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.