Encounter Bible Grades 1-8: Each morning students are invited to encounter the love of Jesus Christ. This multi-grade classroom experience is designed to make the Bible come to life as students are presented with a variety of creative ways to deepen their understanding of Scripture. The goal of Encounter Bible Curriculum is to insure “every student’s relationship with Christ is nurtured, based on their solid knowledge of Scripture, so they can be challenged to make an eternal difference in our world.”
Art Grades 1-8: Lessons provide opportunities for creative self-expression, the development of perceptual awareness including art appreciation, and recognizing beauty in both the natural world and the constructed environment.
Students learn to manipulate color and form using a wide variety of materials, tools, and techniques in drawing, painting, sculpture, collage, printing and architecture. Information on the role of art in human history and the development of artistic styles and periods is integrated into every lesson.
Technology Grades 5-8: Many technology skills are introduced and explored in 5th-8th grade at BJA going well beyond simple typing skills. Students will be exposed to a variety of ways to present projects such as PowerPoint, digital media, video, etc. Students are also taught sound researching skills while safely navigating through student web searches and understanding how to tell the difference between trustworthy sources vs. those which are not credible.
Language Arts Grades 5-8: Through language arts students learn how to correctly communicate. Communication is key to understanding our fellow man and knowing how to share the love of Christ. Pathways for grade 5-8 is an innovated thematic approach to teaching all aspects of language arts. Through our multi-grade inclusive classroom setting, students study a variety of quality literature for young people. In small group study students are actively involved in shared inquiry discussions. The more practical areas of language arts such as grammar, vocabulary, reading comprehension, spelling, and handwriting are differentiated to target individual grade levels. A high focus is placed on technical and creative writing as students respond to the selected class literature. A thorough study of speaking, the writing process, research writing, poetry, short stories, and free-writing accompanies the theme study throughout the year.
Mathmatics Grades 1-8: We teach mathematics using a program that encourages discovery of mathematical concepts, emphasizes the traditional learning of basic arithmetic facts and gives a strong foundation in computational skills, particularly mental computation.
Our students advance their knowledge of mathematical concepts in 13 topic areas: problem solving, communication, reasoning, connections, estimation, number sense and numeration, whole number operations, whole number computation, geometry and spatial sense, measurement, statistics and probability, fractions and decimals and patterns and relationships.
Each year, our student’s grasp of mathematical concepts deepens with repeated exposure at increasingly higher levels to the same topic areas.
Music/Drama Grades 1-8: Our music instruction for grades 1-8 emphasizes singing and basic instrument, note, dynamic, and rhythm instruction. Students have multiple opportunities throughout the school year to perform and share their God-given talents. Much of our music time is used learning songs, skits, plays, etc. to share in area churches and the nursing home next door to the school. Students also have the option of joining our extra-curricular chimes group which meets Fridays after school.
Physical Education Grades 1-8: Physical education is integrated into the daily schedule of classes. At every grade level, we help children develop and refine their movement and object control skills, stress the importance of physical fitness for a healthy life, emphasize safety and encourage self-discipline, cooperation, sportsmanship and respect for equipment and property. The curriculum includes games, sportsmanship and endurance. All students are taught to participate regularly and to value the role of physical activity and the maintenance of a healthy lifestyle.
Science Grades 1-8: Our science curriculum combines life science, earth science, physical science and chemistry. Students at each grade level receive progressively more sophisticated instruction in the scientific method: They gather existing information, form hypotheses and predict expected outcomes, experiment and collect data, organize results, and draw conclusions based on their own work. Each year they become increasingly confident using the equipment and tools of science.
Our instruction emphasizes age-appropriate activities using hands-on inquiry techniques and field experiences.
Social Studies Grades 1-4: Social studies for grades 1-4 is a dynamic journey of culture, history, geography, and map skills. McGraw Hill has designed a social studies curriculum filled with colorful visuals, sounds, and experiences to meet a variety of student learning styles. Early on students learn how to think like a historian and examine primary and secondary sources. They also explore people and places from all over the globe, basic law and government, beginning economics, citizenship, map skills, and so much more. Social studies 1-4 not only teaches the required skills and standards expected from an elementary social studies program but delves deeper into higher level thinking opportunities in which students can participate.
Social Studies Grades 5-8: In grades 5-8 the social studies focus alternates between world and United States history. Using the McGraw Hill curriculum gives students access to a variety of primary and secondary sources bringing the past to life. The study of world history begins with ancient civilizations from all over the globe and traces connections throughout time, eventually bringing students to the rise of our modern world. In United States history, students study the history, geography, and culture from the indigenous peoples of America’s past to the multi-cultural palette of people living in our country today. Beyond just learning the facts of history, young people are engaged in dynamic class discussion comparing events of the past with today, making history seem more relevant to each student individually. In addition, this class promotes citizenship, an understanding of American government, economics, and current events.