Japanese
- Physical Education and Health
- Visual Arts
- Music
- Religious Studies
- Library
- Character and Values
Language Arts
Throughout the elementary school, we have implemented the Reader’s and Writer’s workshop model. Students in Grade 6 will participate in mini lessons, group work and one-on-one conferencing.Classes are based on the English-Language Content Standards, literature-based and thematically organized. The program incorporates significant literary works and emphasizes not only the integration of thinking, listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills, but also a multidisciplinary integration of the total sixth grade curriculum. Reading Workshop includes deep character study, social issues book clubs, and non-fiction novel study. Writing Workshop will follow the writing process that will take students from pre-writing through revision and ultimate publications. Students will complete the following types of writing: Personal Narrative, Literary Essays, and Researched Based Informational Writing. For Spelling instruction, students in Grade 6 use ‘Words Their Way, a developmental spelling, phonics and vocabulary program which is differentiated toward each student’s needs.
Mathematics
By the end of grade six, students have mastered the four arithmetic operations with whole numbers, positive fractions, positive decimals, and positive and negative integers; they accurately compute and solve problems. They apply their knowledge to statistics and probability. Students understand the concepts of mean, median, and mode of data sets and how to calculate the range. They analyze data and sampling processes for possible bias and misleading conclusions; they use addition and multiplication of fractions routinely to calculate the probabilities for compound events. Students conceptually understand and work with ratios and proportions; they compute percentages (e.g., tax, tips, interest). Students know about pi and the formulas for the circumference and area of a circle. They use letters for numbers in formulas involving geometric shapes and in ratios to represent an unknown part of an expression. They solve one-step linear equations.
Science
The science curriculum in grade six emphasizes the study of earth sciences. Students at this age are increasing their awareness of the environment and are ready to learn more. The standards in grade six present many of the foundations of geology and geophysics, including plate tectonics and earth structure, topography, and energy. The material is linked to resource management and ecology, building on what students have learned in previous grades. Unless students take a high school earth science class, what they learn in grade six will be their foundation for earth science literacy.
Social Studies
Students in grade six expand their understanding of history by studying the people and events that ushered in the dawn of the major Western and non-Western ancient civilizations. Geography is of special significance in the development of the human story. Continued emphasis is placed on the everyday lives, problems, and accomplishments of people, their role in developing social, economic, and political structures, as well as in establishing and spreading ideas that helped transform the world forever. Students develop higher levels of critical thinking by considering why civilizations developed where and when they did, why they became dominant, and why they declined. Students analyze the interactions among the various cultures, emphasizing their enduring contributions and the link, despite time, between the contemporary and ancient worlds.
Japanese
Japanese advanced/intermediate
Advanced Japanese focuses on learning the Japanese language within the context of the content areas of science, Japanese social studies, and Japanese literature. During the first semester of the Grade 6 course, students will learn the ancient ways of living in Japan from BC (Jomon period) to 2AC (Yayoi period), beginning the goal of students understanding how life styles change through time and comparing lifestyles of the past with those present in modern Japan. Students will also gain general knowledge and understanding of scientific experiments in Japanese. During the second semester, the focus will change to creating five paragraph essays using appropriate vocabulary, form, and style. Students will read non-fictional stories about The Great Hanshin Earthquake while sharing their opinions during class discussions. They also work on typing their essay using computers and learn how to proof-read and revise their drafts. By the end of the course, students will have developed greater ability organizing and expressing their thoughts, in writing and verbally, using the appropriate Japanese, in the content areas mentioned. Students will also work extensively in improving their Kanji ability, learning about 100-150 more Kanji during the year, depending on their current level.
Japanese beginners
Students learn about Japan and Japanese cultures through a variety of activities. They will learn reading and writing Hiragana, Katakana and basic 80 kanji depending on each student’s level. The goal is to be able to understand simple spoken Japanese, follow the instructions, be able to express simple ideas, ask questions, and be able to communicate with others in Japanese.
Physical Education and Health
The physical education program in grade six provides the opportunity to expand a student’s performance and understanding of fundamental movement and motor skills to more specialized movement and motor skills used in a variety of content areas. In sixth grade, students are involved in cooperative games that use rules, skills, and offensive strategies. The skills students learn in grade 6 will be able to be transferred to competitive game situations. Students will also engage in lessons about grade level health and safety.
Students continue to explore the 3 content areas of health: Injury Prevention and Safety, Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drugs, Mental Emotional and Social Health. Students focus on what they can do to promote good health and their personal well-being. They will learn to make informed decisions, modify behaviors and change social conditions in ways that are health enhancing and increase health literacy. Students will learn to explain methods to reduce conflict, harassment, and violence, explain short- and long-term effects of alcohol, tobacco, inhalant, and other drug use, including social, legal, and economic and describe the importance of setting personal boundaries for privacy, safety, and expressions of emotions and opinions.
Visual Arts
The Lower School Visual Art program engages students in making art, viewing and discussing art, learning about contexts in which art has been created, and pondering fundamental questions about art. Emphasis is placed on familiarizing students with a wide variety of studio materials, processes and a high level of fine motor dexterity. Through a variety of art activities students learn the fundamentals elements and principles of design such as line, texture, color, value, and balance. Students explore the art of many cultures and artistic styles throughout history.
Music
The 6th graders music class consists of beginning band. The basic elements are still a main focus including note and rhythm reading, simple musical forms, musical term definition, proper instrument maintenance, and breath control and support. Students select an instrument based on their class at the end of Grade 5 or the beginning of Grade 6. The classes are split into Woodwind (flute or clarinet) or Brass (trumpet or trombone) based on what students select. Instruments are expanded to include saxophone, percussion, or other brass instruments throughout the course of the year based upon the discretion of the teacher. There are instruments available through the school, but students are encouraged to purchase an instrument if possible. Rental agreements and fees apply to students who do not purchase their own instrument.
Religious Studies
Students will have the opportunity to think about choices in their personal deeds and daily life, as well as the standards and values of society that influence their choices. This course will help guide students to think critically and to evaluate their acceptance in building a good character. Topics such as Love, Care, Truthfulness and Charity/Compassion are the emphasis throughout the course. All of the topics will be discussed in relation to God, others and the environment. In this course the students also study people who have made great contributions to society, such as - Martin Luther King, Gandhi, Dalai Lama and Mother Theresa.
Library
In sixth grade, students continue to apply more complex search strategies for print and online resources. Sixth-grade students become more sophisticated and safer users of the Internet. Students demonstrate proper and responsible use of technology. Students analyze the evidence they have found to support a research question. Students in sixth grade can explain the authority, timeliness, and accuracy of specific information resources. They restate facts and details and organize those ideas for note taking. Students learn to accurately record citation information for each type of resource used. Sixth-grade students pursue information related to personal well-being. Students continue to read a wide variety of text, making progress toward the goal of reading one million words per year by grade eight.
Character and Values
This class occurs once per cycle and is taught by the Head of Lower Elementary. The program implemented, BOOST: Emotional Intelligence in Students, is used for Grades 5 and 6. The Program aims to increase self and other awareness, understanding, and establish relational skills for life through stories, activities and discussion.