Curriculum Highlights - Griffin Academy
Language Arts
- 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)
Mathematics
- Sorting, matching, and counting objects
- Grouping into sets
- Recognition and sequencing of numbers
- Recognition of shapes
- Beginning addition and subtraction skills using math manipulatives

Social Studies
- Self
- Family
- Study of holidays and historical events during the calendar year
- Community helpers
- Simple map skills activities
Science
- 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

Physical Education
- Large muscle development and control
- Small muscle development and control
- Balance, coordination, hand-eye coordination, spatial skills
- Good health habits: hygiene, diet, safety
Visual Arts
- Weekly art class
- Self-expression
- Exploration of various media and materials
- Introduction to specific artists and styles

Performing Arts
- Listening to music
- Stopping and starting on musical cue
- Moving/singing to a steady beat
- Performance opportunities
Modern/Classical Languages
- Weekly French class
- Numbers, colors, greetings, simple expressions
- Introduction to French culture
Library
- Classroom library
- Daily read-alouds
- Independent library time
- Westminster School’s library (story time, introductory library instruction)
- Book fair
Field Trips / Special Events
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.
