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Curriculum

Nurturing students’ curiosity about God’s world and providing a strong foundation for future learning are at the core of DC’s Lower School curriculum. Students are encouraged to develop habits for lifelong learning through the exploration of rich content in Bible, history, math, science, language arts, and Greek and Latin roots - all taught from a biblical perspective. In addition to solid content knowledge, students are given opportunities to develop their skills and apply their learning as they work together to ask questions, solve problems, and make connections to the world. The result is a joyful environment in which students are encouraged to share ideas around meaningful work.

Students learn and grow at different rates and in different ways. At DC, instruction is planned to appeal to diverse learners. Through individual, small group, and whole group instruction, students experience various pathways to learning. Additionally, hands on, interactive activities help students experiment, take meaningful risks, and understand new concepts. Advanced math classes are available in grades 4 and 5 for those students who qualify.

To enhance the learning environment, enrichment is offered in art, music, physical education, Spanish, and library and technology. Each year students participate in local and regional competitions, such as Math Olympics, Speech Meet, Writing Contests, and the National Geography Bee. Additionally, STEM classes (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) are embedded into the school day. Through STEM studies, students collaborate as young scientists and engineers to solve real-world problems, using the design cycle.

Students participate in Bible instruction each day and are encouraged to grow in their faith and walk with God. Students utilize the English Standard version of the Bible. In addition to Bible class, students in grades 1-5 participate in weekly chapel and various service opportunities both in school and in the broader community.