Academics

Curriculum Objectives & Highlights

Objectives by Grade Level

Curriculum Objectives Griffin Academy

The academic program for the three-year-old classes introduces children to letters and their sounds, numbers, science through nature, social studies through community, music, art, French, drama and free-play. The children experience indoor and outdoor play, structured and non-structured time, quiet and active times during the day.

The academic program for the four-year-old classes helps to prepare the children for kindergarten. Both four-year-old classes are considered a junior kindergarten class. The children are exposed to a phonics-based pre-reading/reading program that helps to prepare them for the joys of reading. Story-time is part of the daily routine and children are exposed to classic children’s literature, nursery rhymes, and poetry.

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 – three choral programs and possible cameo appearance in lower-school grade level plays

French

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

Minimum of one off-campus field trip and/or on-campus special event 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.

Curriculum Objectives Kindergarten