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.
Grade Level
1st Grade
Reading
First grade is an exciting year of literacy growth! Through our Reading Street curriculum, we equip each child with the necessary skills to decode and encode, comprehend various texts independently, and build skills in written expression. Because reading is a developmental skill, unfolding for each child at a different rate, developmentally appropriate practices and activities are used.
Bible
Students learn that the written words of the Bible are one of the main ways God communicates with us. As they study Genesis through Proverbs, they learn that the Bible is true, historical, and divinely inspired in its entirety and that there are lessons and relevant applications for us.
Math
Our spiraled Everyday Math curriculum exposes students to a variety of topics and skills that are revisited regularly in order to ensure full concept development.
Science
Our science studies are designed to increase the child’s awareness, knowledge, and appreciation of the Creator and His creation through unit studies of solids, liquids, and gases; weather; force; energy; keeping our bodies healthy; and the Earth.
STEM
Students make predictions based on observations, recognize that all products and systems are subject to failure, and understand that many products and systems can be fixed. Using the design cycle as a creative process, students construct pyramids connected to our history curriculum.
Social Studies/History
History topics include Ancient Egypt, ancient civilizations of the Americas, the Revolutionary War, and early exploration of the American West. Students also study the culture and geography of Mexico.
Spanish
Introductory Spanish equips students to begin to engage a multicultural world, as they learn the pronunciation, basic vocabulary, and structures of Spanish through the method of Teaching Proficiency Through Reading and Storytelling (TPRS).
2nd Grade
Reading
The second grade reading curriculum has a two-fold purpose. First, we want our students to become proficient and thoughtful readers who can read accurately and with understanding. Second, and most importantly, we want our students to begin to think critically about literature in the light of God’s Word, the source of all truth. We use Reading Street curriculum as the backbone for teaching critical thinking and comprehension skills. Using various writing activities, students are trained to organize their ideas and to follow a logical and orderly sequence from brainstorming to publishing the finished written work.
Bible
Second grade Bible provides a look at the plan of God through history from Creation to the life of Christ. Students study the Intertestamental Times, known as “the silent years,” and highlight the role of the Greeks and Romans in the spread of the Gospel. The life of Christ particularly focusing on His teaching, parables, and miracles concludes the second grade year.
Math
Through our Everyday Math curriculum, we address a variety of topics and skills that are revisited regularly in order to ensure full concept development. The course emphasizes frequent practice of basic skills through ongoing instruction, routines, and mathematical games.
Science
The second grade science curriculum addresses topics from four strands of science. Our goal is for students to view science as an exciting avenue for learning more about God and His Creation.
STEM
Students benefit from a weekly STEM class, where they engage in hands-on investigations in force, motion, and simple machines, related to launching a candy pumpkin in a “punkin chunkin” challenge. Through the design process, students learn to apply a solution to solve a problem.
Social Studies/History
Our second grade history curriculum focuses on Early Asian civilizations, Ancient Greece, the Constitution, Westward Expansion, the Civil War, and Civil Rights, among other topics. Modern Japanese culture is also studied.
Spanish
Introductory Spanish equips students to begin to engage a multicultural world, as they learn the pronunciation, basic vocabulary, and structures of Spanish through the method of Teaching Proficiency Through Reading and Storytelling (TPRS).
3rd Grade
Science
A study of monarch butterflies and a unit on hatching chick eggs are hallmarks of our third grade curriculum. Through these explorations, students learn about God’s intricate creation and how He provides for and equips various living creatures for their environments and survival.
STEM
Students will demonstrate an understanding of how to connect science, technology, engineering, and mathematics content, practice, and processes while engaging in inquiry-based and project-based learning activities. In the unit, What Floats Your Boat? students will use the design cycle to solve real-world problems related to buoyancy.
Social Studies/History
Our study of history includes units on Ancient Rome, the Vikings, and the Thirteen Colonies. Geography studies focus on world rivers, and studies in modern culture explore Canada.
Bible
The teachings of the Old Testament drive our Bible curriculum with students tracing the fulfillment of God’s promises through the lives of the patriarchs and the life and death of Christ. Character study is woven throughout - examining the examples of the lives of biblical characters. Students learn about the character of God and what it means that each is created in God’s image. The curriculum emphasizes both who we are and our identity in relationship to God.
Math
In math, students are exposed to a variety of topics and skills which are revisited regularly in order to ensure full concept development. Emphasis is placed on problem-solving, an approach that seeks to develop critical thinking.
English/Language Arts
Weekly writing assignments in language arts encourage students to sequence and organize thoughts to effectively communicate in written text. As part of Writing across the Curriculum, major writing assignments are built into the curriculum to give students the building blocks of basic research and report writing.
Reading
Our reading program is designed to create lifelong, motivated readers who are able to discern an author’s intended message and then respond to what they have read. Titles include: The Big Bike Race, Hannah, Shoeshine Girl, A Mouse Called Wolf, Daughter of Liberty, Being Teddy Roosevelt, Spotlight on Cody, Mister and Me, Stone Fox, The Chalk Box Kid, A Doctor Like Papa, The King's Equal, School's Out, Earthquake in Third Grade, Spring Break, Lexi's Tale, Five Smooth Stones, The Night the Bells Rang, Pioneer Summer, The Sword in the Tree, I'll Meet You at the Cucumbers, and Stanley Flat Again.
Spanish
Introductory Spanish equips students to begin to engage a multicultural world, as they learn the pronunciation, basic vocabulary, and structures of Spanish through the method of Teaching Proficiency Through Reading and Storytelling (TPRS). Music and culture are also important elements of our lower school Spanish instruction.
4th Grade
Science
Fourth grade science opens up a world of hypothesizing, testing, and exploring the creation around us as students are challenged to make conclusions based on evidence gathered through observation and experimentation, touching on four strands of science: life, physical, earth, and space and technology.
STEM
Students will be able to independently demonstrate grade appropriate understanding of STEM content, make connections between STEM and real life, and work collaboratively to write a plan using the design cycle to solve complex problems related to building bridges and skyscrapers.
Math
Math emphasizes a real-world problem-solving approach that seeks to develop critical thinking in six mathematical content strands: numeration; operations and computation; patterns, functions and algebra; geometry; measurement; data analysis and probability.
Reading
Our fourth grade reading curriculum equips students with the vocabulary, comprehension and interpretive skills necessary to read literature in the light of God’s Word – the Source of all truth. Literature titles include: The Cabin Faced West, This Island Isn't Big Enough for the Four of Us, William Shakespeare and the Globe, Old Ironsides Building a Fighting Ship, Liberty, Monsieur Eek, Number the Stars, Good-bye Marianne, Faraway Summer, The Revolutionary John Adams, My Brother Made Me Do It, The School Story, Young Abe Lincoln: Frontier Days 1809-1837, Harriet Tubman: A Woman of Courage, John F. Kennedy: The Making of a Leader, They're Off: Pony Express, The Amazing Impossible Ene Canal, All the Way Home, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Because of Winn Dixie, The Riddle of Penncroft Farm, and Plain Girl, among others.
Bible
The Bible curriculum is designed to teach students an understanding of who God is, and how to know that the Bible is the Word of God. In our study of the Bible, students are encouraged to develop God-honoring characteristics as revealed in the lives of biblical personalities, such as Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, and Joshua. The specific books taught are Philippians, Judges, Ruth, I and II Samuel, I Kings, Psalms and Proverbs. Students learn the importance of prayer as an aspect of spiritual growth.
English/Language Arts
In fourth grade, students increase their knowledge of the writing process, crafting pieces within a variety of genres so that they learn to organize their ideas and write in a clear and cohesive format consistent with their individual writing style.
Social Studies/History
In social studies/history, we examine the Middle Ages, African Kingdoms, and China, in addition to the American Revolution and the history of Pennsylvania - including its geography, economy, and government, culminating in a field trip to Harrisburg.
Spanish
Introductory Spanish equips students to begin to engage a multicultural world, in keeping with DC’s mission to impact the world for Christ. Students learn the pronunciation, basic vocabulary, and structures of Spanish through the method of Teaching Proficiency Through Reading and Storytelling (TPRS).
5th Grade
Science
Studying the sea shore ecosystem at Cape May and identifying and classifying rocks and minerals while camping are highlights of the 5th grade experience at DC. Centered around the genius of our creator God, these excursions and other explorations, such as handling specimens, participating in experiments, watching demonstrations, and discussing issues with fellow classmates all help to connect students’ learning to the real world.
STEM
Students will be able to independently demonstrate grade appropriate understanding of STEM content, make connections between STEM and real life, and use the design cycle to collaboratively design a “beat-the-heat” spacecraft.
History
DC fifth graders also explore America’s heritage. Distinct periods covered include colonization, events leading to a break with Great Britain, and the War for Independence. Students readily understand history not to be individual events in time, but the cause and effect of one event upon another.
Bible
Fifth graders begin their Bible study with a review of Old and New Testaments, and God’s promises. Students trace the foretelling of Jesus’ coming and how He is seen throughout the entire Old Testament. The curriculum ends with a study of Jesus’ earthly life and ministry, showing the fulfillment of God’s promises. As students study the lives of Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Judah, David, Daniel, Esther, the people of Judah, they will observe God’s care and preparation of His people for life.
Math
In math, students practice all four operations with decimals and fractions, thinking critically and developing a variety of problem solving strategies.
Reading
Our fifth grade reading program includes titles such as Among the Hidden, Lily’s Crossing, White Lilacs, I’m Not Who You Think I am, Danger Along the Ohio, The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, The Great Horned Spoon, Phantom Tollbooth, My Brother My Sister and I, The Bandit of Ashley Downs, A Boat to Nowhere, The Other Side of Truth, Dragon’s Gate, Gideon’s People, Fever 1793, Escape From Warsaw, and others.
English/Language Arts
English/Language Arts emphasizes writing often and in a variety of situations so that students develop writing fluency and the ability to write for different purposes.
Spanish
Introductory Spanish equips students to begin to engage a multicultural world, as they learn the pronunciation, basic vocabulary, and structures of Spanish through the method of Teaching Proficiency Through Reading and Storytelling (TPRS). Building on the skills of the earlier grade levels, students in fifth grade put their learning to work as they read short stories in Spanish.