Elementary Curriculum

It is the aim of Heritage Christian School to be CHRIST-centred, TEACHER-directed, and CHILD-oriented.

The curriculum in the school is built upon the understanding that human life, in its entirety, is religious and that man must serve God everywhere. All activities within the scope of education at HCS must grow out of this starting point. The following guiding principles should direct our curriculum:

1. Find its basis in the Word of God.
2. Be comprehensive - it should include the study of Bible, language arts, mathematics, sciences, social studies, fine arts and physical education
3. Progress smoothly from one grade and subject to the next
4. Help the student to grow into a mature citizen of the Kingdom of God
5. Recognize the nature of the child and provide for created differences
6. Recognize the general principles of learning
7. Be flexible enough to incorporate change
8. Meet or exceed the provincial guidelines for education

Christian Education at HCS recognizes that education is important for the head, the heart and the hands:

1. Knowledge
   1. transmission of facts by telling, reading, writing, discussion, research
   2. content of subject matter
2. Understanding
   1. the meaning of the facts, ideas in relation to God, the creation, to others and to self
   2. using knowledge to develop a Christian way of life
3. Skills
   1. learning to apply knowledge in a meaningful way
4. Attitudes
   1. nurturing attitudes that reflect a committed Christian life
   2. acknowledging the need for daily repentance and renewal
   3. developing an attitude of awe, responsibility, love, gratitude, self-denial, etc. in the light of God's Word.
   4. developing a process where head knowledge grows into heart knowledge. Knowing the will of the Lord becomes doing the will of the Lord. Orthodoxy becomes orthopraxis.

Jan Waterink, a famous Dutch educator, formulated a single sentence statement regarding the aim of education:
The forming of man into an independent personality serving God according to his Word, able and willing to employ all his God-given talents to the honour of God and for the well-being of his fellow creatures, in every area of life in which man is placed by God.

ART

Art is that part of the curriculum that attempts to express meaning symbolically. A child should be taught the proper tools to with which to respond to his Creator in a symbolic meaningful way. God calls Christians to notice, to enjoy, and to evaluate the products of art. Art expresses values and beliefs and needs to be examined. Attention needs to be given to see the beauty and organization in creation, the meaningful spaces that have been built for living and learning, the use of line, shape, and texture of everyday objects, as well as the meaning of art, past and present.

Teachers use a variety of resources, some self-made and some commercial ones, including Elementary Art Education & Materials, Discover Art, Visual Art Curriculum.

BIBLE

The role of Bible in the HCS curriculum has many functions.

1. the Holy Scripture functions as the primary source for the subject Bible
2. as a subject area, Bible has an academic focus
3. the Holy Scripture also functions as the norm for all of our educational activities; the knowledge and wisdom acquired from Bible study form the basis of knowledge for all subject areas; the Word of God is the foundation for all of the activities of the school; we understand Science, Geography, History, Music, Art, Mathematics, Language, etc. on the basis of our knowledge of the God's Word
4. memory work is an important component of Bible teaching at each grade level.

Resources:

1. Kindergarten uses a program called God's Wonders, published by CSI.
2. Primary classes use a program called Suffer the Little Children by Gertrude Hoeksema as their basic resource. Grades 1 & 2 cover the Old Testament and Grade 3 begins the New Testament. Units re Reformation are included in each year.
3. Junior Grades follow Show Me Thy Ways and My Bible Guide, parts A, B, & C, again following the Old Testament and including the Gospels and the book of Acts. In addition to Reformation units, Church history begins in Grade 6.
4. Grades 7 & 8 use Mark's Sketchbook of Christ, by Helen Tenny, Old Testament Studies III by Edward Bossenbroek, and The Church in History, by B. K. Kuiper

FRENCH

Through the study of a second language the student is made aware of the diversity found in God's creation. As citizens of a bilingual country we should know each other's language. Language is the tool that enables us to understand and relate to other people and cultures. Further, the student gains a better appreciation and understanding of language itself, its structure and role. Primary French is mainly an oral program. The Junior and Intermediate grades follow a formal program.

Resources:

• Primary: Oral program and vocabulary development
• Junior: School developed program & Chez Moi; On vite ensemble;
• Intermediate: Le Francais En Action

LANGUAGE ARTS

Language is God's gift to man. Like other gifts, it is to be received thankfully, to be developed, cared for and enjoyed by man in his many relationships. The gift of language is the means by which man communicates ideas, feelings and experiences with his fellow man and with God. Through Language Arts students learn to communicate with increasing competence, confidence and conviction as they learn to express attitudes, feelings, values, prejudices, choices etc. Language Arts helps a student to organize the mind, shape personality, develop character and give understanding to the creation in the light of the truth.

The main components of a Language Arts program are literature/reading, composition and grammar, and spelling and vocabulary development. The Primary Grades stress skill development in a variety of ways. Word attack skills, phonetic emphasis, oral reading, silent reading, listening skills, comprehension, vocabulary development, and reading for meaning and enjoyment are taught and practiced.

Resources

• Primary: Sing, Spell, Read and Write, a phonics-based program, Spelling for Christian Schools, Letters and Sounds, A Beka Language Arts, the Handbook of Reading, and numerous stories and age appropriate novels.
• Junior: Frontiers to Explore, A Beka, novel studies, poetry unit; God's Gift of Language; Spelling Workout (MCP); keyboarding skills
• Intermediate: Of People, various novel studies; Communicating Skills; Thirteen Steps to Better Writing, Spelling Workout (MCP)

MATHEMATICS

Mathematics is rooted in God's good creation order and in his faithfulness in upholding his creation. Mathematics discovers God's created order. Mathematics enables students to develop a deeper appreciation for God's creation. Skills are taught within a meaningful framework which includes number facts, knowledge of basic operations, problem solving, applying mathematics to common situations, reading, interpreting and developing graphs and tables, predicting, decision-making, etc.

Resources:

• HCS uses the ACSI series from grades 1 - 6 and Math Power from Harcourt in Grades 7 & 8.

MUSIC

Music is God's good gift. Music is an important avenue for the praise and adoration of God and for communing with God's people. Our elementary program attempts to develop the ability to read the language of music, to develop an appreciation and awareness of music as a gift to be developed and enjoyed through singing, reading and listening.

Resources:

• God Made Music series; HCS Songbook

PHYSICAL & HEALTH EDUCATION

Physical and Health Education (PHE) is concerned with the following elements:

• the importance of the body and how to use the body in service of God.
• development of fine and gross motor skills through a variety of physical activities
• development of creativity, confidence and physical fitness
• development balance, strength, speed, precision and economy of effort in physical activity
• participation in individual and group games/activities

Resources

• Teaching Physical Education, Ready to Use Physical Education Activities, Choosing Good Health

SOCIAL STUDIES & SCIENCE

Science studies try to describe things as they exist or occur. The description of these scientific laws can form theories and statements that reflect the order of God's created reality. We learn about God's creation in our observation of physical things, of plants, of animals, of human kind, and how these interact and interrelate. As God's image bearer, man has been given dominion over the earth and has the responsibility and duty to maintain the harmony in the created order. Understanding the nature of the loving and non-living created things in the environment enables man to become a better steward of God's creation.

Social Studies at the elementary school level includes history and geography. We study cultures and societies of both the past and present to discover how man has been obedient or disobedient to God's call to develop the earth and to live in harmony with him and with fellow man and creation.

Resources:

• Science for Christian Schools, Old World History/Geography, Earth Science for Christian Schools, Origins, The World Around You: Physical Patterns, Life Science for Christian Schools.

Note: The Social Studies curriculum is currently under review by the Elementary Education Committee

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