Communications Skills:
Students are seen as unique and diverse individuals, therefore teachers plan their instruction based on each child's developmental needs and interests. Every child is given the opportunity to develop his/her learning through discovery. This approach allows each child to develop and expand the following: self worth, respect for the environment, enhancement of natural curiosity, ability to express thoughts and feelings, ability to make decisions and solve problems, capacity to use large and small muscles and the ability to live in harmony with others in the immediate and personal environment.

Mathematics:
One to one matching, sorting, and classifying of objects, and basic vocabulary are emphasized. Students model these basic concepts through the use of concrete objects. They are also introduced to time concepts, money, patterns and geometry.

Social Studies:
Students study themselves, their families and other familiar people and things. Emphasis is given to understanding that while each person is unique, there are certain basic needs common to all.

Science:
Students develop a self-awareness by asking questions and using their senses to investigate the natural world and changes within it. They make observations, compare, describe, and sort objects according to physical properties. Similarities and differences in animals and plants are explored as well as weather/seasonal patterns. Emphasis is placed on students using science process skills (classifying, communicating, etc.) and manipulating simple science equipment.

Health:
By the end of grade three students will be aware of the important health risks for their age group and will comprehend some of the major influences of their own good health, especially including the role of their own behaviors in regard to eating breakfast and balanced meals and getting adequate rest and exercise. They wil learn the value of using seat belts, responding to traffic, fire and other warning signs, sounds and symbols; how to avoid burns, how to get help in emergencies, and the impact of substances such as alcohol and tobacco on their lives. Students will be able to demonstrate ways in which they can manage stress, be responsible for their own behaviors, cope with fear and embarrassment, deal with aggression and bullying, resolve disputes, and respect the rights of others.

Physical Education:
Students will know and undestand the value of being physically fit, the types of activities that contribute to total fitness, have the ability to monitor resting, exercise and recovery heart rates, and know the components of health-related fitness. Students will be able to demonstrate fundamental motor skills, develop and refine creative movements, demonstrate manipulative skills, display appropriate behavior during social situations, and express an enjoyment for movement experiences.

Computer Education:
Students learn about computer technology through a variety of activities integrated into the communication skills, mathematics, social studies and science curriculums. They will identify, understand and use the components of a computer system, run prepared software and develop keyboarding and problem-solving skills using a computer.

Music:
Students learn to sing in tune, match pitches, sing in a voice range commensurate with their age, use different tempos, create rhythmic responses, create new sounds, develop simple musical terms and symbols, identify styles of music, recognize familiar melodies, and play rhythm and other instruments. Students also begin to develop aesthetic appreciation for music.

Visual Arts:
Students express ideas, images and feelings and become more aware of their physical environment. At this level, students begin to understand art concepts of line, texture, color, shape and form. Skills taught include visual perception, creative solutions, manual dexterity, recognition of order and communication with others.

Media Education:
K-2 students are exposed to a variety of activities in the library/media program under the guidance of certified instructional staff. Students develop good study habits and become familiar with the library/media center and its resources, including books and magazines, sound filmstrips, audio and video recordings, and computer software.

Communications Skills:
First graders read, listen to, and talk about a wide range of texts, narrative picture books, poems, short chapter books and short informational materials. They predict, make a second attempt and reread. The writing process is explored. Students write to tell about an experience, to tell a story, or to describe, using both words and pictures. They use phonetic spelling as a strategy and begin using capitalization and punctuation.

Mathematics:
In Grade 2, basic addition and subtraction facts are mastered. Problem-solving skills and place value concepts are extended. Two-digit addition and subtraction are explored with models.

Social Studies:
Students study the organization and services of their own neighborhoods and communities. Differences between familiar communities are noted and reasons for differences discussed.

Science:
An exploration of the characteristics of plants/animals and their life cycles is conducted. Students investigate the environmental adaptations of living organisms. They develop an understanding of the basic properties and changes of matter. Weather patterns and cycles as well as prehistoric life are studied. Emphasis is placed on students using science process skills (observing, clsasifying, using numbers, etc.) and manipulating simple science equipment.

Health:
By the end of grade three students will be aware of the important health risks for their age group and will comprehend some of the major influences of their own good health, especially including the role of their own behaviors in regard to eating breakfast and balanced meals and getting adequate rest and exercise. They wil learn the value of using seat belts, responding to traffic, fire and other warning signs, sounds and symbols; how to avoid burns, how to get help in emergencies, and the impact of substances such as alcohol and tobacco on their lives. Students will be able to demonstrate ways in which they can manage stress, be responsible for their own behaviors, cope with fear and embarrassment, deal with aggression and bullying, resolve disputes, and respect the rights of others.

Physical Education:
Students will know and undestand the value of being physically fit, the types of activities that contribute to total fitness, have the ability to monitor resting, exercise and recovery heart rates, and know the components of health-related fitness. Students will be able to demonstrate fundamental motor skills, develop and refine creative movements, demonstrate manipulative skills, display appropriate behavior during social situations, and express an enjoyment for movement experiences.

Computer Education:
Students learn about computer technology through a variety of activities integrated into the communication skills, mathematics, social studies and science curriculums. They will identify, understand and use the components of a computer system, run prepared software and develop keyboarding and problem-solving skills using a computer.

Music:
Students learn to sing in tune, match pitches, sing in a voice range commensurate with their age, use different tempos, create rhythmic responses, create new sounds, develop simple musical terms and symbols, identify styles of music, recognize familiar melodies, and play rhythm and other instruments. Students also begin to develop aesthetic appreciation for music.

Visual Arts:
Students express ideas, images and feelings and become more aware of their physical environment. At this level, students begin to understand art concepts of line, texture, color, shape and form. Skills taught include visual perception, creative solutions, manual dexterity, recognition of order and communication with others.

Media Education:
K-2 students are exposed to a variety of activities in the library/media program under the guidance of certified instructional staff. Students develop good study habits and become familiar with the library/media center and its resources, including books and magazines, sound filmstrips, audio and video recordings, and computer software.

Communications Skills:
Students continue to read, listen to, and talk about a wide range of texts. They absorb language and ideas as they read. At this stage they are skillful and confident in using cuing systems (that is, Does it make sense? Does it sound right? Does it look right?) to make predictions about words and content. Students write for pleasure, for recording observations and experiences and for conveying information. They revise and edit and use more standard spelling.

Mathematics:
In Grade 2, basic addition and subtraction facts are mastered. Problem-solving skills and place value concepts are extended. Two-digit addition and subtraction are explored with models.

Social Studies:
Students study the organization and services of their own neighborhoods and communities. Differences between familiar communities are noted and reasons for differences discussed.

Science:
An exploration of the characteristics of plants/animals and their life cycles is conducted. Students investigate the environmental adaptations of living organisms. They develop an understanding of the basic properties and changes of matter. Weather patterns and cycles as well as prehistoric life are studied. Emphasis is placed on students using science process skills (observing, clsasifying, using numbers, etc.) and manipulating simple science equipment.

Health:
By the end of grade three students will be aware of the important health risks for their age group and will comprehend some of the major influences of their own good health, especially including the role of their own behaviors in regard to eating breakfast and balanced meals and getting adequate rest and exercise. They wil learn the value of using seat belts, responding to traffic, fire and other warning signs, sounds and symbols; how to avoid burns, how to get help in emergencies, and the impact of substances such as alcohol and tobacco on their lives. Students will be able to demonstrate ways in which they can manage stress, be responsible for their own behaviors, cope with fear and embarrassment, deal with aggression and bullying, resolve disputes, and respect the rights of others.

Physical Education:
Students will know and undestand the value of being physically fit, the types of activities that contribute to total fitness, have the ability to monitor resting, exercise and recovery heart rates, and know the components of health-related fitness. Students will be able to demonstrate fundamental motor skills, develop and refine creative movements, demonstrate manipulative skills, display appropriate behavior during social situations, and express an enjoyment for movement experiences.

Computer Education:
Students learn about computer technology through a variety of activities integrated into the communication skills, mathematics, social studies and science curriculums. They will identify, understand and use the components of a computer system, run prepared software and develop keyboarding and problem-solving skills using a computer.

Music:
Students learn to sing in tune, match pitches, sing in a voice range commensurate with their age, use different tempos, create rhythmic responses, create new sounds, develop simple musical terms and symbols, identify styles of music, recognize familiar melodies, and play rhythm and other instruments. Students also begin to develop aesthetic appreciation for music.

Visual Arts:
Students express ideas, images and feelings and become more aware of their physical environment. At this level, students begin to understand art concepts of line, texture, color, shape and form. Skills taught include visual perception, creative solutions, manual dexterity, recognition of order and communication with others.

Media Education:
K-2 students are exposed to a variety of activities in the library/media program under the guidance of certified instructional staff. Students develop good study habits and become familiar with the library/media center and its resources, including books and magazines, sound filmstrips, audio and video recordings, and computer software.

Communications Skills:
In third grade students use a variety of reading strategies to construct meaning for text. They continue to read many types of texts and distinguish between fact and opinion and note and chart details. Students interpret poetry and infer main ideas, lessons or morals in a variety of stories. Third graders write a variety of poems and stories and support their ideas with references to their reading. They develop, research listening and speaking skills.

Mathematics:
Multiplication and division are introduced in Grade 3 through the use of models. Addition and subtraction are mastered. A physical understanding of fractions is developed and students explore number patterns, area and perimeter.

Social Studies:
Students compare and contrast their communities with those of other lands. Relationships between geography, culture, environment and community traits are examined

Science:
An investigation of the interdependence of plants and animals including food webs, pollination, and seed dispersal is conducted. Students develop an understanding of cycles in nature such as day/night, seasons and earth/moon movements. The three basic types of rocks and their formation are studied as well as soil types. Other topics investigated include the properties of light and electricity. Science process skills (measuring, predicting, interpreting, etc.) and science equipment manipulative skills are emphasized.

Health:
Students will be aware of the important health risks for their age groups and will comprehend some of the major influences on their own health, epecially including the role of their own behaviors in regard to eating healthful snack foods, foods prepared by healthful methods, and foods containing important nutrients. Also, students will be able to healthfully direct their own personal behavior in regard to the use of bicycle helmets, exercising caution as a pedestrian or bike rider, and refusing to be involved in substance abuse.

Students will be able to demonstrate means of managing their own behaviors in regard to impulsiveness, conveying acceptance versus hostility, dealing with strong feelings, arguing, and adapting to changing relationships and friendships. Students will be able to state rational counter-arguments to pressure to use drugs, alcohol or tobacco, explain the dangers of various substances, and evaluate the reliability of health information sources. They will be able to provide first aid for choking victims, describe patterns of normal development associated with puberty, and analyze advertising for health-related products.

Physical Education:
Students will be able to name the benefits of personal fitness, describe and demonstrate activities that enhance health-related fitness, demonstrate a variety of flexibility, strength and endurance exercises, demonstrate the ability to use the appropriate intensity and state the guidelines for developing cardiovascular fitness, understand basic nutrition and fitness concepts, and demonstrate an appropriate level of personal fitness.

Students will demonstrate a wide variety of manipulative skills that reflect a refined mastery of ball-handling skills, display the behaviors needed for cooperative and other non-traditional games, practice acceptable social behaviors and create jump rope routines. Students will develop and refine abilities to demonstrate a variety of motor skills, develop and refine their ability to demonstrate safe, balance and weight transfer skills, perform mixer and couple dances and create dance and gymnastic routines.

Computer Education:
Computer utilization with an integrated approach is expanded, along with keyboarding, logic and problem-solving strategies. Students will use the computer as a tool through applications such as word processing, database management and telecomputing. Students will explore and understand the impact of computer technology on society and individuals.

Music:
Students learn to sing melodic lines that include accidentals (sharps, flats), sing with accompaniment, sing individually and in groups, write simple rhythmic patterns, and analyze tone color (timbre). They learn to recognize different periods of music and composers, sing in two-part harmony, read simple music scores using melodic and percussive instruments, use instruments to create sound effects, demonstrate musical moods, use key signatures, identify electronically-produced sounds and identify dultures through music.

Visual Arts:
Students express ideas, images and feelings and become more aware of their physical environment. At this level, students begin to understand art concepts of line, texture, color, shape and form. Skills taught include visual perception, creative solutions, manual dexterity, recognition of order and communication with others.

Media Education:
3-5 students review and refine the competencies developed in the primary grades and develop new competencies in the use of materials and equipment and produce simple nonprint materials. Opportunities are provided for more independent and small-group research activities integrated with classroom content and instruction.

Communications Skills:
Students continue to read many types of texts, learning to make connections with situations beyond their own experiences. In narrative writing they recognize organizational patterns, make inferences, draw conclusions and learn to support their opinions about what they read. They become more skillful in reading and written directions, and in reading content area texts, reference materials, periodicals. They write narratives, information articles and "how-to" pieces; learn how to sequence, use more detail and description in their narratives. They edit for basic sentence formation, usage, mechanics, and spelling. Focus continues on listening and speaking skills and developing study skills.

Mathematics:
In Grade 4, remaining number facts are mastered. The study of time, money and linear measurements is completed. Students learn estimation, mathematical reasoning and decimal concepts.

Social Studies:
Students study North Carolina and the southeastern United States. Emphasis is on geography, people and the economy, with glimpses into history and government.

Science:
Students explore the classification of animals into vertebrates, invertebrates, reptiles, mammals, amphibians, fish and insects. Investigations into animals and their behaviors within their natural environments are conducted. The solar system, simple machines and the interactions between matter and energy are explored. Emphasis is placed on students using science process skills (using numbers observing classifying, etc.) and appropriately manipulating science equipment.

Health:
Students will be aware of the important health risks for their age groups and will comprehend some of the major influences on their own health, epecially including the role of their own behaviors in regard to eating healthful snack foods, foods prepared by healthful methods, and foods containing important nutrients. Also, students will be able to healthfully direct their own personal behavior in regard to the use of bicycle helmets, exercising caution as a pedestrian or bike rider, and refusing to be involved in substance abuse.

Students will be able to demonstrate means of managing their own behaviors in regard to impulsiveness, conveying acceptance versus hostility, dealing with strong feelings, arguing, and adapting to changing relationships and friendships. Students will be able to state rational counter-arguments to pressure to use drugs, alcohol or tobacco, explain the dangers of various substances, and evaluate the reliability of health information sources. They will be able to provide first aid for choking victims, describe patterns of normal development associated with puberty, and analyze advertising for health-related products.

Physical Education:
Students will be able to name the benefits of personal fitness, describe and demonstrate activities that enhance health-related fitness, demonstrate a variety of flexibility, strength and endurance exercises, demonstrate the ability to use the appropriate intensity and state the guidelines for developing cardiovascular fitness, understand basic nutrition and fitness concepts, and demonstrate an appropriate level of personal fitness.

Students will demonstrate a wide variety of manipulative skills that reflect a refined mastery of ball-handling skills, display the behaviors needed for cooperative and other non-traditional games, practice acceptable social behaviors and create jump rope routines. Students will develop and refine abilities to demonstrate a variety of motor skills, develop and refine their ability to demonstrate safe, balance and weight transfer skills, perform mixer and couple dances and create dance and gymnastic routines.

Computer Education:
Computer utilization with an integrated approach is expanded, along with keyboarding, logic and problem-solving strategies. Students will use the computer as a tool through applications such as word processing, database management and telecomputing. Students will explore and understand the impact of computer technology on society and individuals.

Music:
Students learn to sing melodic lines that include accidentals (sharps, flats), sing with accompaniment, sing individually and in groups, write simple rhythmic patterns, and analyze tone color (timbre). They learn to recognize different periods of music and composers, sing in two-part harmony, read simple music scores using melodic and percussive instruments, use instruments to create sound effects, demonstrate musical moods, use key signatures, identify electronically-produced sounds and identify dultures through music.

Visual Arts:
Students further develop creative expression, knowledge, skills and aesthetic awareness. Drawing, painting, sculpture, graphics, ceramics and crafts are part of the variety of art media at this level. Students are exposed to concepts of balance, proportion, mood and perspective. Vocabulary, manual dexterity, observation and communication skills are expanded.

Media Education:
3-5 students review and refine the competencies developed in the primary grades and develop new competencies in the use of materials and equipment and produce simple nonprint materials. Opportunities are provided for more independent and small-group research activities integrated with classroom content and instruction.

Communications Skills:
Fifth graders are introduced to literature that is rich in descriptive detail as well as informational and practical texts. They compare pieces they read and defend their reading preferences. They detect the implied motives of characters as revealed in dialogue and action and distinguish between "heros" and "villains." Students learn to include description in their writing and provide detail for the reader. Writing is further developed as a process. Students continue to focus on study skills, research skills, listening and speaking skills.

Mathematics:
Grade 5 students name and write numbers through one billion. Multiplication by two-digit numbers and division by a single digit are mastered. Patterns are used to solve problems. The concept of a variable is modeled.

Social Studies:
Students study the United States, Canada, Central America and South America, with the major focus on the United States. Emphasis on geography, people and the economy.

Science:
An exploration of plant communities and the ecological relationships among plants and animals is conducted. Students investigate the forms and sources of energy and the preservation of the earth's natural resources. The earth's landforms and forces affecting them over geologic time, such as weathering, earthquakes and volcanoes are studied. Weather and climate are investigated, including the concepts of temperature, atmospheric pressure, and cloud formation. Science process skills (predicting, defining, inferring, etc.) and science equipment manipulative skills are emphasized.

Health:
Students will be aware of the important health risks for their age groups and will comprehend some of the major influences on their own health, epecially including the role of their own behaviors in regard to eating healthful snack foods, foods prepared by healthful methods, and foods containing important nutrients. Also, students will be able to healthfully direct their own personal behavior in regard to the use of bicycle helmets, exercising caution as a pedestrian or bike rider, and refusing to be involved in substance abuse.

Students will be able to demonstrate means of managing their own behaviors in regard to impulsiveness, conveying acceptance versus hostility, dealing with strong feelings, arguing, and adapting to changing relationships and friendships. Students will be able to state rational counter-arguments to pressure to use drugs, alcohol or tobacco, explain the dangers of various substances, and evaluate the reliability of health information sources. They will be able to provide first aid for choking victims, describe patterns of normal development associated with puberty, and analyze advertising for health-related products.

Physical Education:
Students will be able to name the benefits of personal fitness, describe and demonstrate activities that enhance health-related fitness, demonstrate a variety of flexibility, strength and endurance exercises, demonstrate the ability to use the appropriate intensity and state the guidelines for developing cardiovascular fitness, understand basic nutrition and fitness concepts, and demonstrate an appropriate level of personal fitness.

Students will demonstrate a wide variety of manipulative skills that reflect a refined mastery of ball-handling skills, display the behaviors needed for cooperative and other non-traditional games, practice acceptable social behaviors and create jump rope routines. Students will develop and refine abilities to demonstrate a variety of motor skills, develop and refine their ability to demonstrate safe, balance and weight transfer skills, perform mixer and couple dances and create dance and gymnastic routines.

Computer Education:
Computer utilization with an integrated approach is expanded, along with keyboarding, logic and problem-solving strategies. Students will use the computer as a tool through applications such as word processing, database management and telecomputing. Students will explore and understand the impact of computer technology on society and individuals.

Music:
Students learn to sing melodic lines that include accidentals (sharps, flats), sing with accompaniment, sing individually and in groups, write simple rhythmic patterns, and analyze tone color (timbre). They learn to recognize different periods of music and composers, sing in two-part harmony, read simple music scores using melodic and percussive instruments, use instruments to create sound effects, demonstrate musical moods, use key signatures, identify electronically-produced sounds and identify dultures through music.

Visual Arts:
Students further develop creative expression, knowledge, skills and aesthetic awareness. Drawing, painting, sculpture, graphics, ceramics and crafts are part of the variety of art media at this level. Students are exposed to concepts of balance, proportion, mood and perspective. Vocabulary, manual dexterity, observation and communication skills are expanded.

Media Education:
3-5 students review and refine the competencies developed in the primary grades and develop new competencies in the use of materials and equipment and produce simple nonprint materials. Opportunities are provided for more independent and small-group research activities integrated with classroom content and instruction.