Curriculum Highlights - Griffin Academy

• Language development in listening and expressive language
• Pre-reading and reading skills through a phonics-based program (SRA Imagine It)
• Alphabet recognition/sound correlation
• Matching of letters and words
• Visual discrimination and memory
• Word recognition
• Auditory discrimination and memory
• Pre-writing and development of fine motor skills (tracing, puzzles, story writing)

• Sorting, matching, and counting objects
• Grouping into sets
• Recognition and sequencing of numbers
• Recognition of shapes
• Beginning addition and subtraction skills using math manipulatives

• Self
• Family
• Study of holidays and historical events during the calendar year
• Community helpers
• Simple map skills activities

• Caring for the environment and all living things
• Gathering and examining materials from nature
• Simple experiments
• Activities to improve observation and memory skills
• Plants
• Animals
• Physical science
• Human body
• Environment

• Large muscle development and control
• Small muscle development and control
• Balance, coordination, hand-eye coordination, spatial skills
• Good health habits:  hygiene, diet, safety

• Weekly art class
• Self-expression
• Exploration of various media and materials
• Introduction to specific artists and styles

• Weekly music class
• Listening to music
• Stopping and starting on musical cue
• Moving/singing to a steady beat
• Performance opportunities

• Weekly French class
• Numbers, colors, greetings, simple expressions
• Introduction to French culture

• Classroom library (selecting/checking out books)
• Daily read-alouds
• Independent library time
• Westminster School’s library (story time, introductory library instruction)
• Book fair

On average, two field trips or special events each month, e.g.:

• Local  plays/puppet shows
• Discovery museums
• Farm visit/pumpkin patch
• Attend K-6th grade drama productions in Gryphon Theater
• In-house programs, such as visiting community members (e.g., veterinarian, dentist, police officer)
• Special events, such as Halloween Parade, Thanksgiving Feast, Winter Holiday Party, Fun-in-the-Sun, etc.