Elementary School | 1st-5th

List of 12 items.

• Language Arts

  The Language Arts program at St. Martin's focuses on developing student's abilities in listening, reading, writing, and speaking with confidence.

  
  In lower Elementary, students are exposed to a multitude of subjects within the Language Arts curriculum. With every teacher trained in Orton-Gillingham, our phonics-based model builds a strong foundation of spelling, reading, and writing skills for all students. Grammar and writing are introduced in 1st-grade and are built on each year through the Grammar Workshop curriculum. These abilities are reinforced utilizing the Journey’s reading curriculum, where students practice reading comprehension, fluency, and vocabulary. Students are encouraged to deepen their appreciation of literature through monthly book reports and in-class book clubs. All areas of the Language Arts curriculum will broaden students’ abilities and inspire creativity across the program.

   

  In upper Elementary, the Language Arts curriculum shifts from a focus on phonics, basic grammar skills, and reading comprehension to expectations focused on higher writing and critical thinking. Students expand their writing abilities in several different writing styles, including Narrative, Opinion, Persuasive, Informative, and Expository. Reinforcement of grammar skills and sentence structure allows students to further develop a mastery of composition. Students build on their reading and comprehension capabilities through novel studies where they analyze texts to a higher degree and learn about genre, figurative language, and characterization. This level of instruction better prepares students for Middle School.

  
  
  

• Math

  St. Martin's Elementary School's math program is based on a comprehensive, spiraling curriculum which emphasizes real word application and problem solving. Students are instructed in the following mathematical content areas: math facts, numbers and numeration, operations and computation, data and chance, measurement, geometry, patterns, functions, and algebra. The goal of the math program is to instill in our students a positive attitude towards math, the capacity to see the correlation of math to the other disciplines, and the ability to apply the concepts learned to their everyday lives.

• Science

  St. Martin's students enjoy dedicated science labs in each division which are structured in developmentally appropriate ways. The Elementary School science curriculum encourages students to experience science by exploring the natural world and making objective observations. Science is best learned through a hands-on approach which allows students to experience the complex processes they are learning and allowing them to see real-world applications. Students are instructed in the following areas: physical science, life science, and earth science. The St. Martin's science program promotes curiosity, enthusiasm, creativity, and personal accomplishment.

• Social Studies

  
  

  The first-grade curriculum focuses on holidays, communities, famous Americans, and the cultural makeup of the United States. The curriculum uses a project-based approach to explore traditions around the world, discover identity within one’s community, and promote a deeper understanding of states in the United States.  

   

  In second grade, students use the lens of Georgia History to understand the impacts of early American history on our present world. The curriculum provides an emphasis on economics, utilizing a Market Day project to provide real-life application of concepts. 

   

  Third-grade students survey a variety of topics including government structures, geography, economics, and historical figures. The curriculum focuses on study skills, preparing students for the rigor of upper elementary grades. 

   

  In fourth and fifth grade, students study American history beginning with colonization and the forming of our country all the way through the turn of the century and the middle of the 1900s. Students use the knowledge of social studies to develop higher thinking skills, make connections from the past to the present, inquire through research, and appreciate the cultural diversity in America. Map and geography skills are reinforced across the curriculum. Students at this level explore the ideas of cooperation, respect for others, tolerance of differing customs and points of view through projects and discussion.

  
  

• World Language

  The Elementary School world language program is a spiraling curriculum which focuses on the following areas: communication, culture, connection, comparison, and community. Elementary students learn both French and Spanish through a hands-on approach which incorporates songs and rhymes, games, social situations, arts and crafts, and cross-curricular experiences. The goal of the world language curriculum is to foster in students the skills and attitudes necessary to develop communicative competence in a second language.

• Religion

  The Elementary School religion curriculum is designed to help students develop their own faith using Scripture, tradition, reason, worship, and service to others. The curriculum and its corresponding worship are based on the tradition of the Episcopal Church and focus fully on the life-long process of Christian formation. Through weekly religion classes, students study scripture, theology, church doctrine, and ethics to become more aware of their own faith tradition, their developing beliefs, and their Christian responsibility. Worship in weekly Chapel services and daily devotion in the classroom give students the opportunity to participate, to experience, and act upon their knowledge and understanding of their faith. Intellectual inquiry is expected, encouraged, and honored.

• Music

  The Elementary School music curriculum fosters in each student an enjoyment of, understanding of, and appreciation for music of many styles, an understanding of and appreciation for the creative process, enjoyment and pride in one’s musical abilities, and understanding and knowledge in making informed musical choices. The strong listening component at all grade levels develops the ability to recognize styles, timbres, rhythms, harmonies, textures and forms, and involves the student in learning to make value judgments important to consumers. Students at all levels are encouraged to explore their own creative and performing abilities and are provided opportunities to do so. The Elementary School general/vocal music program’s main objective is to promote a life-long love of music. Students learn the basics of note-reading and beginning music vocabulary so that they can seamlessly continue their musical education in middle school chorus and band. Students are exposed to a wide variety of music from classical to pop. Budding musicians have multiple opportunities to sing and play during school assemblies, chapel singing, and grade-level concerts. Fifth-grade band offers students the opportunity to experience beginning instrumental music. Students choose an instrument and learn the basics of music appreciation and performance. Music study benefits all core subjects, and instills a lifelong love of the arts.

• Physical Education

  St. Martin’s physical education program helps foster students’ lifelong commitment to their own physical well-being, health, and personal fitness. Through independent practice, cooperative learning groups and game play, students learn and develop skills in basic movement, physical fitness, individual and team sports. Skill-related fitness, as well as personal skills for well-being, is taught regularly along with interpersonal communication, safety, and fairness in game play. Health-related fitness and maintaining physical fitness throughout adulthood is a frequent topic of discussion. The main focuses of the program are good sportsmanship, giving your best effort, and continuous improvement rather than athletic talent. Classes meet twice a week and students are encouraged to strive to attain new levels of physical performance and enjoyment.

• Speech & Drama

  Speech and Drama is taught in the third through fifth grades in the elementary division. Each year begins with the creation of a classroom culture that embraces fearless creativity and is anchored in the unwavering support of the instructor and other students in the class. The curriculum explores the basics of theatre games and improvisation which cultivate detail-oriented listening, quick thinking, camaraderie, and trust. The basics of dramatic structure are presented and those characteristics are reviewed and built on each year through activities and discussion. Public speaking is introduced in the third grade and graduates from persuasive and impromptu speaking to debate to broadcast journalism. Nervousness is defined and practical tools are introduced to minimize stage fright throughout the curriculum journey. The spoken word is further examined through a world folktale storytelling project all three years. Performance storytelling requires equal parts acting and public speaking skills and is a presentation style that incorporates social studies, foreign language, history, cultural education, and language arts.
  
  The collaborative nature of theatre is probed and the jobs of all technical and artistic participants are examined as well as other Speech and Drama applications and types of stage spaces. This collaborative core of Speech and Drama is also connected to STEAM projects during the fall and spring semesters for all three grades. At the end of the third-grade year students have a unit in puppetry which culminates in a puppet play performance and ties into a science or social studies theme. In the fourth grade, students explore poetry interpretation in a unit incorporating their own writing with original music and images for an exciting multi-faceted presentation. In the fifth grade, playwriting is explored as a group, with an adaptation of an American tall tale which is used for an acting project and a digital storytelling project based on a personal story that has helped to shape their lives. Our students have multiple opportunities to perform in front of others through in-class assignments, plays, assemblies, and chapel services

• Technology

  The Elementary School technology curriculum covers a variety topics: basic skills, productivity, research and communication, ethical issues, and digital citizenship. At St. Martin's, students use technology as a tool to enhance the classroom curriculum; skill-building opportunities are provided through the activities used to integrate this technology. The technology standards are incorporated to meet the need to ensure that students are prepared and ready to compete in the outside world. Though St. Martin's uses multiple platforms, the Elementary School uses iPads in the classroom with first through third grade classes having five iPads for small group instruction and 4th and 5th grade classes utilizing a 1:1 program.

• Visual Art

  The Elementary School visual arts program is a spiraling curriculum. This teaching strategy allows for student entry into the program at any age level. Self expression and originality in production of art imagery using a wide range of two and three dimensional media is encouraged at all age levels. Students develop a knowledge through application of the elements (line, shape, form, texture, space, color, value) of design and the principles (movement, rhythm, balance, emphasis, contrast, harmony, unity, proportion) of design that organize those elements into a sound visual composition.

• Guidance

  The Elementary School guidance program is designed to address the social, emotional development and needs of every child with one of the most important aspects of that being character education. Other topics addressed include effective communication skills, decision making, self-control, conflict resolution, empathy and goal setting. Elementary School students have weekly guidance classes one semester a school year while the school counselors are also available for one-on-one or small group meetings to address specific student needs